Proposal to introduce Finnish citizenship test goes to Parliament

The four-party alliance government led by conservative Kansallinen Kokoomus (National Coalition Party-NCP) has taken another initiative to further tighten criteria for acquiring Finnish Citizenship.

The government on Thursday submitted a proposal to Parliament to introduce a citizenship test to assess applicants’ knowledge of how Finnish society works and its key principles, said the Ministry of the Interior in a press release.

The test would be introduced after the legislative amendments enter into force at the beginning of 2027.

The ministry said that the citizenship test is the final stage of a broader reform of the Citizenship Act, which tightens the conditions for acquiring Finnish citizenship.

The provisions on the required period of residence, integrity and sufficient financial resources have already been amended.

“Finnish citizenship does not come automatically. These reforms encourage integration, employment and respect for the rules of Finnish society,” said Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen in the press release.

The proposal would add a new requirement for civic knowledge. To demonstrate their knowledge, applicants could pass the citizenship test, or they could complete a Finnish-language or Swedish-language matriculation examination or university degree.

The questions in the citizenship test would be based on predefined, publicly available learning materials developed on the basis of existing civic orientation materials.

The test questions would cover topics such as key legislation on Finnish society, fundamental and human rights, equality, gender equality, and Finland’s history and culture. Applicants would take the computer-based test in Finnish or Swedish.

The new official duties related to the citizenship test would be taken on by the Finnish Immigration Service.

It would commission another organisation, such as a university, to prepare the test.

Earlier on December 17, 2025, the new law, which tightened the requirements for acquiring Finnish citizenship entered into force.

On October 15, 2025, the Parliament approved the government proposal to amend the Nationality Act further tightening the criteria for Finnish citizenship.

Earlier, in July 2024, the parliament passed the government proposal to bring legislative amendments extending the period of residence required for Finnish citizenship to eight years from the existing five years.

On June 16, 2023, leaders of the ruling parties announced the programme, which included tougher immigration, residence and citizenship laws.

The government tightened the immigration policy despite strong protest by different groups.

Separate demonstrations were held in Helsinki on June 27, 2023 and June 18,2023 protesting against the immigration policy taken by the government.

Several hundreds of people went on demonstrations in Helsinki in August, 2023 protesting against the move.