Finnish authorities have approved the first set of amendments to the Citizenship Act, which will enter into force on Oct. 1.

Key Points:

• The legislative reform will extend the period of residence required for acquiring Finnish citizenship in general from five to eight years.
• All citizenship applications submitted before Oct. 1 will be processed in accordance with the current Citizenship Act. After Oct. 1, the new period of residence requirement will be considered.
• Individuals who meet the language proficiency requirement or are 15-17 years old, spouses of Finnish citizens, stateless or recipients of international protection will have the required period of residence be five years.

Additional Information: Only periods of residence with a residence permit are considered when it comes to determining an applicant’s period of residence. An applicant may reside outside the country for one total year as part of the required period of residence, as long as it is not more than three months during the year preceding naturalization.

BAL Analysis: There are currently backlogs in the processing of citizenship applications and limited appointment availability at service points. Applicants should make sure they meet all requirements for acquiring Finnish citizenship and be aware of their application-specific period of residence required for approval.