Finnish passport. Photo: Emmi Korhonen / Lehtikuva
Finland’s Parliament has approved legislation that will require citizenship applicants to pass a citizenship test before receiving a Finnish passport, marking the latest stage in the government’s programme to tighten nationality rules.
The law passed on Wednesday by 153 votes to 21, with support extending beyond the governing coalition to include the Social Democratic Party and the Centre Party. The measure is due to enter into force at the start of 2027 and will make a citizenship test a formal condition for obtaining Finnish nationality.
The vote gives final parliamentary approval to a reform that the government first brought forward last year as part of wider changes affecting immigration, asylum procedures and citizenship requirements.
Under the new rules, applicants seeking Finnish citizenship will need to demonstrate knowledge of Finnish society by completing a test in either Finnish or Swedish. Authorities have not yet published the final format of the examination, though previous government plans indicate that it will cover areas including Finnish history, culture, human rights, equality and the functioning of society.
