Nationality act changes as of 1 September 2011

A former Finnish citizen may acquire Finnish citizenship through the declaration process.

A Finnish citizen who also holds the citizenship of a foreign State may still lose Finnish citizenship when reaching the age of 22 years.

A former Finnish citizen may acquire Finnish citizenship through the declaration process. The underage children of a former Finnish citizen may also be co-applicants and may acquire Finnish citizenship.
A person living abroad can initiate the declaration process also in Finland.
Retaining citizenship at the age of 22 years changed. A sufficient connection can be demonstrated to exist merely by applying for a passport at 18–21 years of age. Military or non-military service or voluntary military service for women, started before reaching the 22nd birthday also prevents direct loss of citizenship.

Citizenship declaration, former Finnish citizens

Former Finnish citizens can apply to regain citizenship through the declaration process. The declaration process is permanent. There are no deadlines for submitting a declaration. There is thus no rush to submit a citizenship declaration. A person living abroad can initiate the declaration process also at any police department in connection with a visit to Finland.

NOTE! Citizenship declarations may not be sent by post. They must be submitted in person.

As from 1 September 2011, the underage children of a former Finnish citizen may also be co-applicants and thus may acquire Finnish citizenship through the application submitted by the main applicant.

A minor may also be in the position of an applicant alone, but then it is required that he or she is a former Finnish citizen.

Adult children may acquire Finnish citizenship only in the event that they themselves have had Finnish citizenship at some time.

Where can a citizenship declaration be submitted?

A citizenship declaration is submitted primarily at a police department when visiting Finland.

A citizenship declaration can also be submitted at a Finnish diplomatic mission or, exceptionally, an honorary consulate.

In the event of handling matters with an honorary consul, remember to make an appointment in advance. In general, honorary consuls are not available regularly. We also recommend making an appointment in advance when handling matters at a diplomatic mission.

How is a citizenship declaration paid?

A fee is charged for a citizenship declaration. Abroad, the fee must be paid in advance into the diplomatic mission’s account or at the diplomatic mission. The fee cannot be paid to an honorary consul. Customers are responsible for the bank fees and costs incurred in procuring documents.

Contact the diplomatic mission with regard to payment.

Cost of the citizenship declaration:

Adults	240 euros
Persons under 18 years of age	100 euros

Application fees: the Finnish Immigration Service

However, no fee is collected from war veterans or war children.

For the declaration process, the customer must have the documents required by the Finnish Immigration Service in legalised form and obtaining the documents may take time. Incomplete applications can be supplemented afterwards by submitting the documents to a diplomatic mission or the Finnish Immigration Service, but not an honorary consulate.

If the co-applicant is an underage child, he or she must also be present in person. It must be possible to prove identity with a personal passport or, if there isn’t one, with an identity document issued by a public authority.

Additional information is available on the Finnish Immigration Service in:
Finnish
Swedish
English

OTHER CITIZENSHIP MATTERS HANDLED AT FINNISH DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS

Citizenship directly by virtue of birth
Retaining citizenship at the age of 22 years
Citizenship on the basis of father’s Finnish citizenship when the child is born out of wedlock
Definition of citizenship status
Release from Finnish citizenship

Citizenship directly by virtue of birth

A child acquires Finnish citizenship at birth if:

the mother is a Finnish citizen;
the father is a Finnish citizen; and

a) is married to the child’s mother; or

b) the child is born in Finland and the man’s paternity of the child is established.

A declaration on the birth of a Finnish citizen abroad can be submitted either to a diplomatic mission of Finland or directly to the register office of your domicile.

Additional information is available on the Local Register Offices in:
Finnish
Swedish
English

Retaining citizenship at the age of 22 years

Remember that you may lose your Finnish citizenship when reaching the age of 22 years.

In accordance with the Nationality Act, a multinational may still lose Finnish citizenship when reaching the age of 22 years if he or she has not had a sufficient connection with Finland. The requirements have changed slightly. A sufficient connection can now be demonstrated merely by applying for a Finnish passport at 18–21 years of age.

The connection with Finland is also sufficient if:

you were born in Finland and your domicile is in Finland when you reach the age of 22 years, or
you have lived in Finland or another Nordic country (Denmark, Iceland, Norway or Sweden) for a total of seven years before reaching the age of 22 years, or
at 18–21 years of age you have
- completed or are at present completing military or non-military service in Finland or voluntary military service for women, or
- received Finnish citizenship on application or by declaration, or
- given notice to a Finnish diplomatic mission abroad or
- a register office in Finland that you wish to retain your citizenship. You may not give notice to an honorary consulate or the Finnish Immigration Service. The notice is a free-form notice and must be made in writing.