Finland introduces citizenship test: timeline and rules defined
Finland will introduce a mandatory check of knowledge about society for most foreigners applying for citizenship of the country from March 1, 2027. The Migration Service has clarified the procedure for conducting the new exam, the list of cities where it can be taken, and categories of applicants who will be exempt from this requirement.
This was announced on October 9 by the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri). The corresponding legislative changes were approved by the country's parliament earlier, and now the agency has published additional details on their practical application.
The legislative changes will take effect on January 1, 2027, but a transition period will last until the end of February. The new requirement will apply to citizenship applications submitted from March 1, 2027.
If a person submits an application through the Enter Finland electronic system before March 1, they will not have to take the new exam. This rule will apply even if personal identity verification at the migration service takes place after that date.
Who must take the exam
The new requirements will apply to applicants aged 18 to 64 who apply for Finnish citizenship under the general procedure.
However, the exam is not required for those who have obtained upper secondary education in Finland with matriculation examinations in Finnish or Swedish, or have received a higher education diploma in one of these languages.
The new requirement also does not apply to applicants aged 65 and over and to persons who acquire citizenship through the special declaration procedure.
In individual cases, exceptions are possible due to health conditions, disability or other particularly weighty reasons that prevent taking the test over a long period.
At the same time, the new exam does not replace the current requirements regarding proficiency in Finnish or Swedish, duration of residence in the country and financial support. Even a successfully passed YKI language test alone will not exempt from the check of knowledge about Finnish society.
Where the exams will be held and how much they will cost
The check will be conducted in electronic format at special examination centres. The questions will have multiple choice answers, and the test can be taken in Finnish or Swedish.
According to Migri, in 2027 exam sessions will be organized in seven cities:
- Helsinki and the capital region;
- Tampere;
- Turku;
- Oulu;
- Kuopio;
- Vaasa;
- Rovaniemi.
Exams are planned to be held 6 to 10 times a year on designated national days.
Testing will be paid, but the exact fee has not yet been announced by the migration service. The exact dates of the exams and registration deadlines are promised to be published before the beginning of 2027.
An important feature of the new system is the indefinite validity of the result. If an applicant successfully passes the exam, the confirmation obtained will remain valid even if documents for citizenship are submitted much later.
What knowledge will be tested
The exam will cover the basics of Finnish legislation, human rights, principles of equality, including gender equality, as well as the history and culture of Finland.
The questions and study materials are prepared by a working group of experts from the University of Helsinki. They are planned to be published on the migration service's website at the turn of 2026-2027 so that applicants can prepare for the test independently.
For people with certain illnesses, disabilities or difficulties with reading and writing, special conditions for taking the exam are provided. In particular, in some cases the test will be allowed to be taken orally.
The migration service emphasized that the new check of knowledge about society will be the final stage of the reform of citizenship acquisition rules. previously Finland has already tightened requirements regarding the duration of residence and sufficient means of subsistence.
For Ukrainians living in Finland who plan to obtain its citizenship, the time of submitting the application will be decisive. However, Finnish authorities recommend applying for citizenship only after fulfilling all established requirements, as premature submission of documents may lead to refusal.
Based on materials from: Finnish Immigration Service, Yle
