Applying for Finnish citizenship to change – new civic test to be required in the future
The Ministry of the Interior is currently preparing a significant change to the application process for Finnish citizenship. In the future, those applying for citizenship will be required to pass a new citizenship test, which will assess the applicant's knowledge of Finnish society.
The goal of the test is to ensure that applicants understand the operating principles of Finnish society. The exam will measure knowledge related to Finland's social system, fundamental rights, and the duties of a citizen. According to the authorities, the objective is to promote integration and help new citizens adapt better to the Finnish community.
The reform is part of a broader government plan to strengthen the significance of citizenship. Currently, obtaining Finnish citizenship requires, among other things, sufficient language skills and a clean criminal record, but the new test will add theoretical knowledge of societal matters to these requirements.
Preparations are still ongoing, and more specific details regarding the content and implementation of the test will be clarified later. The reform is intended to come into effect within the coming years and will apply to all individuals applying for citizenship.