Finland's Parliament has enacted major reforms to its Citizenship Act, introducing a mandatory knowledge test for most citizenship applicants aged 18 to 64. These changes will take effect for applications submitted from March 1, 2027.
New Citizenship Test Details
The test will assess applicants' understanding of Finnish history, culture, fundamental rights, key laws, and equality issues, including gender equality. Candidates may take the test in either Finnish or Swedish.
To ensure fairness, study materials will be publicly available on the Finnish Immigration Service's website ahead of the first test administration.
Besides passing the test, applicants can also fulfill the knowledge requirement by completing the Finnish or Swedish matriculation examination or earning a higher education degree in either language from a Finnish institution.
Exemptions from the Test
Not all applicants aged 18 to 64 must take the test. The Finnish Immigration Service may exempt individuals in the following categories:
- Those with health conditions
- Individuals with disabilities
- Applicants facing other serious circumstances as determined by authorities
The service will manage test administration and provide further guidance on registration and preparation in autumn 2026.
Implementation Timeline
Although the law takes effect on January 1, 2027, the test requirement applies only to applications received from March 1, 2027, allowing a two-month period for prospective citizens to prepare and complete the test beforehand.
