HELSINKI — Finland is set to introduce a mandatory citizenship test as part of a continuing overhaul of its naturalization laws, requiring applicants to demonstrate a foundational understanding of Finnish society, its values, and its history.
The Ministry of the Interior announced the proposal Monday, marking the third phase of a legislative reform designed to tighten the requirements for obtaining a Finnish passport. Under the new plan, “civic knowledge” will become a formal requirement for citizenship alongside existing mandates for language proficiency and residence.
“By introducing a citizenship test, we will further strengthen the principle that acquiring citizenship calls for successful integration into Finnish society and an understanding of its values,” Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen said.
“We have already tightened the conditions for Finnish citizenship, including the required length of residence, income and integrity.”
The computer-based test, taken in either Finnish or Swedish, will cover subjects including:
Fundamental and human rights
Key legislation and the democratic system
Gender equality and social equity
Finnish history and culture
To ensure fairness, the ministry stated that questions will be based on publicly available learning materials. The Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) will oversee the test’s administration and will commission a university to develop the specific curriculum and examination format.
Certain groups will be exempt from the new requirement. Applicants who have passed the Finnish matriculation examination in Finnish or Swedish, as well as those who have completed a higher education degree in either language, will not be required to take the test.
The proposal is currently open for public comment until Feb. 6, 2026. If approved by Parliament, the legislative amendments are expected to enter into force at the beginning of 2027.
The move follows several other recent changes to the Citizenship Act, including extending the required period of residence to eight years and implementing stricter rules regarding an applicant’s financial self-sufficiency and criminal record.
