Finnish citizenship

Provisions on Finnish citizenship are laid down in the Constitution of Finland and in more detail in the Nationality Act. Finnish citizenship can be acquired by birth, on the basis of parents’ citizenship, on application, or by declaration. A person may only be released from Finnish citizenship if he/she is a citizen of a foreign country or acquires the citizenship of a foreign country.

The Finnish Immigration Service decides on the acquisition, retention and loss of Finnish citizenship and on the definition of citizenship status. In certain cases, the details of the acquisition of Finnish citizenship are entered into the Population Information System directly by local register offices.

Finnish citizenship is determined primarily in accordance with the inheritance principle whereby a child acquires the citizenship of his/her parents. This also applies to children born to Finnish citizens in foreign countries. As Finnish authorities are not automatically notified of children born abroad and of their Finnish citizenship, the parents should themselves notify the local register office or the Population Register Centre of the matter.

A former Finnish citizen may regain Finnish citizenship by submitting a declaration to the Finnish Immigration Service.

Read more about Finnish citizenship and applying for and granting of Finnish citizenship at the website of the Finnish Immigration Service.