From March 2, 2027, applicants for Finnish citizenship will have to take an examination on Finnish society. The test will be developed by the University of Helsinki, which won a competition organized by the Finnish Immigration Service, Yle reports.
New Requirement for Finnish Citizenship
The Finnish government has proposed introducing the test as a requirement for obtaining citizenship. Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen said applicants should demonstrate successful integration. They will also have to show knowledge of the country’s laws, history and culture.
The Finnish Immigration Service has allocated around €800,000 for the project. The University of Helsinki will prepare study materials, develop the examination and improve it if necessary over the next four years.
The main purpose is to assess how well applicants understand the structure of Finnish society and its fundamental principles. The authorities expect the test to show whether a person is able to “follow the rules of the country.”
The examination is expected to be held electronically in Finnish or Swedish. It will be mandatory for everyone who submits a citizenship application on or after March 2, 2027. The new requirement will not apply to foreigners who submit their documents before that date.
The requirement will apply to people of working age, from 18 to 65. Migrants who have completed upper-secondary school or higher education in Finnish or Swedish will be exempt.
Finland Tightens Requirements for Permanent Residence
The citizenship test will be part of a broader reform of Finland’s migration policy. The authorities are gradually revising the conditions for foreigners. Since January 8, 2026, stricter rules have applied to obtaining a permanent residence permit. The minimum period of continuous lawful residence has increased from four to six years. Applicants must also demonstrate knowledge of Finnish or Swedish and at least two years of employment in the country.
Periods of unemployment and reliance on social assistance are taken into account when applications are assessed. Their combined duration must not exceed three months. If a foreign national receives an unconditional prison sentence, the period of continuous residence is interrupted and the required period starts again after the sentence has been served.
The accelerated route after four years remains available to applicants who earn at least €40,000 a year, hold a Finnish-recognized master’s or postgraduate degree combined with two years of work experience, or demonstrate a particularly high level of Finnish or Swedish and have at least three years of employment in Finland.
Graduates of Finnish universities may apply for permanent residence without meeting the general residence-period requirement. However, they must also demonstrate knowledge of Finnish or Swedish.
Finland Changes Its Migration Priorities
In 2026–2027, Finland expects the number of foreign students to decline, while labor migration is likely to grow moderately. According to a forecast by Migri, the number of first applications for a residence permit for studies fell by 25% year on year to 3,534 in January–May 2026. The agency expects 11,000–12,000 applications both this year and in 2027.
The decline is attributed to a €100 fee for applications submitted through the centralized university admissions system, the introduction of full tuition fees from autumn 2026 and difficulties in finding employment. Finland is becoming a more expensive destination for applicants from outside the European Union.
At the same time, the number of first applications for residence permits based on employment rose by 16% to 6,156 in the first five months of 2026. The total is expected to reach 11,000–13,000 applications by the end of the year and up to 14,000 in 2027. The main sources of demand are industry, shipbuilding and data centers.
Temporary protection and asylum applications are expected to remain at moderate levels, with 8,000–10,000 applications for temporary protection and up to 2,500 asylum applications annually.
MPs Warn of Possible Discrimination
The initiative to introduce a citizenship examination has drawn criticism in the Finnish Parliament. MPs Anna Kontula and Alviina Alametsä opposed the measure. They argue that a fee-based test could put applicants in unequal positions. In their view, passing the examination would not necessarily prove that a person knows or accepts the fundamental values, laws and rules of Finnish society.
Several other countries already test applicants’ knowledge of society as part of the naturalization process. Similar examinations are in place in Estonia, Denmark, Norway and Germany. Sweden is also introducing such a requirement in August 2026.
Analysts at International Investment note that Finland has been consistently tightening its migration policy since 2022. The changes have affected students, refugees and other categories of foreigners. At the same time, the authorities continue to attract workers in sectors facing labor shortages, including industry, shipbuilding and data-center construction. These trends should be taken into account when planning a move to Finland.