The four-party alliance government led by the Kansallinen Kokoomus (National Coalition Party-NCP) further tightened the requirements for acquiring Finnish citizenship.
The Parliament on Wednesday approved the government proposal to amend the Nationality Act in its plenary session by 103 votes to 58, said the Parliament in a press release.
The amendments to the Citizenship Act included the provisions on the establishment of identity, the integrity requirement and the requirement for sufficient financial resources.
As per the amended law, committing offences will have a more substantial impact on whether the applicant can be granted citizenship.
The importance of national security as part of the procedure for granting citizenship will also be emphasised.
From now, applicants for Finnish citizenship would be required to have sufficient financial resources. More attention will be paid to sufficient financial resources as an indicator of integration into Finnish society.
It means that persons who do not have any income other than unemployment benefit or social assistance will no longer meet this requirement.
The obligation of the person to establish their identity would be increased compared with the current situation. The amendments will only apply to those who can be reasonably expected to present their national passport.
Meanwhile, new provisions related to the loss of citizenship will apply to situations where a person has given false information when applying for citizenship or has committed offences that violate Finland’s vital interests.
In such situations, the loss of citizenship can become more common. For example, a larger number of terrorism-related offences can lead to the loss of citizenship.
A person with dual citizenship could lose Finnish citizenship if the person has been imposed a sentence of at least 2 years for a terrorist, treason or high treason offence (previously it was at least 5 years).
Earlier, in July 2024, the parliament passed the government proposal to bring legislative amendments extending the period of residence required for Finnish citizenship to eight years from the existing five years.
On June 16, 2023, leaders of the ruling parties announced the programme, which included tougher immigration, residence and citizenship laws.
The government tightened the immigration policy despite strong protest by different groups.
Separate demonstrations were held in Helsinki on June 27, 2023 and June 18,2023 protesting against the immigration policy taken by the government.
Several hundreds of people went on demonstrations in Helsinki in August, 2023 protesting against the move.
- Finland
- Further
- Tightens
- Citizenship
- Law
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
