Finland is tightening its migration laws even further. Soon, rules will be introduced that citizenship will not be granted to those who are on benefits. This is intended to ensure integration and respect for Finnish norms and values.

The revision of the citizenship law is taking place in three phases, with the second phase coming into effect in December this year. This means that citizenship will no longer be granted to a person solely living on unemployment benefits or social assistance from the Finnish Pensions Institution. Over a two-year period, one can receive support for a maximum of three months.

The applicant must have a secure means of support, and those who do not actively contribute to the investigation of their identity cannot be granted citizenship. The conditions for loss of citizenship are also being tightened.

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The goal of the changes is to ensure that citizenship is based on successful integration and respect for Finnish societal rules and norms.

“Successful integration, employment, and respect for Finnish societal rules are conditions that must be met in order to be granted citizenship,” says Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen (Sannf).

Security Aspect

The Finns Party, National Coalition Party, and Christian Democrats were united in the matter of tightening the citizenship law.

According to MP Sandra Bergqvist from the Swedish People’s Party, the tightening of the law was not aimed at any specific group.

“I did not perceive it as targeting any specific group, but rather a general effort to perhaps make it a little more difficult to obtain citizenship. Also, to guarantee the security aspect in this matter, which has played an increasingly important role in this type of legislation,” Bergqvist tells Yle.

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