- Ways to apply
- Citizen by birth (section 9) · Declaration for a child of a Finnish parent (section 26) · Declaration for former citizens (section 29)
- Dual citizenship
- Kept, however you apply
- Comes with
- EU citizenship: the right to live and work in 27 countries
Each answer assumes none of your ancestors became a citizen of another country before their child was born. Below is what changes each answer.
On this page›
- 01Who qualifies
- 02Dates that matter
- 03Through your mother
- 04Keeping your citizenship
- 05Ways to apply
- 06The documents
- 07What it takes
- 08Where the records live
- 09Law changes
- 10Other options
- 11Sources
Who qualifies, generation by generation
LIKELY
Can you claim Finnish citizenship through a parent?
Citizen by birth (section 9) or declaration (section 26)
A child of a Finnish father is Finnish from birth if the parents were married; if not, a declaration does the same once paternity is established. Keep it past 22 by notifying a Finnish mission or holding a Finnish passport between 18 and 22.
What would settle itWhether your parents were married at your birth; if not, whether paternity has been legally established.
- A child of a Finnish father is Finnish at birth only if the father was married to the mother or the child was born in Finland with paternity established; a child born abroad to an unmarried Finnish father acquires citizenship by declaration once paternity is established. Finnish Nationality Act (kansalaisuuslaki 359/2003), official translation with amendments to 781/2022, Sections 9 and 26 ↗
- A Finnish citizen who also holds another citizenship keeps Finnish citizenship at 22 only with a sufficient connection to Finland: seven years’ residence in Finland or the Nordic countries before 22, or, between 18 and 22, a written notice of wishing to keep it, a Finnish passport or identity card, military service, or acquisition by application or declaration. Finnish Nationality Act (kansalaisuuslaki 359/2003), official translation with amendments to 781/2022, Section 34 ↗
- The Immigration Service confirms that citizenship lost at 22 for want of a connection can be regained by a former citizen’s declaration. Finnish Immigration Service: retaining Finnish citizenship at the age of 22 ↗
What changes the answer
- LIKELY
If the parent is your motherCitizen by birth (section 9)A child of a Finnish mother is Finnish from birth. Born abroad with another citizenship, you keep it past 22 by notifying a Finnish mission or holding a Finnish passport between 18 and 22.
- POSSIBLE
If someone in your family became a citizen of another country before the next person in your family was bornCitizen by birthFinland stopped stripping citizenship for taking another one on 1 June 2003. Whether your parent was still Finnish when you were born turns on the date they naturalized.
- POSSIBLE
If you were born before 2005A child of a Finnish parent is Finnish from birth, but a dual national born abroad loses it at 22 without a sufficient connection to Finland. If yours lapsed, a former citizen gets it back by declaration, without moving.
- POSSIBLE
If the parent is your mother and you were born before 2005A child of a Finnish parent is Finnish from birth, but a dual national born abroad loses it at 22 without a sufficient connection to Finland. If yours lapsed, a former citizen gets it back by declaration, without moving.
If the parent is your mother, 2 more cases›
- POSSIBLE
If someone in your family became a citizen of another country before the next person in your family was bornCitizen by birthFinland stopped stripping citizenship for taking another one on 1 June 2003. Whether your parent was still Finnish when you were born turns on the date they naturalized.
- POSSIBLE
If you were born before 2005A child of a Finnish parent is Finnish from birth, but a dual national born abroad loses it at 22 without a sufficient connection to Finland. If yours lapsed, a former citizen gets it back by declaration, without moving.
If someone in your family became a citizen of another country before the next person in your family was born, 2 more cases›
- POSSIBLE
If you were born before 2003Declaration for former citizens (section 29), then your own caseUnder the old Act a Finn who took another citizenship lost Finnish citizenship, so it did not pass to you at birth. Since 2003 your parent can take it back by declaration; whether that reaches you depends on your age when they do.
- POSSIBLE
If the parent is your mother and you were born before 2003Declaration for former citizens (section 29), then your own caseUnder the old Act a Finn who took another citizenship lost Finnish citizenship, so it did not pass to you at birth. Since 2003 your parent can take it back by declaration; whether that reaches you depends on your age when they do.
UNLIKELY
Can you claim Finnish citizenship through a grandparent?
No grandparent option
Finnish citizenship passes only from a parent who held it at your birth. A parent born abroad often lost it at 22, and anyone who naturalized elsewhere before June 2003 lost it then, so it rarely reaches grandchildren. Without one, the road to Finland is residence and naturalisation.
What would settle itWhether your parent is still Finnish, or regains it by declaration under section 29 while you are a minor; then the parent rule applies.
- Citizenship is acquired at birth from a Finnish mother or, under conditions, a Finnish father; the Act has no provision for grandparents. Finnish Nationality Act (kansalaisuuslaki 359/2003), official translation with amendments to 781/2022, Section 9 ↗
- A Finnish citizen who also holds another citizenship keeps Finnish citizenship at 22 only with a sufficient connection to Finland: seven years’ residence in Finland or the Nordic countries before 22, or, between 18 and 22, a written notice of wishing to keep it, a Finnish passport or identity card, military service, or acquisition by application or declaration. Finnish Nationality Act (kansalaisuuslaki 359/2003), official translation with amendments to 781/2022, Section 34 ↗
- A former Finnish citizen acquires Finnish citizenship by declaration; only those who lost it for false information or offences against the state are excluded. Finnish Nationality Act (kansalaisuuslaki 359/2003), official translation with amendments to 781/2022, Section 29 ↗
- Under the 1968 Act, repealed on 1 June 2003, a Finn who acquired another citizenship on application lost Finnish citizenship, and children born afterwards did not inherit it. Finnish Nationality Act (kansalaisuuslaki 359/2003), official translation with amendments to 781/2022, Section 52 ↗
UNLIKELY
Can you claim Finnish citizenship through a great-grandparent?
No grandparent option
Finnish citizenship passes only from a parent who held it at your birth. A parent born abroad often lost it at 22, and anyone who naturalized elsewhere before June 2003 lost it then, so it rarely reaches grandchildren. Without one, the road to Finland is residence and naturalisation.
What would settle itWhether your parent is still Finnish, or regains it by declaration under section 29 while you are a minor; then the parent rule applies.
- Citizenship is acquired at birth from a Finnish mother or, under conditions, a Finnish father; the Act has no provision for grandparents. Finnish Nationality Act (kansalaisuuslaki 359/2003), official translation with amendments to 781/2022, Section 9 ↗
- A Finnish citizen who also holds another citizenship keeps Finnish citizenship at 22 only with a sufficient connection to Finland: seven years’ residence in Finland or the Nordic countries before 22, or, between 18 and 22, a written notice of wishing to keep it, a Finnish passport or identity card, military service, or acquisition by application or declaration. Finnish Nationality Act (kansalaisuuslaki 359/2003), official translation with amendments to 781/2022, Section 34 ↗
- A former Finnish citizen acquires Finnish citizenship by declaration; only those who lost it for false information or offences against the state are excluded. Finnish Nationality Act (kansalaisuuslaki 359/2003), official translation with amendments to 781/2022, Section 29 ↗
- Under the 1968 Act, repealed on 1 June 2003, a Finn who acquired another citizenship on application lost Finnish citizenship, and children born afterwards did not inherit it. Finnish Nationality Act (kansalaisuuslaki 359/2003), official translation with amendments to 781/2022, Section 52 ↗
The dates that matter
- 2003
- 2003
- 2003
Claiming through your mother or grandmother
In Finland’s rule, the answer changes when the ancestor you descend through is a woman:
- LIKELY
If the parent is your motherCitizen by birth (section 9)A child of a Finnish mother is Finnish from birth. Born abroad with another citizenship, you keep it past 22 by notifying a Finnish mission or holding a Finnish passport between 18 and 22.
- POSSIBLE
If the parent is your mother and you were born before 2005A child of a Finnish parent is Finnish from birth, but a dual national born abroad loses it at 22 without a sufficient connection to Finland. If yours lapsed, a former citizen gets it back by declaration, without moving.
In the law’s words
- A child acquires Finnish citizenship at birth if the mother is a Finnish citizen. Finnish Nationality Act (kansalaisuuslaki 359/2003), official translation with amendments to 781/2022, Section 9(1) ↗
- A former Finnish citizen acquires Finnish citizenship by declaration; only those who lost it for false information or offences against the state are excluded. Finnish Nationality Act (kansalaisuuslaki 359/2003), official translation with amendments to 781/2022, Section 29 ↗
- A child of a Finnish father is Finnish at birth only if the father was married to the mother or the child was born in Finland with paternity established; a child born abroad to an unmarried Finnish father acquires citizenship by declaration once paternity is established. Finnish Nationality Act (kansalaisuuslaki 359/2003), official translation with amendments to 781/2022, Sections 9 and 26 ↗
- Citizenship is acquired at birth from a Finnish mother or, under conditions, a Finnish father; the Act has no provision for grandparents. Finnish Nationality Act (kansalaisuuslaki 359/2003), official translation with amendments to 781/2022, Section 9 ↗
Dual citizenship with your home country
You keep your citizenship.
On every open route, the rule lets a citizen of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Argentina or South Africa keep that citizenship.
Every way to apply, and the law behind it
The law
- A child of a Finnish father is Finnish at birth only if the father was married to the mother or the child was born in Finland with paternity established; a child born abroad to an unmarried Finnish father acquires citizenship by declaration once paternity is established. Finnish Nationality Act (kansalaisuuslaki 359/2003), official translation with amendments to 781/2022, Sections 9 and 26 ↗
- A Finnish citizen who also holds another citizenship keeps Finnish citizenship at 22 only with a sufficient connection to Finland: seven years’ residence in Finland or the Nordic countries before 22, or, between 18 and 22, a written notice of wishing to keep it, a Finnish passport or identity card, military service, or acquisition by application or declaration. Finnish Nationality Act (kansalaisuuslaki 359/2003), official translation with amendments to 781/2022, Section 34 ↗
- The Immigration Service confirms that citizenship lost at 22 for want of a connection can be regained by a former citizen’s declaration. Finnish Immigration Service: retaining Finnish citizenship at the age of 22 ↗
- A former Finnish citizen acquires Finnish citizenship by declaration; only those who lost it for false information or offences against the state are excluded. Finnish Nationality Act (kansalaisuuslaki 359/2003), official translation with amendments to 781/2022, Section 29 ↗
What would settle an unsure case
- Whether your parents were married at your birth; if not, whether paternity has been legally established.
- Whether you held a Finnish passport or gave notice between 18 and 22; if not, you declare as a former citizen under section 29.
- LIKELY
Through a parent, if the parent is your mother
- POSSIBLE
Through a parent, if the parent is your mother and you were born before 2005
The law
- A child acquires Finnish citizenship at birth if the mother is a Finnish citizen. Finnish Nationality Act (kansalaisuuslaki 359/2003), official translation with amendments to 781/2022, Section 9(1) ↗
- A Finnish citizen who also holds another citizenship keeps Finnish citizenship at 22 only with a sufficient connection to Finland: seven years’ residence in Finland or the Nordic countries before 22, or, between 18 and 22, a written notice of wishing to keep it, a Finnish passport or identity card, military service, or acquisition by application or declaration. Finnish Nationality Act (kansalaisuuslaki 359/2003), official translation with amendments to 781/2022, Section 34 ↗
- The Immigration Service confirms that citizenship lost at 22 for want of a connection can be regained by a former citizen’s declaration. Finnish Immigration Service: retaining Finnish citizenship at the age of 22 ↗
- A former Finnish citizen acquires Finnish citizenship by declaration; only those who lost it for false information or offences against the state are excluded. Finnish Nationality Act (kansalaisuuslaki 359/2003), official translation with amendments to 781/2022, Section 29 ↗
What would settle an unsure case
- Whether you held a Finnish passport or gave notice between 18 and 22; if not, you declare as a former citizen under section 29.
The law
What would settle an unsure case
- Your parent’s naturalization date against 1 June 2003 and against your birth.
The law
What would settle an unsure case
- Whether you are still a minor when your parent declares; an adult child’s own route is residence-based naturalisation.
- UNLIKELY
Through a grandparentFinnish citizenship passes only from a parent who held it at your birth. A parent born abroad often lost it at 22, and anyone who naturalized elsewhere before June 2003 lost it then, so it rarely reaches grandchildren. Without one, the road to Finland is residence and naturalisation.
The law
- Citizenship is acquired at birth from a Finnish mother or, under conditions, a Finnish father; the Act has no provision for grandparents. Finnish Nationality Act (kansalaisuuslaki 359/2003), official translation with amendments to 781/2022, Section 9 ↗
- A Finnish citizen who also holds another citizenship keeps Finnish citizenship at 22 only with a sufficient connection to Finland: seven years’ residence in Finland or the Nordic countries before 22, or, between 18 and 22, a written notice of wishing to keep it, a Finnish passport or identity card, military service, or acquisition by application or declaration. Finnish Nationality Act (kansalaisuuslaki 359/2003), official translation with amendments to 781/2022, Section 34 ↗
- A former Finnish citizen acquires Finnish citizenship by declaration; only those who lost it for false information or offences against the state are excluded. Finnish Nationality Act (kansalaisuuslaki 359/2003), official translation with amendments to 781/2022, Section 29 ↗
- Under the 1968 Act, repealed on 1 June 2003, a Finn who acquired another citizenship on application lost Finnish citizenship, and children born afterwards did not inherit it. Finnish Nationality Act (kansalaisuuslaki 359/2003), official translation with amendments to 781/2022, Section 52 ↗
What would settle an unsure case
- Whether your parent is still Finnish, or regains it by declaration under section 29 while you are a minor; then the parent rule applies.
The documents, as the rule lists them
Citizen by birth (section 9) or declaration (section 26)
Through a parent
- Your parent’s Finnish passport or population-register extract
- Your birth certificate
- Your parents’ marriage certificate, or the record establishing paternity
Through a parent, if you were born before 2005
- Your parent’s Finnish passport or population-register extract
- Your birth certificate
- Your parents’ marriage certificate, or the record establishing paternity
- Any Finnish passport or retention notice from your 18th to 22nd year
Citizen by birth (section 9)
Through a parent, if the parent is your mother
- Your parent’s Finnish passport or population-register extract
- Your birth certificate
Through a parent, if the parent is your mother and you were born before 2005
- Your parent’s Finnish passport or population-register extract
- Your birth certificate
- Any Finnish passport or retention notice from your 18th to 22nd year
Citizen by birth
Through a parent, if someone in your family became a citizen of another country before the next person in your family was born
- Your parent’s Finnish birth record or population-register extract
- Your parent’s naturalization certificate
- Your birth certificate
Declaration for former citizens (section 29), then your own case
Through a parent, if someone in your family became a citizen of another country before the next person in your family was born, and you were born before 2003
- Your parent’s Finnish birth record or population-register extract
- Your parent’s naturalization certificate
- Your birth certificate
Most countries also want proof that your ancestor didn’t become a citizen somewhere else before their child was born: the naturalization record with its date, or a letter saying there isn’t one.
What it takes: time, cost, the hard part, who decides
Citizen by birth (section 9) or declaration (section 26)
- Time
- 4–8 weeks if your parents were married (straight citizen-by-birth); 6–12 months for the section 26 declaration if they were not.
- Cost
- About $250–500: certified copies, translations, and, for the declaration, Migri’s processing fee.
- The hard part
- Establishing paternity and your parents’ marital status at your birth; a court or registry paternity finding is the usual proof where they never married.
- Who decides
- Migri (the Finnish Immigration Service), by declaration if your parents were not married.
- The first record
- Your parent’s Finnish population-register extract (virkatodistus), from The Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV). Order the certificate online at todistukset.dvv.fi with the name and date of birth; records from before the agency’s era are held by the parish or, for pre-1970 entries, the National Archives. dvv.fi ↗
How it’s filed
- Where
- Migri (the Finnish Immigration Service), through the Finnish embassy or consulate for your address office list ↗
- How
- In person; you appear in person
- Fee
- About $296
- Decision
- 2–12 months
What goes in the file (3)›
- Your parent’s Finnish population-register extract
- Your own birth certificate
- Your parents’ marriage certificate, or the record establishing paternity
What goes wrong (1)›
- If your parents were married at your birth, this is a birth-by-descent confirmation with no fee; if not, it is the section 26 declaration, filed at an appointment: €260 on paper for an adult, €230 online or €250 on paper for a minor.
source ↗
Citizen by birth (section 9)
- Time
- 4–8 weeks for a first Finnish passport once citizenship is confirmed; longer if the section 34 retention question needs Migri’s records check.
- Cost
- About $200–400: certified copies, apostilles and the passport fee.
- The hard part
- If you were born abroad and are past 22 with another citizenship, showing seven years’ Nordic residence, or a notice, passport or service tie made between 18 and 22.
- Who decides
- The Finnish consulate for your address, or Migri (the Finnish Immigration Service).
- The first record
- Your parent’s Finnish population-register extract (virkatodistus), from The Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV). Order the certificate online at todistukset.dvv.fi with the name and date of birth; records from before the agency’s era are held by the parish or, for pre-1970 entries, the National Archives. dvv.fi ↗
How it’s filed
- Where
- Migri (the Finnish Immigration Service), through the Finnish embassy or consulate for your address office list ↗
- How
- In person; no appearance needed
- Fee
- No fee
- Decision
- 1–9 months
What goes in the file (4)›
- Your parent’s Finnish population-register extract or passport history
- Your own birth certificate
- Your parents’ marriage certificate, if any
- Evidence of a Nordic residence tie, notice, passport or service, if you are past 22 and hold another citizenship
What goes wrong (1)›
- A section 34 sufficient-connection question is decided on the papers Migri already has from the population register.
source ↗
Citizen by birth
- Time
- 3–6 months once the naturalization dates are documented; this is the reformed rule applying to a parent who naturalized on or after 1 June 2003.
- Cost
- About $200–500 in certified copies and translations.
- The hard part
- Fixing the exact date your parent naturalized abroad against 1 June 2003 and against your birth.
- Who decides
- The Finnish consulate for your address.
- The first record
- Your parent’s Finnish population-register extract (virkatodistus), from The Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV). Order the certificate online at todistukset.dvv.fi with the name and date of birth; records from before the agency’s era are held by the parish or, for pre-1970 entries, the National Archives. dvv.fi ↗
How it’s filed
- Where
- Migri (the Finnish Immigration Service), through the Finnish embassy or consulate for your address office list ↗
- How
- In person; no appearance needed
- Fee
- About $319
- Decision
- 3–12 months
What goes in the file (3)›
- Your parent’s Finnish population-register extract
- Your parent’s naturalization certificate abroad, with its date
- Your own birth certificate
What goes wrong (2)›
- This is the reformed-era case: a parent who naturalized abroad on or after 1 June 2003 did not lose Finnish citizenship, so the filing turns on documenting the date.
- A request for determination costs €280 and is filed on paper. It is free when an authority asks Migri to determine it because the population register may be out of date.
source ↗
Declaration for former citizens (section 29), then your own case
- Time
- 6–12 months for your parent’s own section 29 declaration to Migri; a child still a minor can usually be added as a co-applicant, an adult child cannot.
- Cost
- About $200–500 for the parent’s declaration and copies.
- The hard part
- Confirming you were still a minor in your parent’s care when they declared; an adult child’s own option is residence-based naturalisation instead.
- Who decides
- Migri (the Finnish Immigration Service), by declaration.
- The first record
- Your parent’s Finnish population-register extract (virkatodistus), from The Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV). Order the certificate online at todistukset.dvv.fi with the name and date of birth; records from before the agency’s era are held by the parish or, for pre-1970 entries, the National Archives. dvv.fi ↗
How it’s filed
- Where
- Migri (the Finnish Immigration Service), through the Finnish embassy or consulate for the parent’s address office list ↗
- How
- In person; no appearance needed
- Fee
- About $296
- Decision
- 2–8 months
What goes in the file (2)›
- Your parent’s Finnish birth record and their old naturalization certificate
- Proof of the other citizenship the parent acquired, and its date
What goes wrong (2)›
- The declaration is the parent’s own; Migri can include a still-minor child as a co-applicant, but an adult child needs a separate, residence-based naturalisation.
- The fee is €260 online in Enter Finland or €280 on paper, paid at the embassy or consulate when the parent proves their identity. A co-applicant child pays nothing; a minor filing alone pays €230.
source ↗
Fees are each office’s published fee, converted to U.S. dollars.
Where each record lives, and how to ask for it
birth
The Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV); the parish or, for entries before about 1970, the National Archives, for older church records
Order the virkatodistus online at todistukset.dvv.fi with the name and date of birth.
- Takes
- 3–21 days
Good to know (1)›
- An electronic certificate from DVV’s self-service is issued immediately after payment; a paper certificate for use abroad is mailed and takes longer.
source ↗
Translations
- Into
- Finnish
- Who may translate
- Any certified translator
- About
- $20–$40 a page
Documents in Finnish, Swedish or English need no translation. Others go to an authorised translator; a translation by anyone else must itself be legalised. U.S. documents carry an apostille.
source ↗
The passport
- Where
- The Finnish embassy or consulate for your address, by appointment, or a police station if you live in Finland.
- Fee
- About $268
- Time
- 2–8 weeks
- €235 at a Finnish mission abroad, set by the Foreign Ministry’s fee decree (1342/2025) and including the population agency’s certificate fee. An express passport is €270.
source ↗
Recent and pending changes
We know of no pending bill or recent court ruling for Finland.
We re-read the official pages behind this guide every day. When one changes, a person checks the rule before we update anything here.
If descent doesn’t reach you
One residence program leads to Finland without an ancestor, each with its own law and road to citizenship.