Frequently Asked Questions

	Questions about Nationality
	Applying for citizenship
	Other Questions

Questions about Nationality

Yes, the US accepts dual citizenship.

Information is provided by the City administrative court and the Population register centre.

The process takes roughly 4 months. It takes less if you register your personal details in advance. Finnish representatives abroad do not know how quickly the Finnish Immigration Service processes applications.

The US authorities handle applications for citizenship. Please contact your local INS office.

Yes, the fee (11/11/2005) is €240. The fee for minors is €100 Please check the current exchange rate in USD by clicking here

The forms will be available after 6/1/2003. The easiest way is to download them from the web site of the Finnish Immigration Service.

Unfortunately, you cannot.

You must move to Finland for your spouse to obtain Finnish citizenship. Your spouse must also meet all the requirements for obtaining citizenship. Of these, only the requirement about the duration of living in Finland is less strict in his case.

You can reclaim Finnish citizenship by applying for it. If possible, enter your personal details in the Finnish Population Register. It speeds up the processing of your application. More information on how to enter your personal details can be obtained from the city administrative courts in Finland.

You can reclaim Finnish citizenship by submitting an application. Your children can obtain Finnish citizenship in addition to US citizenship. Proof of paternity is not required if the parents were married when the children were born. Your wife can obtain Finnish citizenship only if you move to Finland and she lives there long enough.

If neither of your parents was a Finnish citizen, you cannot claim Finnish citizenship.

Your mother never had Finnish citizenship because your parents were not Finnish citizens at the time of her birth. As your grandparents were Finnish citizens, however, your mother can reclaim Finnish citizenship by indicating her desire to do so. Even if your grandparents are deceased, it does not prevent your mother from obtaining citizenship.

If neither of your parents was a Finnish citizen, you cannot claim Finnish citizenship.

You must complete the Finnish Immigration Service form for reclaiming citizenship. Residents in Finland can submit their applications in person to the police authorities. Foreign residents can submit them either in person or by mail to the Finnish representatives in the country where they live, in your case the USA. You can submit an application in Finland while on vacation, for example.

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Applying for citizenship

You must reside continuously in Finland for 6 years before you can apply for citizenship. Alternatively, shorter periods of time can be incrementally added if they total 8 years. Incremental periods are counted only after you attain 15 years of age.

In order for your spouse to obtain Finnish citizenship, you must reside in Finland. See the foregoing response. The time required for a spouse to have resided in Finland is 2 years less (4 years continuous residence, or 6 years if added incrementally) than the general requirement mentioned in the foregoing response.

	The applications now (spring 2003) being processed in the Finnish Immigration Service date from January, 2000. The Service’s workload will increase when the new law takes effect and applications will be delayed more than before. You may have to wait up to 4½ years for a decision.

You can obtain a current application form from the police authorities. Updated forms will be available after June 1, 2003. After that time you can get them most easily from the Finnish Immigration Service web site.

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What is the advantage of reclaiming Finnish citizenship for a Finn who is resident abroad (in Australia, for example)?

A Finnish citizen is equally a citizen of the European Union (EU) and can therefore travel freely in the EU and vote in elections. You can vote in presidential, parliamentary and municipal elections in Finland. Citizenship can entail obligations, such as conscription for military service.

If I obtain Finnish citizenship and live abroad, must I pay taxes in Finland?

You should contact the taxation administration regarding tax obligations. The contact information can be obtained on the web site Verohallinto.

It is possible. Contact the general staff headquarters to get the right answer. Contact information can found on the web site The Finnish Defence Forces.

Check e.g. the site www.onlineconversion.com

You can find information about the various kinds of authorities in Finland, for example on the web site Public Services in Finland

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Last update 1/04/2008

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