Finland sees record citizenship applications as govt stiffening immigration

The number of incoming citizenship applications has been increasing since June 2023, said the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) in a press release on Wednesday.

The changes proposed in the four-party alliance right-wing government programme to the requirements for obtaining Finnish citizenship prompted many to apply for citizenship before any of the proposed changes enter into force, said Migri.

During the first ten months of the year, a total of 14,853 persons have applied for Finnish citizenship.

The number of citizenship applications is the highest ever recorded.

It is already at this point higher than in the previous record year, 2021. The total number of citizenship applications submitted in 2021 was 14,366.

Earlier on June 16, leaders of the four parties announced the government programme, which included tougher immigration, residence and citizenship laws.