Finland citizenship for South Africans

Looking to make a move to Finland to enjoy its breath-taking landscapes and high quality of life? Well, you're in for a treat! Finland, with its mesmerising Northern Lights and vibrant cultural heritage, is an exciting potential destination for South Africans looking to move while not abandoning their nationality.

Whether you're captivated by the midnight sun, eager to savour the delicious flavours of Finnish cuisine, or simply seeking new adventures, this article will be your ultimate guide to understanding the ins and outs of obtaining Finnish citizenship. Also learn about Wise – that will show you how to make money transfers to South Africa from Finland at the mid-market exchange rate!

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How can South Africans apply for and get Finland citizenship?

Different routes to obtaining Finnish citizenship

Similar to other European countries, Finland has flexible pathways through which expats can become its citizens. These are:

• citizenship by birth, descent, or ancestry;
• citizenship by naturalisation;
• citizenship by declaration.

It is worth noting that in cases of citizenship through naturalisation Finnish residency must be obtained first.

What are the requirements to get Finland citizenship⁶?

Citizenship by birth

This is provided to children of one or both Finnish parents. As per the latest Citizenship Act amendments, a child gains citizenship by birth when:

• Their mother is a citizen of Finland
• Their father is a citizen and married to their mother
• They were born in Finland and their father is a citizen whose paternity was established on or after 1 June 2003;
• They were born in Finland and their step-mother is a citizen whose motherhood was established on or after 1 April 2019.

Citizenship by application

• You are at least 18 years of age and your identity has been reliably established
  You will need to present the following documents to meet this requirement:
  • your passport or some other identity document, or
  • reliable information about at least your name, date of birth, citizenship and family ties
  • when determining your identity, the processing committee will also take into account any information you have given earlier about your identity.
• Demonstrate oral and written proficiency in at least one of the languages mentioned below:
  • Finnish or
  • Swedish or
  • Finnish Sign Language or Finland-Swedish Sign Language.
    * A certificate to prove this proficiency must be obtained before you apply for Finnish citizenship. However, in case you have obtained a degree delivered in any of the languages mentioned above you may not need an additional certificate.
• You currently reside in Finland and have lived here for a considerable period
  If you apply for citizenship on 1 October 2024 or thereafter, you must have lived in Finland for the past 8 years. The requirements are different for stateless individuals and refugees.
  However, if you in most cases expats looking for citizenship need to meet the following residence requirements:
  • You must have lived in Finland for the past 5 years without interruption (continuous period of residence), or
  • Have lived in Finland 7 years in total (accumulated period of residence) after reaching the age of 15. Of this period you must have maintained at least 2 years of continuous residence in the country.
• You do not have a criminal record
  Petty crimes do not greatly hinder your chances of citizenship, however, an overall clean record free of criminal offences is needed.
• You have met your payment obligations
  You have paid your taxes, fines and child maintenance payments, for example.
• You have provided proof of your income sources
  Financial statements that demonstrate your ability to support yourself as well as any other dependents are required while applying for citizenship.

Citizenship declaration

A much faster and less costly route to Finnish citizenship, the citizenship by declaration way is not available to all. You need to belong to one of the following categories of people:

• a former Finnish citizen
• a Nordic citizen
• a young person between 18 and 22 years of age who has lived in Finland long enough
• an adopted child between 12 and 17 years of age
• a child born abroad and out of wedlock to a Finnish father or a Finnish non-birth mother

Which documents may be required¹⁰?

The specific list of documents needed depends on the route of citizenship, however, broadly you will need:

• A valid passport or other documentation to verify your identity
• Proof of residence in Finland like a proof of property purchase or lease agreement provided by the Municipal corporation
• Certificate proving proficiency in Finnish or Swedish both written and oral
• Submit a certificate of your Finnish civic integration or similar proof of completed integration studies.
• Collect any necessary additional documents, such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, or divorce decrees, to support your application.

Remember to carefully read through the specific requirements provided by the Finnish authorities to ensure that you have gathered all the required documents for your citizenship application.

Send money to South Africa from Finland using the mid-market rate

If you’re a South African expat living in Finland, Wise can help you save money¹ when making international money transfers back to South Africa.

Banks and money transfer services use the mid-market rate when they trade between themselves, but they rarely pass it on to you. Instead, they often mark up the rate to make extra money.¹³

It is recommended to check the exchange rate offered by your bank against the mid-market rate, which is similar to the exchange rate shown on Google. Say no to hidden fees!

The mid-market exchange rate is the rate that banks use to transfer money between them and is considered the fairest rate in the market. Find out what you would pay for an international money transfer with Wise:

Wise customers don’t have to pay an additional markup fee but only a small transparent fee to make an international transaction¹. That’s because Wise uses the mid-market rate for overseas payments!

With Wise, South African expats can save money¹ on an international money transfer by providing low fees and also do away with the markup on the mid-market exchange rate when making international payments from Finland to South Africa.

Can I hold dual South African-Finnish citizenship⁷?

Finland accepts multiple citizenship. In other words, you will not need to give up your South African passport to become a Finnish citizen and can enjoy the benefits of dual nationality.

Can I get Finnish citizenship through investment⁹?

Finland currently does not have a golden visa or direct citizenship by investment program like some other countries. However, investors interested in conducting business in Finland can apply for a residence permit for business purposes, distinct from the startup visa. This permit is granted based on criteria such as the feasibility of your business plan, your professional background, and financial standing.

While both options may help pave the way to long-term residency, they do not offer immediate citizenship or guarantee eventual citizenship.

Can I get Finland citizenship through descent or ancestry⁸?

You receive citizenship by birth if your parent(s) are Finnish citizens. You can also gain citizenship if your grandparents held Finnish nationality.

Finland citizenship fees and costs¹⁰

There are several fees associated with the citizenship application. Separate fees are charged for digital and paper applications. These are covered in the table below. It is important to note that the authorities do not begin processing your application till you have paid all the necessary fees.

	Paper application	Electronic application
Citizenship application	690	490
Application for release from citizenship	690	-
Citizenship declaration	220	150
- declaration of a minor applicant (younger than 18)	100	80
Request for determination of citizenship status	100	-

How long does application processing take¹¹?

Applying for Finnish citizenship through naturalisation is a 5-step process:

• Check that you have all the necessary attachments
  You must have at least:
  1. A valid identification document
  2. Clarification of your language skills
  3. Clarification of means of support
• Fill in the application and pay the fee
  Ensure you have correctly filled in the form and added all the necessary documentation to your application. Pay the application fee. The application must be paid for via the e-service. Payment can be done using most credit cards or through online banking.
• Book an appointment to visit a service point
  Enter Finland (application portal) will notify you whether you need to visit a service point or not to prove your identity once you have submitted your application. If you must visit a service point, book an appointment by using the appointment system provided by Enter Finland.
• Visit the selected authority to prove your identity
  When you come to the service point, bring with you your passport and the original documents that you attached to your application. If you have also applied for citizenship for your children, they must visit the service point with you.
• Follow the processing
  Applications can be easily tracked through the e-service provided. Any clarifications or further documentation needed will be requested to this portal to ensure a more streamlined process. Keep an eye out for notifications on updates to your application.

The timelines mentioned below provide an overview and may vary on a case by case basis.

Citizenship application

• The new estimated processing time is 8–23 months. The former estimate was 6–20 months.

Citizenship declaration

• The new estimated processing time is 3–11 months. The former estimate was 2–8 months.

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The process of getting that coveted Finnish passport involves meeting several requirements, including residency, language skills, and integration into Finnish society. To be eligible, one must have resided in the country for a certain period, usually four to six years, depending on the circumstances.

The citizenship application process involves submitting documentation, attending an interview, and passing an exam. Dual citizenship is generally allowed in Finland, making it possible to maintain one's original nationality along with Finnish citizenship. The Finnish passport helps you move around and work in the EU without needing a visa, gives you the right to vote, along with several other benefits.

For anything to do with international money transfers from Finland to South Africa you can always check out Wise – which offers transfers at the mid-market exchange rate and a transparent fee structure!

Join Wise!

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*Disclaimer: This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute immigration, legal, tax or other professional advice, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.

Sources:

1. Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
2. Transaction speed claimed depends on funds availability, approval by Wise’s proprietary verification system and systems availability of our partners’ banking system, and may not be available for all transactions.
3. Eligibility is subject to verification of customers identity. Wise may request additional documents to verify a customer's identity.
4. Please note that certain products or features may not be available in all regions. Please visit www.wise.com to check for availability and learn more about our offerings.
5. Different routes to citizenship
6. Citizenship Requirements
7. Dual citizenship
8. Citizenship by descent
9. Citizenship by investment
10. Documents needed
11. Fees
12. Processing times
13. Wise - Mid-market rate and markups