Finnish citizenship

Finnish legislation accepts multiple nationality ("dual nationality") since 1 June 2003 (Nationality Act 16.5.2003/359). This means, that a Finnish citizen may simultaneously hold the citizenship of both Finland and another country,  if this other country accepts multiple citizenship. Australia and New Zealand accept multiple citizenship.

Those born in Australia or in New Zealand who acquired Australian or New Zealand citizenship at birth and also Finnish citizenship through their Finnish parent(s) may loose or have lost Finnish citizenship at the age of 22. To retain Finnish citizenship after the 22^nd birthday must be checked at the Finnish Immigration Service.  

Also so-called co-applicants (= child under 18 years on parent's declaration) will loose Finnish citizenship on their 22^nd birthday if they have not informed the Finnish authority that they would like to retain the Finnish citizenship on the 22^nd birthday. The written request must be submitted to the Consulate in Sydney between the age of 18-21 years or by applying a Finnish passport or by doing military service.

It is also important to inform change of address to the Population Data System as the System will send a reminder about retaining Finnish citizenship before a person is turning 22 years.

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Fact sheet > Retaining Finnish citizenship at the age of 22

Citizenship by Declaration ended on 2 June 2008

Under the new Nationality Act  (No. 359), which came into effect on June 1, 2003, former Finnish citizens were able to regain Finnish citizenship through a declaration procedure. This applied also to persons with a Finnish citizen or former Finnish citizen as a parent even though they never had Finnish citizenship before. The declaration procedure was valid until 2 June 2008. The large number of declarations received will delay the processing time up to several months.

It is not worth applying for a passport right after getting Finnish citizenship

When an applicant is granted Finnish citizenship by declaration, the citizenship will come into force retroactively on the day the declaration was submitted.  In practice this means that when a person gets a decision on Finnish citizenship he/she has already been a Finnish citizen for a while. The passport cannot be granted until the information on citizenship can be seen in the Finnish Population Data System. An applicant who has been granted Finnish citizenship must register his/her birth, marriage, child/children if any to the Finnish Population Data System.

To apply for a Finnish passport all applicants must apply in person at the Consulate in Sydney. Prior to applying for a passport applicant must check that his/her personal information is correct at the Population Data System.

Notification of birth and/or marriage to the Finnish Population Data System

All applicants who have received their decision on Finnish citizenship must register their birth, marriage and/or child/children to the Population Data System. The notification forms with attachments are send to the Consulate of Finland in Sydney by return registered post envelope. The original documents will be returned.

   Notification of marriage form

Attachments:

• Original official marriage certificate with an Apostille stamp. This certificate is issued by the Department of Birth, Death and Marriage and Apostille stamp by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (in New Zealand by the Department of Internal Affairs in Wellington).
• Certified copies of passports of both parties.

   Notification of birth form

Attachments:

• Original birth certificate with an Apostille stamp. This certificate is issued by the Department of Birth, Death and Marriage, and Apostille stamp by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (in New Zealand by the Department of Internal Affairs in Wellington).
• Certified copies of passport of parents.

Change of Address

A Finnish citizen living abroad can inform change of address direct to the Finnish Population Data System or sending the form to the Finnish Consulate in Sydney.

Change of Address form