Finland's official information service, InfoFinland, has published a comprehensive list of the rights and obligations that accompany Finnish citizenship, clearly distinguishing these entitlements from those available to permanent residents. The portal, which serves people living in or moving to Finland, detailed six specific rights that foreigners acquire upon naturalisation, alongside legal duties that extend beyond the country's borders.
Six Key Rights of Finnish Citizenship
According to InfoFinland, Finnish citizens are entitled to obtain a Finnish passport, a document that grants them the right to enter Finland at any time, including the right to refuse extradition to another country. Citizens aged 18 and above can vote in presidential elections, parliamentary elections, and referenda, and the same age threshold applies to those who wish to stand as candidates in parliamentary elections.
Finnish citizenship also opens the door to state positions that require citizenship as a condition of appointment. Beyond Finland's borders, citizens gain the full rights of European Union membership, which include the freedom to travel and work in any EU member state, as well as the right to vote and stand in EU elections.
Obligations Tied to the Finnish Passport
InfoFinland emphasised that Finnish citizenship carries specific obligations. All men aged 18 and above are subject to compulsory conscription, known in Finnish as asevelvollisuus, which requires participation in national defence or related service. Finnish law also follows citizens abroad, meaning a person who holds Finnish citizenship must obey Finnish laws even when outside the country, and can be tried and convicted in Finland for an offence committed on foreign soil.
InfoFinland stressed that these rights and obligations apply specifically to Finnish citizenship and are separate from the general rights that apply to all residents living in Finland.
Citizenship Requirements in Context
Legit.ng has also reported on residency years for foreigners who want to become Qatari citizens. In a separate report, Australia's Department of Home Affairs outlined the residence requirement foreigners must meet before applying for citizenship, specifying that applicants must have lived in Australia on a valid visa for a number of years before the date they apply, with rules on how much time outside Australia is allowed during that period.
