Registration of citizenship

You can have several citizenships recorded in the Population Information System. The Digital and Population Data Services Agency will record your citizenship in the Population Information System based on a valid passport, the original decision on naturalisation or some other reliable evidence.

If you are a Finnish citizen, you have the obligation to notify the Finnish Population Information System of the foreign citizenship you have received.

Losing Finnish citizenship

If you are a citizen of both Finland and another state, you may automatically lose your Finnish citizenship when you turn 22. If you have a sufficient connection with Finland, you will not lose your Finnish citizenship. You have a sufficient connection with Finland, for example, if you have between the ages of 18 and 22 informed the Digital and Population Data Services Agency or a Finnish diplomatic mission of your wish to retain your Finnish citizenship or you have applied for a Finnish passport or identity card, which has been granted to you. If you suspect that you may have lost your Finnish citizenship, contact a Finnish diplomatic mission or the Digital and Population Data Services Agency.

Do the following

• Deliver the original decision or certificate of your citizenship to the Digital and Population Data Services Agency or present a valid passport.
• If you are a Finnish citizen, you can also deliver an account of the situation to the nearest Finnish diplomatic mission.
• See also the separate instructions concerning the possible requirements to legalise the decision or certificate. 

See separate instructions for legalisation

Instructions for submitting foreign documents

• If you are applying for Finnish citizenship, contact the Finnish Immigration Service.

Frequently asked questions