Retaining Finnish citizenship at the age of 22
If you are a dual citizen living overseas, you may lose your Finnish citizenship after turning 22. Finnish citizens who also hold citizenship of another country maintain their Finnish citizenship only if they have sufficient connections with Finland. More information:
Retaining Finnish citizenship at the age of 22 | Maahanmuuttovirasto (migri.fi)
Notification of retaining Finnish citizenship | Digital and population data services agency (dvv.fi)
Studying in Finland
In the Opintopolku portal (StudyInfo portal) you will find information on various education alternatives. On the site, you can apply in the Joint Application process for:
– universities of applied sciences (AMK’s) and universities
– high schools, vocational training and vocational teaching colleges
If you are applying for university-level studies in English, you will find more information at Study in Finland
If you are not a citizen of an EU or ETA country, or a family member of a citizen of one of those countries, and are coming to Finland to study for an English-language university degree, you must pay a tuition fee. Tuition fees are not charged for degrees taken in Finnish or Swedish.
Are you a Finnish citizen? If not, you may need to acquire a visa or a residence permit or you must register your right to residence in Finland when moving there. Read more on the subject at the website of the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri).
Finnish citizens, as well as citizens of other countries under certain conditions, are entitled for student allowances for studies in Finland. Read more on the website of KELA
Information about providers of student accommodation is available on the website of the
Suomen opiskelija-asunnot SOA ry . You can also arrange housing independently by searching for rented flats on the open market or on social media:
Conscription in Finland
The civic duty starts at the beginning of the year in which a young man reaches his eighteenth birthday and continues until the end of the year in which he turns sixty. In general, military service is carried out at the age of 19–20.
Foreign citizens who have gained Finnish citizenship and who have carried out the compulsory peacetime military service of their former home country, or a portion of if (at least four (4) months) can upon application be exempted from military service in peacetime. Decisions regarding exemption are made by the Regional Offices.
Regarding the conscription of a Finnish citizen who also holds Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or United States of America citizenship, is not liable for military service, nor does he need to carry out service in relation to his liability for military service in Finland during a time when he is considered to be a citizen of a contracting country other than Finland. Persons with multiple nationality living in these contracting countries do not need to apply separately for exemption as the aforementioned agreements apply to them. Persons with multiple nationalities living in the aforementioned contracting countries are encouraged to clarify their own position at the Finnish Embassy, consulate or their own supervisory Regional Office in Finland.
A person liable for military service is not obligated to report for the call-up or military service if he is also a citizen of another country and his place of domicile has been elsewhere than in Finland for the last seven years. Such persons do not need to apply separately for exemption.
An exempted multinational conscript can be ordered into service if he moves to Finland before the end of the year in which he turns 30.
Decisions on exemption as well as agreement interpretations are based on address and citizenship data of the population data system. Therefore it is a good idea to check with the population clerk or mission that your data is correct. In addition, multi-nationals coming from abroad to serve who are 21 years or older, should make sure that they are not about to lose, or have not lost their Finnish citizenship at the age of 22.
More information:
Conscript 2023 – guide for you who are getting prepared for your military service
Where can I get information on moving to Finland
OHJAAMO A One-Stop Guidance Center is a place for under 30-year-olds, where they can receive free assistance and support for various purposes from studying and employment to housing and everything in between. There are approximately 70 One-Stop Guidance Centers all over Finland from Rovaniemi to Hanko.
International House Helsinki provides a wide range of information and public authority services to meet the needs of international newcomers in the Helsinki capital region.
If you need more information, please contact the Finland Society advice service.