Finnish citizenship test – what is known so far
KansalaisuusKoe.org is an independent educational resource explaining Finnish society, history, institutions, rights and everyday life — the areas of knowledge relevant to citizenship and integration requirements.
Browse study topicsWhat is publicly known about the citizenship test
As part of the reform of the Finnish Citizenship Act, the Government has announced the introduction of a formal citizenship test as an element of the naturalisation process. This test forms part of the broader legislative package adopted by Parliament in stages.
Publicly available information confirms that the test is intended to assess an applicant’s knowledge of Finnish society, democratic institutions, fundamental rights and duties, and everyday civic life. At this stage, no official question bank, detailed format, or scoring rules have been published.
The preparation of the test is ongoing. Further details are expected to be communicated by the authorities once the implementation phase progresses.
Using this site to prepare
Although the detailed format of the Finnish citizenship test has not yet been published, the areas of knowledge it draws from are well established. They are based on Finnish law, democratic institutions, civic practice, and the principles governing everyday life in Finland.
This site brings together those areas in a structured way. You can use it to familiarise yourself with the topics commonly expected in citizenship and integration contexts, and to build a solid understanding of how Finnish society functions.
The articles below explain key themes such as the constitutional system, democratic participation, fundamental rights and duties, public authorities, and social structures. Each article also includes questions that allow you to check your understanding as you progress.
To illustrate the type of knowledge covered, you can try a short set of sample questions below.
Sample civic knowledge questions
These questions are illustrative examples based on publicly known civic topics. They are not official test questions.
The purpose of these questions is to demonstrate the scope and type of civic knowledge covered across the study topics.
Study topics
Foundations of the Finnish State
Independence, constitution, separation of powers, rule of law
Democracy & Political Participation
Elections, parties, referendums, citizens’ initiatives
Rights, Freedoms & Duties
Fundamental rights, equality, civic responsibilities
Justice, Law & Public Order
Courts, police, legal protection, rule of law
Society & Welfare
Education, work, family life, social security
Language, Culture & Identity
Languages, culture, customs, equality
Finland in the World
European Union, foreign policy, international cooperation
Economy & Environment
Economy, taxation, environment, infrastructure
History Beyond Independence
Earlier history and key historical developments
Living in Finland
Residence, participation, everyday civic life
Citizenship test – implementation timeline
The Finnish citizenship test is part of a multi-phase reform of the Citizenship Act. While several legislative changes are already in force, the test itself has not yet been introduced. The timeline below summarises what is publicly known so far.
This timeline reflects publicly available information from Finnish authorities and media reporting. Details may change as the legislative process continues.