Frequently asked questions about loss of citizenship

Yes. It is also possible for a person who has acquired Finnish citizenship by birth to lose it if they have such close ties to their other state of citizenship that the loss of citizenship does not amount to an unreasonable interference with their private and family life.

The decision is always based on an overall assessment of the person’s situation. In the assessment, the authorities consider ties to different states of citizenship, including knowledge of the languages used in those states, places of residence and residence history, family members and relatives, education and studies, as well as employment and other economic activities. The assessment also takes into account possible consequences for the person’s family members.

Loss of citizenship as a punishment is not compatible with the current Finnish system. Deciding on the loss of citizenship also requires an investigation of the person’s other citizenships, in which the expertise of the Finnish Immigration Service is needed. In addition, the overall assessment of the person’s ties to Finland and other states falls within the remit of the immigration administration.

The authority deciding on the loss of citizenship must weigh the person's ties to different states of citizenship, among other things. Because the law allows a certain degree of discretion, citizenship cannot automatically be lost by operation of law.  

The threshold for intervening in the legal status of Finnish citizens by revoking their citizenship is high. Loss of citizenship on account of committing an offence requires that the person has been found guilty of the offence and the judgment is final. A decision cannot be made when the person is only suspected of an offence or when a charge against the person is still being heard in court.  

In accordance with the European Convention on Nationality, a child cannot lose their Finnish citizenship only because their parents lose their citizenship due to committing an offence. Furthermore, citizenship cannot be lost on the basis of an offence committed when the person was under 18 years of age.  

The true gravity of the offence must be a decisive factor. Based on Finland's general sentencing practice, a sentence of imprisonment for at least two years is one prerequisite for losing citizenship. 

The legislative amendment on the loss of citizenship entered into force on 1 May 2019. In 2025, the act was amended so that it is slightly more common for a person to lose their citizenship on the grounds of committing an offence. 

It is difficult to estimate the number of offences that may result in loss of citizenship in the future. In any event, losing citizenship is an exceptional sanction that can only be decided on the grounds of crimes that seriously endanger Finland's vital interests.

According to information received from the Legal Register Centre, there were a total of 14 criminal cases in courts in 2015–2024 where the most serious offence was a treason offence, a high treason offence or a terrorist offence. No information is available on the citizenship status of these defendants. 

Based on international comparisons, the number of cases is expected to be rather small.

A decision on the loss of citizenship is made based on the final judgment. The law in force at the time the act was committed applies to the loss of citizenship. 

A person may lose their Finnish citizenship if they have committed a treason offence, a high treason offence or a terrorist offence for which the most severe punishment provided by law is imprisonment for at least six years. These offences include compromising the sovereignty of Finland, incitement to war, treason, aggravated treason, espionage, aggravated espionage, unauthorised intelligence activities, high treason and aggravated high treason.

Citizenship can also be lost on the grounds of the following offences when they are committed with a terrorist intent: aggravated theft, aggravated theft of a motor vehicle for temporary use involving a motor vehicle suitable for public or goods transport, criminal mischief, criminal traffic mischief, endangerment of health, aggravated criminal damage, an aggravated firearms offence, a defence materiel export offence, aggravated criminal damage to data, aggravated interference with communications, aggravated interference with an information system, violation of the prohibition of chemical weapons, violation of the prohibition of biological weapons, intentional aggravated degradation of the environment, aggravated assault, female genital mutilation, aggravated trafficking in human beings, hostage taking, aggravated criminal mischief, aggravated endangerment of health, a nuclear device offence, hijacking, killing, manslaughter, murder, and an offence committed with a terrorist intent relating to a radiological weapon. A further condition is that the crime was committed against the vital interests of Finland.

The following terrorist offences may also constitute grounds for losing citizenship: directing a terrorist group, participating in the activities of a terrorist group, providing training for the purpose of committing a terrorist offence, recruitment for the purpose of committing a terrorist offence, financing a terrorist offence, financing a terrorist and financing a terrorist group. Citizenship can be lost on the grounds of these offences only if the act was specifically committed against the vital interests of Finland.

The true gravity of the offence must be a decisive factor. For this reason, the loss of citizenship also requires the individual to have been sentenced to unconditional imprisonment or a combination sentence for at least two years.

Under section 9, subsection 3 of the Constitution of Finland, Finnish citizens may not be prevented from entering Finland. This prohibition is also contained in Article 3 of Protocol No. 4 to the European Convention on Human Rights. A Finnish citizen may still be prosecuted and sentenced in Finland for offences they have committed abroad.

The premise is that the Finnish Immigration Service does not contact the authorities of a possible other country of citizenship. For example, a valid national passport that shows no signs of forgery and whose authenticity is not in doubt can be accepted as proof of citizenship of another country.

When determining the citizenship status of a person, all information obtained is compared with the Finnish Immigration Service’s information on citizenship legislation of different countries and with country-specific practices.

The Service’s archives can also provide information on the person’s past citizenship. For example, if a person presents a certificate issued by the competent authority of their former state of citizenship stating that they have lost or been released from that citizenship, the certificate must be considered sufficient proof that they no longer hold that citizenship.

When deciding on the loss of citizenship, the person's ties to Finland and their other country of citizenship are assessed. To revoke Finnish citizenship, the person must have sufficient ties to their other country of citizenship. However, the assessment does not take into account a country where the person may live as a foreign national on the basis of a residence permit, for example.

A decision on the loss of citizenship is based on a final judgment in a criminal matter. If non-disclosable information is excluded from the parties’ right of access to information in criminal proceedings, it is essential for their protection under the law that they have had the opportunity to refer the matter to higher court instances for review.

A person's possible other citizenships cannot always be confirmed. In addition, the person may give up their other citizenship before losing Finnish citizenship.

Nevertheless, the existence of such legislation may have a preventive effect. A person who has committed a specific offence may lose their Finnish citizenship, after which they may be deported from Finland.

A decision on the loss of citizenship may be made once the judgment has become final in Finland and can no longer be appealed against in Finland. Possible deportation may be considered after the decision on the loss of citizenship is final and cannot be appealed against in Finland.

If a party appeals to an international judicial or investigative body and that body prohibits the enforcement of the decision, Finnish authorities must comply with this prohibition.

International treaties binding on Finland affect the contents of the national provisions on the loss of citizenship. Under these treaties, it is possible to issue provisions on the loss of citizenship on the grounds that a person's behaviour has seriously endangered Finland's vital interests.

Documents interpreting key international treaties provide clear guidelines on what constitutes behaviour that seriously endangers Finland's vital interests. Such behaviour only covers

A district court notifies the Finnish Immigration Service of criminal convictions that may result in loss of citizenship. Citizenship can only be lost on the basis of a criminal conviction issued in Finland. The principle is that citizenship falls within the competence of the state. Consequently, the power to decide on the loss of citizenship is not, even indirectly, transferred to any other state.

No.