Shorter Period of Residence for Citizenship

by **finntee** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 10:43 pm

Hello,

If I understand correctly according to new law a person residing in Finland for 4 years on A permit can apply for finnish citizenship given the person demonstrates sufficient finnish language skills?

From the FAQ:
8. I have been residing in Finland for four years. May I acquire Finnish citizenship?
You can acquire Finnish citizenship after four years of continuous residence in Finland if you possess the language skills required for citizenship.

http://migri.fi/services/faq/citizenship

Would that mean person could go from A permit to citizenship without going through P permit? Comment please.

Thanks

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by **Rip** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 11:25 pm

you also need to have those 'close ties' that are not very well specified in the law. As such, P permit is never a requirement, but you should some permit until the citizenship has been granted (and the processing times can be long)

by **Kutittaa** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 3:21 pm

Mind you the application processing times for citizenship are extremely long. In some cases far longer than that for residency permits.

However I am not sure if you are legally allowed to stay in Finland whilst waiting for a decision on your citizenship application, like that of a residency permit application. Could someone clarify that? I couldn't find any information regarding that, but it's on the first page for residency permits on migri.

If you aren't granted the right to legally reside in Finland whilst waiting for a decision on your citizenship application then you would need the permanent residency permit or some other sort of permit/visa that lasts a long time just to be able to continously live in Finland until you got your decision anyway.

by **Upphew** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 4:15 pm

Kutittaa wrote:However I am not sure if you are legally allowed to stay in Finland whilst waiting for a decision on your citizenship application, like that of a residency permit application. Could someone clarify that? I couldn't find any information regarding that, but it's on the first page for residency permits on migri.

IANAL.
"Ulkomaalainen saa laillisesti oleskella maassa hakemuksen käsittelyn ajan, kunnes asia on lainvoimaisesti ratkaistu tai on tehty täytäntöönpanokelpoinen päätös ulkomaalaisen maasta poistamiseksi."
So I would say yes, you can stay legally. But working without RP might be illegal.

by **Rip** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 4:34 pm

Upphew - aren't you quoting from the Aliens Act while we are talking about citizenship applications. Two different laws. At least I have always assumed that without residence permit or residence permit application pending one's stay would be illegal, citizenship application would be rejected and residency period interrupted.

by **Upphew** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 4:49 pm

Rip wrote:Upphew - aren't you quoting from the Aliens Act while we are talking about citizenship applications. Two different laws. At least I have always assumed that without residence permit or residence permit application pending one's stay would be illegal, citizenship application would be rejected and residency period interrupted.

Isn't one alien until the citizenship application is processed and the result is positive?

edit. and I'm really not a lawyer. The IANAL was there for a reason.

by **Rip** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 8:01 pm

Upphew wrote:Isn't one alien until the citizenship application is processed and the result is positive?

Sure, but if they say the (in Aliens Act) that a foreigner may stay while his application is being processed, then I think fairly obviously the "application" is an application made under the rules of Aliens Act (regarding residence permit), and not an application for job, library card or citizenship (governed by another law).

by **finntee** » Wed Apr 11, 2012 10:19 am

My original question was so it has been a shift of policy, early you couldn't get citizenship with 4 years of A residence permit and now you can with the only thing required is good finnish language skills?

17. I have lived in Finland for four years and want to apply for Finnish citizenship. How do I prove my language skills?
The standard residency requirement is five years. If you have attained the language skills required for citizenship before you have been a resident for five years, you may apply for citizenship earlier, that is, after four years of continuous residence in Finland.
Read more about the methods of proving language skills.

It seems the new processing time for citizenship application will be maximum 6 months:
http://migri.fi/services/processing_tim ... ar_at_best

by **Upphew** » Wed Apr 11, 2012 10:45 am

finntee wrote:It seems the new processing time for citizenship application will be maximum 6 months:
http://migri.fi/services/processing_tim ... ar_at_best

Will be _minimum_ 6 months according to the link you provided.

by **Kutittaa** » Thu Apr 12, 2012 6:45 am

I doubt there has ever been a case of a citizenship application taking only 6 months for a decision in the last few years.

by **finntee** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 6:24 am

Ok

When applying for citizenship application if one has a permanent residency visa for another country (canada, usa etc.), can that affect the citizenship application e.g. if the migri people allege that the person does not have plans to stay in finland permanently ?

Thanks

by **Rip** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 6:35 am

I don't work there, but it would sound strange if it did have any effect.

by **Upphew** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 8:25 am

finntee wrote:When applying for citizenship application if one has a permanent residency visa for another country (canada, usa etc.), can that affect the citizenship application e.g. if the migri people allege that the person does not have plans to stay in finland permanently ?

"Requirements

You may obtain Finnish citizenship if

your identity has been established beyond doubt
you have reached the age of 18
you meet the residential period requirement, meaning that you have lived in Finland for a sufficient length of time
you meet the integrity requirement
you have not neglected your payment obligations
you have established your means of livelihood
you have sufficient language skills"

Dunno how "permanent residency visa" works in Canada or USA but Finnish Residence Permit is cancelled if you move out permanently or if you have been abroad for two years.

by **ailema4ever** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 10:38 pm

Mine took only 6 months.

I decided to risk it and apply for it right after my 4 year mark was reached and I was SO glad I got a decision already months before the last RP expired. At almost the same time, I also read in this forum of someone else getting his citizenship in about 6 months.

P.S. I applied for it in March 2011.

by **Kutittaa** » Tue Apr 24, 2012 7:49 am

Well everything probably checked out really well for both you and the other person you read about. You may have just been an easy case and/or had been picked from the pile early on.