Conditions for Citizenship

[mrshourula]

This is from the brochure sent to my daughter just after her 18th birthday. She has obtained her Finnish passport (which now requires an in-person appearance at either the Finnish Embassy in D.C. or one the Consulates, which are located in NYC and LA-- or a trip to Finland!) and she also submitted a letter to the Finnish Consulate in Los Angeles just to be safe.
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How to retain Finnish citizenship

You may retain your Finnish citizenship on the basis of sufficiently close ties with Finland, WHICH MAY BE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:

• you were born in Finland and are domiciled in Finland when you turn 22, or

• you have lived in Finland or another Nordic country (Denmark, Iceland, Norway or Sweden) for a total of seven years before your 22nd birthday, or

• you were issued a Finnish passport when you were 18-21 years old, or

• you have done your military or non-military service in Finland when you were 18-21 years old, or

• you have submitted a declaration at the age 18-21 to a Finnish diplomatic mission abroad (except honorary consulates) or a local register office in Finland that you wish to retain your Finnish citizenship. This is a freeform declaration and may be submitted in person or sent by post.

http://www.uvi.fi/netcomm/content.asp?path=8,2477,2551

[mrshourula]

This is just a one-in-a-lifetime gift to former citizens and their descendants.

When Finland revised its nationality act in 2003 the expatriot community (through the Finnish Expatriot Parliament) lobbied successfully for a way for former citizens and their descendants to reclaim something they lost (their citizenship) under the old law but would now have been able to retain under the new law.

It is just a little period of equity adjustment. FYI: during the period 1 June 2003 – 30 September 2006, 7 073 citizenship declarations have been made.

[Meri-Tuuli]

Oh I see now, thanks.

My mother's a member of the Finnish Expatriot Parliament!

I hope it all goes well for your daughter and you get a shiny new Finnish passport!