Is Language test necessary

[vertigo28]

Hi all

I would like to know, If my spouse is Finnish Citizen and I am a Chinese, do i need to write the Finnish Language test to get the Finnish citizenship or is it just enough that we live together for more or less than 4 years.

Appreciate your replies.

Regards

[Rosamunda]

You have to take the language test.

[onkko]

hmmm... first comes in mind word "idiot" but....

Do you really think that finnish citizenship is just some stamp in paper? You dont get only priviledges but also responsibilities and you need to understand what is going to happen so you need finnish.
Getting citizenship is way more than just stamp in paper.

[AldenG]

Being married to a Finn gets you the right, more or less, to reside in Finland with your Finnish spouse as long as the immigration authorities believe it is a real marriage and there are no criminal grounds to exclude you.

Becoming a citizen is more of a privilege above that basic level and has to be earned to some extent.

The above is a simplification but it covers the basic idea.

[interleukin]

Just to add if others read the thread later, that the language test per se is not necessary, but it is the most common and the clearest way to prove your language skills. If you already know Finnish or Swedish or Finnish sign language, such as from having your education done in those languages, it is enough to prove that. For example a Swede that wants to become a Finnish citizen needs to just show papers from e.g. high school in Swedish. The same if you have been in Finland previously and e.g. finished high school (the Finnish equivalent) and you move back abroad later. If you come back, the graduation papers you showing you have a degree that was made in Finnish is enough to fulfill the language requirement. (Same case if the person has done elementary school in Vasa or Åland islands and thus can prove they know Swedish).

These examples are of course pretty rare compared to the normal cases. For the OP this is all most likely irrelevant and they will need to take the test. Being married to a Finn does not change this (as mentioned already), it just a) gives you the right to live here in the first place and b) it shortens the time you have to live in Finland to be allowed to apply for citizenship.

[raskarhu]

hmmm... first comes in mind word "idiot" but....

Do you really think that finnish citizenship is just some stamp in paper? You dont get only priviledges but also responsibilities and you need to understand what is going to happen so you need finnish.
Getting citizenship is way more than just stamp in paper.

Oh my God, is what first comes to my mind when I read Onkko's post. Indeed, oh my God ... is the impression you want to give to foreigners asking a simple question that Finland is a country full of w^°k@!s that start barking at people whenever they do not live up to your standards?

Grow up man and go insult people on the street, would really like to see how far you'd go

h yeah, well, don't bother answering because I think I already know what your answer'll be, something along the lines of 'well, if is simple question, answer is simple too, rant, rant rant...' all written in an excruciatingly bad English.

And just for the record: yes, Finnish nationality is finally, athe end of the day, after all, ultimately nothing more than a simple stamp on a paper...

[NanaM]

It kind of makes sense to me that a proficiency in at least one of the official languages is necesssary to get citizenship.

Swedes seem to more cool about it though. As far as I know, language tests are not mandatory to get the Swedish nationality by application.

[AldenG]

There are a few other privileges accorded the spouse of a Finn.

For instance, you don't have to show the ability to support yourself in order to get the residence permit I mentioned. Most other categories of people do have to show means of support to get a residence permit.

And once you receive that permit, you are entitled to certain social services including national health insurance, support for university studies (to a comparable extent as citizens), and others.

Things you don't get without citizenship include the right to vote, the right to stay in Finland even after being in serious trouble with the law, the right to go abroad for years and then return to Finland without getting any kind of permission, and others.

I mention these because sometimes people who ask this question think that right-of-residence is the same thing as citizenship or nearly so.

Right of residence is a substantial thing in itself. Many spouses of Finns become longtime permanent residents but never do seek citizenship. If they have become really comfortable in the language (only a small minority do), their experience may differ little from that of citizens, apart from not voting.

Of course sometimes people come to Finland from countries with authoritarian governments. Finnish citizenship or some other second citizenship then provides important protection around the world (though not in the country of origin). For instance, someone who ended up in jail in a third country might be deported to their country of citizenship at the end of the jail term and it might be important to avoid being sent back to the country of birth. Thus Finnish citizenship can have implications and benefits beyond the borders of Finland.

When you have dual citizenship, the country of first citizenship generally does not recognize (but may tolerate) the second citizenship. Thus it would be no protection for a Chinese person facing legal problems of any kind in China. In fact, some countries do not recognize renunciation of citizenship. So even though a person receives Finnish citizenship and then renounces their citizenship from their birth country, the birth country may still consider them a citizen and assume the right to treat them as such anywhere in the world.

[Rob A.]

When you have dual citizenship, the country of first citizenship generally does not recognize (but may tolerate) the second citizenship. Thus it would be no protection for a Chinese person facing legal problems of any kind in China. In fact, some countries do not recognize renunciation of citizenship. So even though a person receives Finnish citizenship and then renounces their citizenship from their birth country, the birth country may still consider them a citizen and assume the right to treat them as such anywhere in the world.

Here's an explanation .....the "Master Nationality Rule"

....and I see, though I haven't check into this,
the US, Australia and Canada have an additional agreement with China. Many countries....and it's typically the "harsher" countries, take a rather "dim view" of dual citizenship...some even view it as a criminal offense....

[CH]

When you have dual citizenship, the country of first citizenship generally does not recognize (but may tolerate) the second citizenship. Thus it would be no protection for a Chinese person facing legal problems of any kind in China. In fact, some countries do not recognize renunciation of citizenship. So even though a person receives Finnish citizenship and then renounces their citizenship from their birth country, the birth country may still consider them a citizen and assume the right to treat them as such anywhere in the world.

As China was mentioned here... China doesn't recognize dual citizenship. As soon as one takes another citizenship one looses the Chinese citizenship.

[sy]

It seems that people holding Hong Kong SAR passports can have dual citizenships.

Also it is reported recently that many preganent Chinese citizens travels to USA with non-immigration visas to deliver babies there. These babies will get USA citizenship by birth. However when parents travels back with babies to China, Chinese embassy won't issue visas to these babies. The embassy regards that these babies are still Chinese citizens. This implies that China accepts dual citizenships in some situations.

[interleukin]

I would think that it is rather the case that the Chinese government does not consider the children as US citizens at all, only Chinese citizens.

[vagrant]

@ vertigo28

I am only guessing why some pretty hardworking nations always recieve so negative replies.

Better start next time:


I am guy from morocco who is falling in love with beautiful finnish woman, now I married her, we have three children. It so hard to find any job in finland, so participated in some courses and but never worked. Could I apply now for finnish citizenship?
who could send me a link?
Then you will definitely will recieve very kind replies and tonns of links.


Seriously, you could apply for finnish citizenship w/o language test, the only risk that you will loose your application fee. There are numerous exceptions, e.g. you are company holder which provides some working places to locals, the more aborigines the better ,so you do not have enought time to learn language while working on boosting finnish economy. Another exeption is single mothers (often refugee), probably not relevant to you.

BTW all chinese I've ever met learn local language in one year =)))

[Bob A]

I'd be interested to know what a Finnish language test is like. Is it entirely written or does it include a face to face interview? Do you have link with more with detail? Thanks.

[Upphew]

I'd be interested to know what a Finnish language test is like. Is it entirely written or does it include a face to face interview? Do you have link with more with detail? Thanks.

http://www.oph.fi/english/mobility/test ... age_skills