Citizenship application 2025

[burcu1]

Hi! Anyone from March 2024 has any updates?

I've become really desperate to receive the decision in January.

I was on a fast queue since I'm married to a finnish citizen. I applied 20ish March and received a diary number a week later. Last year I was told the maximum waiting time is 9 months. I called them in December asking about update, the told me I should expect it very soon. I called them again this week and they said now they can't say how long is processing time as it is 9-31 months for everyone now starting from January 1st. My life is a nightmare, I wake up and check my email first thing in the morning.
The reason I'm so frustrated is that I can not plan my life any further until I get my decision. I can't travel, I can't have business trips, I can't apply for any interesting projects abroad just because I'm waiting and changes to my situation might affect the decision.
What I don't understand even more is that some people who applied later than me have already received their decisions. And migri confirms there's nothing wrong with my application and I just should wait.

Phew. Please say something reassuring so I don't lose my faith entirely.

I am exactly in same situation with you. I applied around end of March (diary: 32xx) and still waiting anxiously.

[TUserFin]

If they are checking, it is understandable. But they let the applications sitting there for 2 years and then they start processinf.

Life can be unfair... but I can tell you I tried to utilize so many channels to solve this... at least I tried, and this gives satisfaction that I analyzed and did everything what is possible including risk analysis with a lawyer.

I also dont like many things what the gov said about immigrants or the laws they are introducing, but for me it is also important to stay above this. In many other aspects of this life Im well above 98% of finnish passport holders, and I will get there with citezenship decision.

[Sergo]

Exactly, now they changed the policy that they can not give 9 months timeline anymore, they can just say 9-31. I called them on december and they said that my application would take 9 months but then I called again last week and then they had a new update that they could not give 9 months anymore, only thing they know is 9-31. They said my application is normal and nothing wrong with it, but just wait then.

I was so dissapointed because it seems that, they do not care how we feel anymore, we are more and more losing tracks with our applications. The only we know now is 9-31, anytime in between.

I am frustrated because I can not travel, I can but then I do not want to travel when i am in the middle of something and it does not give me joy or peace to travel. I told them about that and then they said, please wait patiently.

Hello, you are not alone, I have been waiting since August 2022.

You are also an entrepreneur?

Ei

[Drink7up]

Hi! Anyone from March 2024 has any updates?

I've become really desperate to receive the decision in January.

I was on a fast queue since I'm married to a finnish citizen. I applied 20ish March and received a diary number a week later. Last year I was told the maximum waiting time is 9 months. I called them in December asking about update, the told me I should expect it very soon. I called them again this week and they said now they can't say how long is processing time as it is 9-31 months for everyone now starting from January 1st. My life is a nightmare, I wake up and check my email first thing in the morning.
The reason I'm so frustrated is that I can not plan my life any further until I get my decision. I can't travel, I can't have business trips, I can't apply for any interesting projects abroad just because I'm waiting and changes to my situation might affect the decision.
What I don't understand even more is that some people who applied later than me have already received their decisions. And migri confirms there's nothing wrong with my application and I just should wait.

Phew. Please say something reassuring so I don't lose my faith entirely.

same story, but the only difference is that my application is in stage 2 since 30th of december, i even tried calling them and they did not give me a proper answer about my my decision hasnt been made yet.they asked me to wait further. it is very condusing because in this forum usuallu people get their decision either the same day when their processing begins or in a week but i have been waiting since 2 weeks and no update.
The best thing i do to releive my stress is that i draft a long and a very mean email to migri and write all the mean things i can possibly think of and then save the email in my drafts and never send it because obvisouly they are human beings and dont deserve my wrath and another mean email causing them mental distress. But one day if i lose my patience, they will read whatever mean things i have written about them

[Koivu_]

Citizens of the European Union, how long have you been waiting for your decision?
I’ve been waiting for 9 months, since 5 April 2024. My number is 30xx.

EU citizen, waitink since 2nd of April 2024, 28xx

I’m trying to figure out if EU citizens are all in the long line or not.

When i emailed them some weeks ago they told me my case should take 9 months, so pretty much now.

[apt_e]

Hi! Anyone from March 2024 has any updates?

I've become really desperate to receive the decision in January.

I was on a fast queue since I'm married to a finnish citizen. I applied 20ish March and received a diary number a week later. Last year I was told the maximum waiting time is 9 months. I called them in December asking about update, the told me I should expect it very soon. I called them again this week and they said now they can't say how long is processing time as it is 9-31 months for everyone now starting from January 1st. My life is a nightmare, I wake up and check my email first thing in the morning.
The reason I'm so frustrated is that I can not plan my life any further until I get my decision. I can't travel, I can't have business trips, I can't apply for any interesting projects abroad just because I'm waiting and changes to my situation might affect the decision.
What I don't understand even more is that some people who applied later than me have already received their decisions. And migri confirms there's nothing wrong with my application and I just should wait.

Phew. Please say something reassuring so I don't lose my faith entirely.

I got my dairy number late March, so also waiting anxiously. Still stage 1. In my case, I am also married to a Finn (and that's the reason I am in Finland), but we are going through divorce rn. I don't think being married affects the application if you are not in your 80s and must prove your Finnish skills. I haven't asked Migri how long I should still wait, but I hope we will both be celebrating soon.

[kurkkutabletti]

Thank you all for your kind replies! It gives me some relief knowing I'm not alone. I hope we all get the decision very soon.

[EllisPhoenix]

Someone from this forum contacted chancelor of justice about long queue and they did do an investigation and made a statement. Maybe someone who is an entrepreneur and have been waiting for a long time should contact chamceor of justice and ask them why being an entrepreneur translates being put in the long queue. It's not that they are doing some checks all that time. The applications just sit in the queue unti it starts processing. So then migri needs to have a valid reason for automatically placing the entrepreneurs in the long queue.

In short, they need to check that our income is coming from legal activities which cannot be done quickly or automatically. So if person is employed or doesn't work, than the job for them is easier - feels weird, but this is how the world works here.

If they are checking, it is understandable. But they let the applications sitting there for 2 years and then they start processinf.

That’s the problem!
Entrepreneur here who received citizenship end of 2024 after applying in 2022.
I got an answer over 3 weeks after starting the processing phase and while others get a answer in few hours and I get that. They asked me to send extra company papers in the meantime and probably checked my business, taxes etc.
But the fact that my application sat there for 2 years before the processing even started with nothing happening JUST because I am an entrepreneur is wrong and frustrating.

[Auringon_kukka]

In short, they need to check that our income is coming from legal activities which cannot be done quickly or automatically. So if person is employed or doesn't work, than the job for them is easier - feels weird, but this is how the world works here.

If they are checking, it is understandable. But they let the applications sitting there for 2 years and then they start processinf.

That’s the problem!
Entrepreneur here who received citizenship end of 2024 after applying in 2022.
I got an answer over 3 weeks after starting the processing phase and while others get a answer in few hours and I get that. They asked me to send extra company papers in the meantime and probably checked my business, taxes etc.
But the fact that my application sat there for 2 years before the processing even started with nothing happening JUST because I am an entrepreneur is wrong and frustrating.

That was my experience as well as a toiminimi. Processing started 23 months after submission of application in 2022. Received two requests for information, so supplied additional documents. Decision came about two weeks after that. I, too, fail to understand why the pile for people whose income is based on self-employment, etc., is allowed to sit there for so long. The fact that we're able to respond quickly, provide the requested information and allay any "fears" migri may have is proof that we don't need to be handled with kid gloves!

[approw1903]

If they are checking, it is understandable. But they let the applications sitting there for 2 years and then they start processinf.

That’s the problem!
Entrepreneur here who received citizenship end of 2024 after applying in 2022.
I got an answer over 3 weeks after starting the processing phase and while others get a answer in few hours and I get that. They asked me to send extra company papers in the meantime and probably checked my business, taxes etc.
But the fact that my application sat there for 2 years before the processing even started with nothing happening JUST because I am an entrepreneur is wrong and frustrating.

That was my experience as well as a toiminimi. Processing started 23 months after submission of application in 2022. Received two requests for information, so supplied additional documents. Decision came about two weeks after that. I, too, fail to understand why the pile for people whose income is based on self-employment, etc., is allowed to sit there for so long. The fact that we're able to respond quickly, provide the requested information and allay any "fears" migri may have is proof that we don't need to be handled with kid gloves!

Surely this is very sad. Also true that Migri does not officially mention this information on their website? This adds to even more confusion.

[antant]

I speculate this is because the residence permit for an entrepreneur is relatively easy to obtain compared to other permits and it is valid for 2 years. I would not be surprised if some people fake it to get into the country and Migri are aware of such cases so they are extra careful.

[Maaria]

That’s the problem!
Entrepreneur here who received citizenship end of 2024 after applying in 2022.
I got an answer over 3 weeks after starting the processing phase and while others get a answer in few hours and I get that. They asked me to send extra company papers in the meantime and probably checked my business, taxes etc.
But the fact that my application sat there for 2 years before the processing even started with nothing happening JUST because I am an entrepreneur is wrong and frustrating.

That was my experience as well as a toiminimi. Processing started 23 months after submission of application in 2022. Received two requests for information, so supplied additional documents. Decision came about two weeks after that. I, too, fail to understand why the pile for people whose income is based on self-employment, etc., is allowed to sit there for so long. The fact that we're able to respond quickly, provide the requested information and allay any "fears" migri may have is proof that we don't need to be handled with kid gloves!

Surely this is very sad. Also true that Migri does not officially mention this information on their website? This adds to even more confusion.

Exactly! No mention of this, because it cant be justified. It needs to be brought to chamcelor of justice. Maybe someone or multiple people who already have waited so long can submit a question/complaint or maybe people who have already received their decions can do that, if people who are waiting are afraid of adverse result.

[com_posed]

I asked this recently, but thought I’d try again. Has anyone been an ”entrepreneur” with the vast majority of your income coming from cultural grants or perhaps as a private researcher? What has been your experience?

My toiminimi is rather a formality as it receives little to no money. I as a private person on the other hand receive grants directly. So not sure what category this puts me into.

[Auringon_kukka]

I speculate this is because the residence permit for an entrepreneur is relatively easy to obtain compared to other permits and it is valid for 2 years. I would not be surprised if some people fake it to get into the country and Migri are aware of such cases so they are extra careful.

Possibly, but I did not come to Finland on an entrepreneur's permit. My permit was based on family ties (Finnish spouse; permit valid for four years). Once your income comes from self-employment, your application goes into a different pile. The nature of your residence permit has no bearing on the matter, from what I can see.

[EllisPhoenix]

I speculate this is because the residence permit for an entrepreneur is relatively easy to obtain compared to other permits and it is valid for 2 years. I would not be surprised if some people fake it to get into the country and Migri are aware of such cases so they are extra careful.

Possibly, but I did not come to Finland on an entrepreneur's permit. My permit was based on family ties (Finnish spouse; permit valid for four years). Once your income comes from self-employment, your application goes into a different pile. The nature of your residence permit has no bearing on the matter, from what I can see.

Neither did I. I came to Finland with a normal job, no permit in advance, just registered here at arrival because I am from a EU country, one year later I got admitted to university, got a master degree here and only after that I opened my toiminimi.

The multiple queues system is unfair, especially considering how confusing it is. Zero transparency.
I really hope for the mental health of future applicants that they find a better way to handle applications soon.