Finland Overhauls Citizenship Path with Mandatory Test from 2027

Finland's Parliament has approved significant changes to its Citizenship Act, introducing a mandatory citizenship test for the first time. The new legislation, passed on June 18, 2026, aims to ensure that new citizens have a foundational understanding of Finnish society.

The new rules will officially enter into force on January 1, 2027, and will apply to all citizenship applications submitted on or after March 1, 2027. The test will assess knowledge of Finnish society, history, and culture and will be available in both Finnish and Swedish. The Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) will be responsible for organizing the test and plans to release study materials for applicants in autumn 2026.

This reform marks a fundamental shift in Finland's naturalization process. Previously, requirements focused on residency, integrity, and language proficiency. The addition of a civic knowledge test aligns Finland with several other European countries and adds a new, distinct step for individuals on their path to becoming Finnish citizens.

Norway's Immigration Agency Reports Severe Processing Delays, with Permanent Residence

On June 25, 2026, the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) updated its processing time estimates, revealing extensive backlogs across nearly all permit categories. The new figures highlight significant challenges for applicants seeking long-term security in the country, with thousands facing prolonged uncertainty.

The estimated waiting time for a permanent residence permit now stands at 24 months for work-based applicants and 25 months for those who applied through family or asylum tracks. According to UDI, 5,541 people are currently in the queue for a decision. Asylum applications face a 17-month wait, while residence cards for family members of EEA nationals take approximately six months. For some family immigration cases, applicants may wait up to six months after submitting documents before UDI even begins processing their application.

These extended timelines create practical difficulties for residents, affecting their ability to travel, plan for the future, and fully integrate. UDI advises applicants to ensure they renew their temporary permits while waiting for a decision on permanent residency. The agency states that the waiting times are estimates and can change, and that it cannot provide more specific timelines even if contacted directly.

Denmark Proposes Restricting Residence Permits for Military-Age Ukrainian Men

The Danish government announced on June 26, 2026, that it has drafted a bill to amend the "Special Act on Ukraine," which grants temporary protection to those displaced by the war. The proposed change aims to prevent Ukrainian men of military age from obtaining residence permits in Denmark.

Under the proposal, Ukrainian men aged 23 to 60 who are not exempt from military service in Ukraine would no longer be eligible for a residence permit. Immigration and Integration Minister Morten Bødskov stated, "it is not intended that our residence rules be used to avoid mobilisation into the Ukrainian defence forces." The government emphasized its strong support for Ukraine's fight for freedom as the motivation for the change.

If passed by parliament, the new rules would apply only to new applications and would not affect residence permits that have already been granted. The move signals a potential shift in policy among European nations, as Poland and the Czech Republic have also recently discussed measures to tighten conditions for temporary protection for military-age Ukrainian men.

Norwegian Supreme Court Ruling Alters Asylum Assessment Rules

Following a key Supreme Court decision, the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) announced on June 17, 2026, that it has changed its practice for assessing protection applications. The ruling establishes new legal precedent for how asylum claims are evaluated.

The Supreme Court determined that UDI can no longer take an applicant's other existing residence permits in Norway into account when assessing their right to individual protection (asylum). This reverses a 2022 instruction that had allowed UDI to refuse asylum applications from individuals who already held another type of valid permit in the country.

This change has a direct impact on a specific group of applicants. UDI has clarified that it will not automatically re-assess previous applications that were denied on these grounds. Instead, individuals who believe they were wrongly refused protection because they held another permit must submit a new application to have their case re-evaluated under the new legal framework.

Finland Projects Growth in Work Permits, Decline in Student Applications for 2026

On June 29, 2026, the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) released updated forecasts for application volumes in 2026 and 2027, indicating a shift in the composition of immigration to the country. The projections show a growing demand for foreign labor alongside a decrease in interest from international students.

Migri now estimates it will receive between 11,000 and 13,000 first-time work-based residence permit applications during 2026, reflecting a slight increase from previous forecasts. In contrast, the projection for student residence permit applications has been lowered, with an expected 11,000 to 12,000 applications this year.

These trends provide valuable data for Finnish policymakers and employers. The sustained demand for work permits suggests ongoing labor shortages in certain sectors, while the decline in student applications may prompt a review of factors affecting Finland's attractiveness as an educational destination, such as tuition fees or post-study work opportunities.

Monthly update on June 2026: Finland Approves Citizenship Test, Norway Reports Two-Year Waits for Permanent Residence

Key takeaways

Finland Overhauls Citizenship Path with Mandatory Test from 2027

Norway's Immigration Agency Reports Severe Processing Delays, with Permanent Residence

Denmark Proposes Restricting Residence Permits for Military-Age Ukrainian Men

Norwegian Supreme Court Ruling Alters Asylum Assessment Rules

Finland Projects Growth in Work Permits, Decline in Student Applications for 2026

Sources

Browse language decks