Finland: Intensive language studies may expedite granting of citizenship

[Harold Schiffman]

 Forwarded From: edling at lists.sis.utsa.edu


Helsingin Sanomat



Intensive language studies may expedite granting of citizenship



Quick and successful studies of Finnish could shorten the minimum
requirement of how long a foreign resident is required to have lived
in Finland before citizenship is granted. An amendment to the law on
citizenship is under preparation at the Ministry of the Interior,
aimed at more flexibility in the naturalisation of foreign residents.



A government proposal is to be submitted to Parliament in the autumn
of 2009, and if it is passed, the new law would take effect in 2010.



One measure under consideration is reducing the minimum number of
years of residence to five or four. Especially those who have
completed an academic degree in Finland are to be encouraged to stay
in the country.



Currently, getting citizenship requires satisfactory knowledge of
Finnish (or Swedish) - a score of three on a scale of one to five.



Full story:

http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Intensive+language+studies+may+expedite+granting+of+citizenship/1135243035890





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