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Upcoming changes to citizenship laws have led to a backlog of applications, with many people missing out on the Finnish and Swedish language tests.
There is a growing backlog of applications for the Finnish and Swedish YKI (National Language Proficiency Certificate) tests and there are currently no places available.
According to the Finnish National Agency for Education, which organizes the exam, registration for the May exam was full within 15 minutes, causing many people to miss their ideal exam spots.
The agency added that it is continually seeking more testing sites.
Passing a Finnish or Swedish language test and obtaining a certificate is a necessary step towards obtaining Finnish citizenship – but it is also seen as a means of integration into Finnish society.
Anu CorcletoSenior experts at the Finnish Immigration Service Migli noted that the number of applications has been increasing steadily in recent years, but there was a very noticeable increase last summer.
“I don’t know if the announcement of the government plan has had an impact on this, but usually the number of applications is quite low in the summer. One can assume that many people want to apply for citizenship now to extend the required residence period before the amendment to the Citizenship Act comes into force,” Kolkileto told the Finnish news agency STT.
Korkeelehto refers to Changes in the lawwhich will come into effect on October 1, requires that anyone applying for Finnish citizenship must have lived in Finland for at least eight years, up from the current minimum residency requirement of five years.
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