For years, the Russians have formed the largest single group applying for Finnish citizenship, but so far the Iraqis have been the most eager to acquire Finnish citizenship.
"Russians have practically always kept citizenship search statistics. Therefore, finding them for the Iraqi people is an almost historic event," Ulla Vainikka The Finnish Immigration Service Migri said in a statement.
From January to October, Iraqis made 1,473 citizenship applications. Although in 2018 972 Iraqis applied for Finnish citizenship, in 2019 the number was 1588.
Iraqis who have received international protection upon arrival during the 2015 migrant crisis make up the majority of applicants for citizenship. Finland requires refugees to have lived in the country for at least four years in order to apply for citizenship.
Quelle: Die nordische Seite
