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Applicants over the age of 65

If you have reached the age of 65, you can request an exception to the language skills requirement. In some cases, however, you must still attach proof of your language skills to your application.

You do not need to attach proof of your language skills to your application if you meet the following conditions:

  • you have reached the age of 65, and 
  • you have refugee status, subsidiary protection status or a residence permit on the basis of humanitarian protection in Finland.

You must attach a certificate of your oral language skills to your application if you meet the following conditions:

  • you are over 65 years of age, and
  • you do not have refugee status, subsidiary protection status or a residence permit on the basis of humanitarian protection.

Attach to your application one of the following certificates:

  1. A certificate containing an assessment of the level in which you understand and speak Finnish or Swedish. 
    • The assessment must grade your skills in accordance with the skill levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) (on a scale from A1.1 to C2.2).
    • Ask your teacher in the Finnish or Swedish language to issue such a certificate. 
  2. A certificate showing that you have regularly participated in studies in the Finnish or Swedish language.
    • The certificate must show the time period when you participated in the language studies and a record of your attendance. Record of attendance means notes confirming when you were present at class. 
    • Your participation in the studies is regular when you have attended Finnish or Swedish language courses for several years and when you are still continuing your studies or have only recently concluded them.

Granting an exception to the language skills requirement is possible if you meet one of the following two conditions:

  • You have at least elementary listening comprehension and speaking skills in Finnish or Swedish.
    • Your basic language skills in comprehension and speaking are at least on level A1.3.

Or

  • You have regularly participated in studies in the Finnish or Swedish language.
    • Your participation in the studies is regular if you have attended Finnish or Swedish language courses for several years and when you are still continuing your studies or have only recently concluded them.