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Illiteracy

You may be granted an exception to the language skills requirement if you were an adult and found to be illiterate when you came to Finland. In addition, you need to: 

  • master at least elementary comprehension and speaking skills in Finnish or Swedish, or
  • have regularly and during a long period of time participated in studies in the Finnish or Swedish language.
    • 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.

Add the following documents to your application:

  • A teacher’s certificate stating that you were illiterate when you came to Finland. The certificate must be issued by a teacher who has taught you. 
  • One of the following certificates:
    • A certificate of your language proficiency containing an assessment of your speaking and comprehension skills in the Finnish or Swedish language.
      • The assessment must apply the skill levels A1.1–C2.2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
      • The certificate must be issued by a language teacher who has taught you Finnish or Swedish. 
    • A certificate stating the time periods when you have participated in studies in the Finnish or Swedish language. 
      • The certificate must show the time period when you studied the language and a record of your attendance. Record of attendance means notes confirming when you were present at class.
  • All other language course and study certificates of your studies in the Finnish or Swedish language. The certificates must show when the courses have taken place and contain a record of attendance.

Exceptions to the language skills requirement cannot be made only on the grounds that:

  • you are unable to read and write in Finnish or Swedish 
  • your skills in written language are insufficient, or that
  • your ability to learn a language is slow.

The Finnish Immigration Service will take into account all the information and certificates you have submitted about your literacy and school attendance in Finland and abroad.