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Proving your language skills in a National Certificate of Language Proficiency test (the YKI test)

To obtain Finnish citizenship, you must have at least satisfactory skills in the Finnish or Swedish language. One way to prove that you have sufficient language skills is to take the National Certificate of Language Proficiency test (also known as the YKI test). Your skills in the Finnish or Swedish language are sufficient if you pass

  • one oral subtest and
  • one written subtest

with at least grade 3 (intermediate-level test) in the test for the National Certificate of Language Proficiency (YKI test). Grade 3 on the intermediate level corresponds to the level B1 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). For more information about the YKI test, see the website of the Finnish National Agency for Education (oph.fi). 

The following combinations of subtests are accepted:

 

A)    

A speech bubblespeaking
3 or 4

 plus A hand holding a pen ready to writewriting
3 or 4


or

B)    
An earlistening comprehension
3 or 4		 plus A hand holding a pen ready to writewriting
3 or 4


or

C)    
A documentreading comprehension
3 or 4		 plus A speech bubblespeaking
3 or 4
  • You may have two separate certificates that together form an accepted combination of subtests. 

Take the YKI test before you submit an application

Please read about the YKI language test before you register for it. For more information about registration and the qualification grounds, see the website of the Finnish National Agency for Education.

Do not take the language test before your language skills are at the required level. The website of the Centre for Applied Language Studies offers example exercises that you can use to practise and to test your skills.

The test days in the Greater Helsinki area may get fully booked very fast. You can also register for a test that is arranged outside your home region.

YKI tests completed before 1 January 2012

The structure of the National Certificate of Language Proficiency changed in 2012. If you have taken the test in 2002–2011, you have received an assessment of your general level of language proficiency. Your language skills are sufficient if your general level of language proficiency is at least 3.

If you have completed your certificate before 2002, your general level of language proficiency must be at least 4.

If you have completed the YKI test before 1 January 2012, you cannot combine your certificate with another certificate.