Citizenship

[pjana1984]

Hi everyone !
I ´m foreigner and 5 years in Finland married with finish women and have 2 kids.When I came to Finland 5 y. ago went to some finish language course and could not learn it,so I gave up.Ever since I living and working by using English.Now I realized that I have right for Finish Citizenship but language is problem.I seen some people who got it but them language skills are poor. How is that possible?Some foreign guy told me in train that he went to some course and there during course he got that YKI certificate then was easy he applied and got it(I would like to know which school or course is that if is all truth). Does anyone know how I can get it without language test or which school to attend to be well prepared for test?There is many courses for finish language and is hard to pick some by not knowing if can help me to get Citizenship.This way I try to be in touch with people who got it and they are former students of fin. language so if you are one of them help me please. I would appreciate any kind of advise!

[Honest]

Wait patiently, decision should be coming within a month or two.

[Pursuivant]

There is also "plan B" - you need to have a test in an "official" language. Arbis has intensive Swedish courses, and it shouldn't be quite as hard for an English speaker. On the plus side you can then belong to the posh totty club

[foca]

There is also "plan B" - you need to have a test in an "official" language. Arbis has intensive Swedish courses, and it shouldn't be quite as hard for an English speaker. On the plus side you can then belong to the posh totty club

I am thinking of changing my nick to snobby-totty-på-svenska

[philip]

..........by Honest » Tue Nov 04, 2014 12:30 am

Wait patiently, decision should be coming within a month or two...........

about what??

[philip]

heard the rumour about the exemption of language...may be in near future it would not be required for citizenship.

[betelgeuse]

heard the rumour about the exemption of language...may be in near future it would not be required for citizenship.

I don't think the current parliament will pass this. I doubt it will be on the agenda for the next one since I doubt any of the current parties has a motivation to make this change.

[Beep_Boop]

heard the rumour about the exemption of language...may be in near future it would not be required for citizenship.

The rumours are baseless. The exemptions are offered in very rare cases. I certainly hope that the language stays as a requirement for citizenship.

[Honest]

Threshold to pass the test is very low. So an Yki certificate doesn't mean that the person can speak Finnish. It only means that he can survive with it in basic everyday tasks.

[saika1984]

Threshold to pass the test is very low. So an Yki certificate doesn't mean that the person can speak Finnish. It only means that he can survive with it in basic everyday tasks.

Agree. My experience is they grade very generously. The exam itself is not easy (given my poor Finnish level) but to get a pass is. I'd say you don't even need to take any course (I registered several but attended less than 1/10). Just spend 3 to 6 months self-study after work and it is enough (if you have to take care of children after work it might take longer).

I think the exam will only get harder, so it's better take it now.

[foca]

heard the rumour about the exemption of language...may be in near future it would not be required for citizenship.

The rumours are baseless. The exemptions are offered in very rare cases. I certainly hope that the language stays as a requirement for citizenship.

There are age exemptions : over 65 ( or 60 - do check it yourself) and younger than 15 . So wait till you are 65 and apply ...

[betelgeuse]

heard the rumour about the exemption of language...may be in near future it would not be required for citizenship.

The rumours are baseless. The exemptions are offered in very rare cases. I certainly hope that the language stays as a requirement for citizenship.

There are age exemptions : over 65 ( or 60 - do check it yourself) and younger than 15 . So wait till you are 65 and apply ...

The exemption for 65 only applies to a small group of people:

http://www.migri.fi/finnish_citizenship ... _years_old

"you are over 65 years old and you have refugee status in Finland, or you have been granted a residence permit on the basis of subsidiary or humanitarian protection."

The exception for under 15 is valid (requires the applicant to be a Finnish citizen so usually this means children included in the same application as the parent).