“You may be exempt” Finland waives language requirement for one group

This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.

- Applicants for permanent residence in Finland generally need to show at least B1-level proficiency in Finnish or Swedish

- However, the government has outlined a specific exemption that allows some applicants to bypass the language requirement entirely.

- The exemption is linked to the applicant’s age, potentially benefiting many foreign nationals seeking permanent residence.

Finland has outlined a specific condition that can exempt certain foreigners applying for permanent residence from meeting the usual language requirement.

According to the Finnish Immigration Service, applicants must ordinarily demonstrate proficiency in either Finnish or Swedish at a minimum of level B1 under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

This corresponds to the intermediate-level grade 3 in Finland's national language certificate system, or a satisfactory performance in both the oral and written components of the Civil Service Language Proficiency Certificate test.

Finland gives exemption to language test

However, Finland has built in a notable exception, which is:

- Applicants who are 65 years of age or older are not required to meet the language skills threshold at all.

For this group, the linguistic component of the permanent residency application is waived in its entirety, regardless of their ability to speak or write Finnish or Swedish.

This means an elderly foreigner who has been living in Finland and meets all other residency criteria can apply for permanent status without presenting any language certificate or sitting a language assessment.

Finland B1 requirement for other applicants

For everyone below the age of 65, the language requirement remains firmly in place.

A B1 level is generally understood to mean a speaker can handle everyday situations and conversations with reasonable confidence, understand the main points of clear speech on familiar topics, and produce simple connected text on subjects of personal relevance.

The Finnish Immigration Service's official guidance outlines that proof of this level can be submitted through recognised national examination results or the relevant civil service language test, giving applicants more than one route to demonstrate their skills.

Spain Exempts Some Foreigners From Spanish Language Test

TUKO.co.ke recently reported that Spain has exempted nationals from certain Spanish-speaking countries from taking the Spanish language test when applying for citizenship.

The exemption recognizes applicants who already come from countries where Spanish is an official or widely spoken language.

This means eligible applicants can avoid sitting the language examination as part of the citizenship process.

However, the exemption does not automatically grant citizenship, as applicants must still meet other legal requirements.

These include the required period of residence and other conditions set by Spanish authorities.

The rule could make the citizenship process easier for eligible foreigners seeking to become Spanish citizens.

Source: Legit.ng

Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.