For Ukrainian refugees

Your child can – and it is good for them to – participate in Finnish early childhood education and care as well as education even if you or your child do not yet have a municipality of residence. Participation supports children in building a safe everyday life in Finland and helps them learn Finnish or Swedish. 

In early childhood education and care, schools and other educational institutions, your child can make friends and learn new things in a way that is suitable for his or her age and abilities. The well-being of children is regarded as the foundation of all learning in Finland. A large part of the learning takes place through play and interaction, school days are shorter than in many other countries, and children enjoy going to school.

If your child studies in Finland, they can continue to learn and build up their knowledge and skills even if you cannot return to Ukraine right now.

You can apply for a municipality of residence to the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV). 

You do not have to apply for a municipality of residence, but if you get one, you will have access to a larger selection of different services in Finland. 

This site contains information about the rights and obligations related to early childhood education and care and education that your child and you as the guardian will have if your child gets a municipality of residence. 

For more detailed information about early childhood education and care, pre-primary education, basic education and study opportunities, you can contact the municipality or city where you have settled. You can also get advice from your reception centre, which helps and guides you in different everyday matters. 

The Finnish National Agency for Education cannot answer questions about your individual situation or give you instructions, as the practices of applying for a place in early childhood education and care or registering with a school may vary in different parts of Finland.

If your child has a residence permit based on temporary protection but not a municipality of residence

• We recommend that your child participates in Finnish early childhood education and care and education, but this is not mandatory. 
• You can apply for a place in early childhood education and care for your under school-aged child. Your child has the right to a place if, for example, you are studying or working full time.
• In the year in which your child turns 6, they have a right to start in pre-primary education that lasts for one school year. In the year in which the child turns 7, they have the right to start basic education. The instruction is provided in Finnish or Swedish. Many municipalities organise instruction preparing children for basic education, in which the children learn the school’s language of instruction.  
• Participation in distance learning organised by Ukraine is possible but not mandatory. No one will be excluded from the Ukrainian education system because they do not participate in distance learning. 
• If you would like your child to participate in distance learning organised by Ukraine in addition to Finnish education, talk to the school about it. When studying at a Finnish school or educational institution, the child also needs to study after the school days. It is important to make sure that the child does not spend all their time studying and that studying is not too tiring.
• If your child is aged between 16 and 18 years, they can apply for a place at a general upper secondary school or in vocational education and training in the same way as Finnish citizens. Finnish or Swedish skills are usually needed to study. At some institutions, it is possible to study in English. If the student’s language skills or other study skills are not yet sufficient, they may participate in basic education for adults, preparatory education for programmes leading to an upper secondary qualification, or education organised at folk high schools.
• For more detailed information about education and study opportunities, you can contact the municipality or city in which you have settled. You can also get advice from your reception centre, which helps and guides you in different everyday matters. 

When you have applied for and received a municipality of residence for your child

• You have the right to a place in early childhood education and care for your child. 
• In the year in which your child turns 6, they have to participate in pre-primary education that lasts for one school year. Pre-primary education prepares children for basic education. 
• From the year in which the child turns 7, your child will be subject to compulsory education. This is the age at which they start basic education. The instruction is provided in Finnish or Swedish. Many municipalities organise instruction preparing children for basic education, in which the children learn the school’s language of instruction.
• Compulsory education means that the child must attend education consistent with the Finnish education system.
• Compulsory education ends when the person turns 18. Compulsory education can end before this if the person has completed a secondary level qualification at a general upper secondary school or in vocational education and training or completed corresponding education abroad. 
• Finnish or Swedish skills are usually needed to study at a general upper secondary school or in vocational education and training. At some institutions, it is possible to study in English. If the student’s language skills or other study skills are not yet sufficient, they may participate in basic education for adults, preparatory education for programmes leading to an upper secondary qualification, or education organised at folk high schools.
• If you would like your child to participate in Ukrainian distance learning in addition to Finnish education, your child can do so in his or her own time. No one will be excluded from the Ukrainian education system because they do not participate in distance learning. You should remember that when your child is studying at a Finnish school or educational institution, they also have to study in their free time. It is important to make sure that the child does not spend all their time studying.
• Contact your municipality of residence to find out more about applying for a place in early childhood education and care, pre-primary education, basic education and subsequent education and training.