Finnish School for Ukrainian Kids: Documents and Translation Guide

Your kid has been in Finland for three months. You’ve heard Finnish schools are free (true), they serve free hot lunches (also true), and your child can walk into a classroom without speaking a word of Finnish (true again). But between “theoretically possible” and “your child actually goes to school every morning” there’s a gap filled with documents, translations, and steps nobody mentioned at the reception center. This guide takes you from zero to the first school day.

The Finnish school system: what you need to know before enrolling¶

Before diving into documents, let’s understand how the system works. Finnish schools operate very differently from Ukrainian ones, and this affects everything - from enrollment age to whether you even need to translate that report card.

How the system works¶

Finnish basic education - perusopetus - starts in the year your child turns 7. Not 6, like in Ukraine, but 7. Before that, there’s esiopetus (pre-primary education) - mandatory from age 6. After basic school (9 grades), every child must continue education until age 18 - either in lukio (upper secondary school, similar to a grammar school) or ammattikoulu (vocational school). This rule was introduced in 2021 and applies to all children permanently residing in Finland.

Basic school is split into two stages:

• Alakoulu (primary school) - grades 1-6, ages 7-12
• Yläkoulu (lower secondary school) - grades 7-9, ages 13-15

The school year starts in the first week of August and ends in late May. There are autumn holidays (one week in October), Christmas holidays (two weeks), ski holidays (one week in February-March, depends on the region), and Easter holidays.

The golden rule: everything is free¶

This isn’t marketing talk - Finnish basic education is genuinely free. Textbooks, notebooks, pencils, a hot meal every day, transportation to school (if the distance exceeds 5 km) - all covered by the municipality. Even if your child is in a preparatory class for immigrants - still free. For comparison: private international schools in Helsinki charge EUR 8,000-15,000 per year.

Is school attendance mandatory?¶

Here’s a nuance that’s relevant for Ukrainians with temporary protection. If your child has a kotikunta (registered municipality of residence) - school is mandatory. If there’s no kotikunta yet (first year under temporary protection) - your child has the right to attend school, but it’s not an obligation. In practice, most municipalities actively invite children to school right after arrival, even before kotikunta registration. There’s no reason to say no - school helps your child adapt faster and learn the language.

More details about municipality registration and henkilötunnus (personal identity code) in the article about residence permits through Migri.

Preparatory class (valmistava opetus): the first step for a child from Ukraine¶

If your child doesn’t speak Finnish (or Swedish, if you’re in a Swedish-speaking area) - they won’t go straight into a regular class. First comes valmistava opetus - preparatory instruction for immigrants. This isn’t a “remedial class” or a “refugee class.” It’s a standard part of the Finnish system that every child arriving from abroad goes through.

What it actually is¶

Valmistava opetus is a dedicated program where your child:

• Studies Finnish (or Swedish) intensively
• Gets familiar with Finnish school culture (outdoor breaks even at -20C, independence, minimal homework)
• Gradually joins regular lessons with Finnish kids
• Receives an individual learning plan (oppimissuunnitelma) - tailored specifically to their level

The program typically lasts one school year (maximum equivalent of one year of study). After that, the child transfers to a regular class at their local school.

How it works in practice¶

There are two formats for preparatory instruction:

1. Separate preparatory class - your child attends a special class where all students are immigrants. Some lessons (PE, music, arts) are held together with Finnish peers
2. Inclusive format - the child goes straight into a regular class but receives extra language support. This format is more common in smaller municipalities that don’t have enough immigrant children for a separate class

In major cities (Helsinki, Espoo, Tampere, Turku), separate preparatory classes are the norm. In Helsinki, for example, grades 1-2 preparatory instruction happens at the child’s lähikoulu (nearest school), while for grades 3-9 the child may be directed to a different school that has a preparatory class.

The state puts serious money behind this¶

Municipalities receive government funding for each child in preparatory education - EUR 1,339 to 1,390 per month for a maximum of nine months. Plus additional funding for S2 instruction (Finnish as a second language) and mother tongue education. In other words, municipalities have a financial incentive to accept children - not just a moral one.

What documents you need for school enrollment¶

This is where it gets interesting for Ukrainian parents. There’s no single national checklist of documents for the whole of Finland - each municipality may have its own requirements. But there’s a basic set that’s needed practically everywhere.

The basic document package¶

Document	Translation needed?	Notes
Child’s passport (or birth certificate with parents’ photo IDs)	No, if the passport is biometric	Original for viewing
Temporary protection decision from Migri	No	Already in the Finnish system
Proof of address (rental agreement or letter from reception center)	Usually no	Municipality checks through DVV
School documents from Ukraine (report card, certificate, school reference)	Yes - into Finnish, Swedish, or English	For determining the right grade
Vaccination record	Recommended but not required	Neuvola (child health clinic) will check anyway
Medical certificate (if there are chronic conditions)	Recommended	For the school nurse

About school documents¶

Here’s the key thing: Finnish schools don’t require formal recognition of Ukrainian school certificates for enrollment in perusopetus. You don’t need to go to Opetushallitus (Finnish National Agency for Education) for an official decision. The school itself will assess your child’s level and determine the right grade.

But the school needs information to do this - what your child studied, which grade they were in, what their marks were. And that’s where translation comes in. Finnish teachers and principals typically don’t read Ukrainian, so documents need to be translated into Finnish, Swedish, or English.

Which school documents are worth translating:

• Report card (if available) - the most important document for grade placement
• Certificate of basic education (if your child completed 9 grades in Ukraine) - critical for determining whether they go to lukio/ammattikoulu
• School reference letter about which grade the child attended - if there’s no report card (and because of the war, there often isn’t)
• Individual education plan (if there was one) - for children with special needs

If there are no documents at all (lost due to war, evacuation) - it’s not the end of the world. The school will assess the child’s level on its own. The Finnish system is flexible on this point, especially since 2022, when thousands of Ukrainian children arrived without any paperwork.

About vaccinations¶

Vaccinations are voluntary in Finland. A school can’t refuse your child because they’re not vaccinated. But after enrollment, your child will be invited to a neuvola (child health clinic), where a nurse will check which vaccinations the child received in Ukraine and offer to fill in the gaps according to the Finnish schedule. It’s free and covers measles, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, and other diseases.

If you have a Ukrainian vaccination record - bring it along. Translation isn’t strictly necessary (the nurse can figure out vaccine names), but if you want to avoid confusion, an English translation helps.

Translating school documents: who does it, what it costs¶

Finland has a special category of translators for official purposes - auktorisoitu kääntäjä (authorized translator). This is a translator who has passed a dedicated exam administered by Opetushallitus and has the right to produce translations with official status.

Do you need an authorized translation for school?¶

Short answer: not always. For enrollment in perusopetus (basic school, grades 1-9), a regular quality translation into English or Finnish is usually enough. The school principal wants to understand what your child studied and at what level - they don’t need an authorized translator’s stamp.

But there are situations where an authorized translation is needed:

• Applying to lukio or ammattikoulu after grade 9 - institutions often require an official translation
• Qualification recognition through Opetushallitus - if you’ll need formal recognition of a Ukrainian diploma or certificate later
• Submitting documents through Studyinfo.fi (Opintopolku) - for upper secondary or vocational school applications

What translation costs¶

Prices for authorized translation in Finland:

Document type	Price (authorized translation)	Price (regular translation)
Report card (1-2 pages)	EUR 80-160	EUR 40-80
Education certificate	EUR 80-120	EUR 40-70
School reference letter	EUR 80-100	EUR 30-50
Medical certificate	EUR 80-120	EUR 40-60

The minimum rate for most authorized translators is EUR 80 per document (+ VAT 25.5%). So even a one-page report card will cost at least EUR 80.

Where to find an authorized translator from Ukrainian to Finnish: the Opetushallitus website has a search by language pair. You can also contact SKTL (Finnish Association of Translators and Interpreters).

Alternative: online translation through ChatsControl¶

For regular (non-authorized) translation of school documents, you can use ChatsControl - the platform translates documents from Ukrainian into Finnish and English while preserving formatting. It’s a practical option when you need a quality translation of a report card or reference for the school principal, not an official document for Opetushallitus. The price is significantly lower, and results are ready in minutes.

For an official certified translation with a seal, you’ll still need an authorized translator or a certified translation company.

Language support at school: S2, mother tongue, Wilma¶

Beyond the preparatory class, the Finnish system offers several forms of ongoing language support for immigrant children. This isn’t one-time help - it’s systematic support that can last for years.

S2 - Finnish as a second language¶

After transitioning from the preparatory class to a regular one, your child doesn’t get left on their own. They receive S2 instruction - suomi toisena kielenä (Finnish as a second language). Instead of regular Finnish language and literature lessons, your child attends S2 classes where the curriculum is adapted for learners who didn’t grow up speaking Finnish.

S2 instruction can last up to 6 years. The government funds up to 3 hours of S2 per week for a group of at least 4 students. The S2 teacher is a dedicated specialist, not just the regular classroom teacher.

Oman äidinkielen opetus - mother tongue instruction¶

If there are at least 4 Ukrainian-speaking students in the municipality, the municipality can organize Ukrainian language lessons. That’s 2 hours per week, and they’re free. The government covers up to 86% of the costs.

Since 2022, when many Ukrainian families arrived in Finland, Ukrainian language classes have appeared in many major cities. Helsinki, Espoo, Tampere, and Turku usually have these groups. In smaller towns, it depends on the number of children.

This isn’t a mandatory subject - parents decide whether to enroll their child. But it’s worth doing - it helps the child maintain a connection with their native language and culture while actively learning Finnish.

Wilma - how to communicate with the school¶

Wilma is the digital platform through which nearly all communication between schools and parents happens in Finland. Think of it as a digital school diary, but much more functional. Through Wilma you can:

• Receive messages from teachers
• Check grades and attendance
• Sign your child up for electives
• Report absences
• Register your child for school (in some municipalities)

Wilma is available in Finnish and partly in English. Instructions for immigrant parents are usually available at the school. Don’t hesitate to ask for help - school staff are used to working with parents who don’t read Finnish.

One more useful point - even if you’ve just arrived and aren’t yet receiving Kela benefits, the school will still provide your child with everything they need. The Finnish system doesn’t distinguish between “rich” and “poor” students - everyone gets the same materials and meals.

Step-by-step plan: from arrival to the first day at school¶

Let’s bring everything together into a concrete action plan. Situations vary, so here are two scenarios.

Scenario 1: Your child just arrived (no kotikunta yet)¶

1. Contact the reception center (vastaanottokeskus) - they’ll point you to the nearest school and help with contacts. Most centers have an education coordinator
2. Get in touch with the municipality - call or email the education department (sivistyspalvelut or opetuspalvelut) of your city. Contact details are on the city website
3. Gather documents - child’s passport, Migri temporary protection decision, any school documents from Ukraine
4. Arrange translation of school documents - at least into English. If you have time and budget, into Finnish
5. Attend a meeting at the school - the principal or coordinator will discuss your child’s education history, determine the right grade and type of instruction (preparatory or regular)
6. Get access to Wilma - the school will give you login credentials
7. Register the child at a neuvola - for vaccination checks and a general health screening

The whole process from first phone call to first day at school usually takes 1-3 weeks. In major cities it can be faster, since they’ve already streamlined the process for Ukrainian children.

Scenario 2: Your child has a kotikunta (after 12 months)¶

If you’ve already registered your municipality and have a henkilötunnus:

1. Receive the compulsory education letter - the municipality sends it automatically at the beginning of the year when your child turns 7 (for first grade) or when you register your kotikunta (for older children)
2. Register the child through Wilma or the municipality website - in January for the following school year
3. The child is automatically assigned a lähikoulu - the nearest school. You can apply to a different school, but a spot isn’t guaranteed
4. Bring the translated documents - report card, references, medical information
5. Attend a meeting with the teacher - before school starts

In this scenario, school attendance is mandatory. If the child doesn’t attend, the municipality will take notice.

What to do if your child is 16+¶

If your child is 16-17, they fall under compulsory education (oppivelvollisuus), which in Finland now extends to age 18. After grade 9, there are two paths:

• Lukio (upper secondary school) - for those planning to go to university. Requires adequate Finnish and good grades
• Ammattikoulu (vocational school) - a more practical route. Some programs offer additional language support

For both options, applications go through Studyinfo.fi (Opintopolku). And here you’ll definitely need an authorized translation of school documents.

If the teenager arrived recently and their Finnish is still weak, there’s TUVA (tutkintokoulutukseen valmentava koulutus) - preparatory instruction before upper secondary or vocational school. It’s an extra year to learn the language and prepare for admission.

For those planning to stay in Finland long-term and thinking about permanent residence - having your child in a Finnish school makes the entire family’s integration process much smoother.

FAQ¶

Can my child attend a Finnish school without knowing Finnish?¶

Yes. Your child will first enter a preparatory class (valmistava opetus), where they’ll study Finnish intensively for about one year. There are no entrance exams or language tests for enrollment. The school is required to accept your child regardless of their Finnish level.

How much does it cost to translate school documents for enrollment in Finland?¶

An authorized translation (auktorisoitu käännös) costs from EUR 80 per document + VAT 25.5%. A 1-2 page report card will run EUR 80-160. For enrollment in basic school (perusopetus), a regular English translation is usually sufficient - EUR 30 to 80 per document, depending on length and urgency.

Do I need to have my child’s Ukrainian certificate recognized in Finland for school enrollment?¶

No. For enrollment in basic school (perusopetus, grades 1-9), formal recognition through Opetushallitus isn’t required. The school assesses the child’s level on its own. Recognition becomes relevant later - for applying to upper secondary (lukio), vocational school (ammattikoulu), or for working in a regulated profession.

What if my child’s school documents from Ukraine were lost because of the war?¶

That’s not a deal-breaker. The school will conduct its own assessment of your child’s level through interviews, tests, and observation. The Finnish system is flexible on this, especially since 2022 when thousands of Ukrainian children were accepted without any paperwork. If possible, try to get digital copies through Ukraine’s “Diia” app or directly from the school in Ukraine.

Are there Ukrainian language classes in Finnish schools?¶

In major cities (Helsinki, Espoo, Tampere, Turku), there are usually mother tongue classes (oman äidinkielen opetus) for Ukrainian-speaking children - 2 hours per week, free of charge. The municipality needs at least 4 Ukrainian-speaking students to set this up. In smaller towns, availability depends on the number of Ukrainian families.

Where do I find information about a specific school and enrollment?¶

Start with your municipality’s website - look for the “Opetus” or “Education” section. Other useful resources: InfoFinland (general education information), Opetushallitus (information specifically for Ukrainian refugees), and your reception center, which can help with contacts.