Exemption

You can apply for an exemption before the service begins or during the service. If you are unsure about your ability to cope with non-military service, you can discuss the need for an exemption with the curator. Curator: marja-liisa.siren@keha-keskus.fi.

Non-military Service Centre can exempt from performing non-military service:

Temporary exemption for health reasons (service class E)
1. When temporary exemption is about to end
Exemption during peacetime for health reasons (service class C)
Based on the citizenship of another state
Based on service performed in another state
Processing time
Applications cannot be made through Omasivari

You can apply for a deferment if necessary due to studies, financial reasons, or other personal reasons.

Deferment

1. Temporary exemption for health reasons (service class E)

If you are unsure about your ability to cope with non-military service now, book an appointment with a doctor in your hometown (a health care centre doctor or a private doctor). Discuss your situation with the doctor and ask for a B medical certificate with a diagnosis in which the doctor comments on your fitness for non-military service. If you are not currently fit for service, you will be exempted from service for a temporary period (service class E). Submit a new medical certificate before the temporary exemption ends.

Make an application in Omasivari.
Open “New application” and select “Exemption application”.
Select “I am applying for a temporary exemption” and choose the duration of the temporary exemption.
You can write a free-form explanation if you wish.
Attach a B medical certificate with a diagnosis, no older than three months, in which the doctor comments on your fitness for service. The file formats allowed for application attachments are: gif, jpeg, jpg, png, pdf.
Submit the application for processing.

The Non-military Service Centre will process your application and decide. A temporary exemption can be granted one or more times, for a maximum of three years at a time.

Fitness for non-military service is assessed based on the criteria of the Defence Forces’ health examination guidelines TTO 2012.

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1.1. When temporary exemption is about to end

Submit a new B medical certificate before the temporary exemption ends to Non-military Service Centre. Please note that a person with E service class cannot select an education period in Omasivari.

You want to change your service class from E to A or B

You feel that the reason for your temporary exemption has been resolved. Book an appointment with a doctor in your hometown (a health care centre doctor or a private doctor). Discuss your situation with the doctor and ask for a B medical certificate with a diagnosis in which the doctor comments on your fitness for service.

Make an application in Omasivari in the “Applications” section.
Open “New application” and select “Fitness for service change application (A/B)”.
Write a justification.
Attach a B medical certificate with a diagnosis, no older than three months, in which the doctor comments on your fitness for service. The file formats allowed for application attachments are: gif, jpeg, jpg, png, pdf.
Submit the application for processing.
The Non-military Service Centre will process your application and decide.

You do not consider yourself yet fit for service

You feel that the reason for your temporary exemption has not been resolved or has worsened. Book an appointment with a doctor in your hometown (a health care centre doctor or a private doctor). Discuss your situation with the doctor and ask for a B medical certificate with a diagnosis in which the doctor comments on your fitness for service.

Make an application in Omasivari in the “Applications” section.
Open “New application” and select “Exemption application”.
Select whether you are applying for a temporary exemption or a complete exemption during peacetime.
Write a voluntary justification and attach a B medical certificate with a diagnosis, no older than three months, in which the doctor comments on your fitness for service. The file formats allowed for application attachments are: gif, jpeg, jpg, png, pdf.
Submit the application for processing.
The Non-military Service Centre will process your application and decide.

If you have multiple temporary exemptions for health reasons, you can be exempted from service during peacetime no later than the year you turn twenty-five. The condition for exemption is that you have submitted the requested medical certificates.

Civil Service Act § 26 (finlex.fi)

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2. Exemption during peacetime for health reasons (service class C)

Discuss your situation with a doctor if you are unsure about your ability to cope with non-military service. Book an appointment with a doctor in your hometown (a health care centre doctor or a private doctor). Ask for a B medical certificate with a diagnosis in which the doctor comments on your fitness for service. The Non-military Service Centre can exempt a person from performing non-military service during peacetime completely for health reasons.

Make an application in Omasivari.
Open “New application” and select “Exemption application”.
Select “I am applying for an exemption during peacetime”.
You can write a voluntary justification if you wish.
Attach a B medical certificate with a diagnosis, no older than three months, in which the doctor comments on your fitness for service. The file formats allowed for application attachments are: gif, jpeg, jpg, png, pdf.
Submit the application for processing.
The Non-military Service Centre will process your application and decide.

Fitness for non-military service is assessed based on the criteria of the Defence Forces’ health examination guidelines TTO 2012.

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3. Based on the citizenship of another state

Based on dual citizenship, you may not be assigned to service, and you may be exempted from service during peacetime if the following conditions are met:

You have the citizenship of another state, and you live outside of Finland.
Your family ties, studies, livelihood, or other personal matters are outside of Finland.

Make an application in Omasivari

Open “New application”.
Select “Exemption application based on dual citizenship”.
Attach a free-form explanation of your ties to Finland, and proof of citizenship of another country (e.g., a copy of your passport). The file formats allowed for application attachments are: gif, jpeg, jpg, png, pdf.
Submit the application for processing.

Applications cannot be made through Omasivari

If there is a notable change in the conditions for exemption due to moving to Finland before the end of the year you turn thirty, the decision can be revoked, and you will be assigned to non-military service.

Civil Service Act § 28 (finlex.fi)

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4. Based on service performed in another state

The Non-military Service Centre can exempt a non-military serviceperson from performing non-military service during peacetime completely or partially based on a written application if:

You are a Finnish citizen non-military serviceperson, and you have or have had the citizenship of another state, and you have performed service related to the peacetime service obligation of that state for at least four months.

Civil Service Act § 27 (finlex.fi)

Make an application in Omasivari

Open “New application”.
Select “Other application”.
Write that for which you are applying.
Attach proof of service performed in another state. The file formats allowed for application attachments are: gif, jpeg, jpg, png, pdf.
Submit the application for processing.

Applications cannot be made through Omasivari

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5. Processing time

The Non-military Service Centre will process your application as quickly as possible.

Processing time is about one week.
You will see the decision in Omasivari once your case has been processed, or you will receive a written decision by mail.

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6. Applications cannot be made through Omasivari

Write a free-form application:

Your name
Your date of birth
Your address
What you are applying for
For how long
Remember to attach the supporting documents for your application!

Send the application with attachments:

by secure link
by email to kirjaamo.siviilipalvelus@keha-keskus.fi
by mail to: Non-military Service Centre, Latokartanontie 97, 07810 Ingermaninkylä

Secure link

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Tervetuloa siviilipalvelukseen -infolehti