Exemption
Exemption based on the nationality of another country
Based on dual citizenship, and a written application you may have exemption if the following conditions are met:
- You have a nationality of another country and
- Your residence has been outside Finland for the last seven years.
Siviilipalveluslaki 29 § (finlex.fi)
- Your family ties, studies, livelihood, or other personal matters are elsewhere than in Finland.
- Exemption in peacetime based on dual citizenship must be requested in writing from Non-military Service Centre.
- If you move to live in Finland before the end of the year in which you reach the age of 30 exemption can be cancelled and you will be ordered to do your service.
Siviilipalveluslaki 28 § (finlex.fi)
Exemption based on service executed in another country
Based on a written application, Non-military Service Centre may exempt in full or in part the performance of non-military service during peace if:
- You are a Finnish citizen, and
- You also have or have had the nationality of another country, and
- You have completed at least four months of military service in that country.
- Exemption based on service executed in another country must be requested in writing from Non-military Service Centre.
Siviilipalveluslaki 27 § (finlex.fi)
These exemptions above you cannot apply in Omasivari
How to apply for exemption
Write into a free-form application with:
- your name
- your date of birth
- your address
- what kind of exemption
Send your application with attachments:
- by secure link
- by email: kirjaamo.siviilipalvelus@ely-keskus.fi
- by post: Non-military Service Centre, Latokartanontie 97, 09810 Ingermaninkylä
Processing time
- Non-military Services Centre will process your application as soon as possible.
- Processing time is about 1-4 weeks.
- You also will receive information about the decision electronically via Suomi.fi – messages if you use it.
Lack of serviceability
Non-military Service Centre may give an exemption in peacetime to a non-military service person who is unfit for service in full or for a certain period. Serviceability is assessed based on the criteria of Finnish Defence Forces’ Health inspection Guide TTO 2012.
- Exemption must be applied for in good time, preferably four weeks before the start of the service.
- You must attach to your application a doctor’s statement (B1-medical report) with diagnosis. The statement cannot be older than 3 months and your doctor must take a stance on your serviceability.
Finnish Defence Forces’ Health Inspection Guide TTO 2012 (puolustusvoimat.fi pdf. In Finnish)
If you are unsure about your ability to cope with non-military service, you can discuss of your need for exemption with our curator: marja-liisa.siren@ely-keskus.fi
Temporary lack of serviceability
- You may have an exemption for a limited period.
- Exemption may be granted one or more times for maximum three years at a time.
- You must submit a new B1-medical report with your diagnosis to Non-military Service Centre before the end of your temporary exemption.
- If you have been re-examined and you have never been declared fit in medical examination, you will be discharged in peacetime at the latest in the year you turn 25. Exemption is also subject to the condition that you have provided the requested medical reports or participated in the medical examinations prescribed for you.
Siviilipalveluslaki 26 § (finlex.fi)
Make an application in Omasivari
- You can fill out your application on “Applications” page.
- Always remember to check your contact information.
- Select “New application”.
- Select the type of application.
- After selection, you can fill out the application.
- The file formats allowed for application attachments are gif, jpeg, jpg, png, pdf.
- The application can be saved as incomplete for later processing or sent to Non-military Service Centre for processing.
Processing time
- Non-military Services Centre will process your application as soon as possible.
- Processing time is about 1-4 weeks.
- You also will receive information about the decision electronically via Suomi.fi – messages if you use it.
If making an application in Omasivari is not successful
Write into a free-form application:
- your name
- your date of birth
- your address
- what kind of exemption
- for how long time
Send your application with attachments:
- by Secure link
- by email: kirjaamo.siviilipalvelus@ely-keskus.fi
- by post: Non-military Service Centre, Latokartanontie 97, 09810 Ingermaninkylä
Processing time
Non-military Service Centre will process your application as soon as possible.
- Processing time is approximately one week.
- You will find the decision in Omasivari when it has been processed.
- You will also receive the decision by post.
