Integration services

• Initial assessment

  When an immigrant first arrives to Finland, the municipality may conduct an initial assessment for them.
  This assessment allows the municipality to evaluate what sort of services the immigrant may need.

  The initial assessment may cover topics including the client’s

  • education
  • jobs
  • language skills.

  After the initial assessment, the immigrant will receive support in their integration.
  This support may involve e.g. integration training or help with finding a job.

  The initial assessment will always be made

  • for an unemployed immigrant by the employment services
  • for an immigrant receiving social assistance from the municipal integration services

  The authorities may also conduct an initial assessment for any other immigrant if required.

  Conducting an initial assessment will be considered, if

  • the individual arrives to Finland as a spouse
  • the individual is a stay-at-home parent
  • the individual is young
  • the individual faces a risk of social exclusion
  • the individual is immigrating for studies or work.

  An immigrant also has the right to request an initial assessment on their own initiative.

• Integration plan

  An integration plan is an individualised, personal programme.
  It considers the immigrant’s situation.
  It details the kind of support the immigrant will receive. This support may include immigration training, language classes, or assistance with choosing a line of work, among others.

  The integration plan works to help the immigrant integrate into and become a member of Finnish society.

  The employment services or the municipality will draft the plan in collaboration with the immigrant. The wellbeing services county may also participate in the drafting of the plan.

• Civic orientation

  Civic orientation provides you with information about staying, working, and living in Finland, the workings of Finnish society, and the individual’s rights and obligations. The civic orientation takes place in your native language or another language you speak well.

  The civic orientation may include meetings in your home municipality together with other immigrants. Meetings and informational events may also be organised using remote connections.

  Participation in civic orientation will be agreed in your integration plan.

• Integration training

  The objective of integration training is to attain a basic command of Finnish language as well as placing you in further education or in a job.

  Integration training will be organised in the Finnish language. Participating in the training involves no cost to you. Participation in integration training will be agreed in your integration plan, and you will be obligated to attend the training in the manner specified in the plan.

  Integration training involves full-day studies five days a week. The training will always involve instruction in the language, identification of your prior learning, and other activities that support your capability for working and functioning.

  During the training, you will receive, depending on your personal situation, guidance towards further education, into further services promoting employment, or directly to the job market. The objective of the language studies is a workable basic command of the language. A final exam on your language skills will be organised at the end of the training period.

• Other services promoting immigration

  Other services promoting integration may include

  NGO and association activities and meeting spots

  The language café organised by Järjestökeskus Kitinen is an easily accessible third-sector service. It involves a practical familiarisation with e.g. local services and visits by experts. Volunteer language assistants are available Järjestökeskus Kitinen ry.

  Hobby and exercise opportunities organised by sports clubs

  Courses at Revontuli-Opisto 

  The Revontuli-Opisto Adult Education Centre will also organise basic and advanced courses in Finnish as necessary Joy of learning for all – Revontuli-Opisto.

  Communal activities and meeting spots provided by religious communities

  The Evangelical Free Church of Sodankylä organises the Puhutaan Suomea (Let’s Speak Finnish) group for immigrants. This activity involves, depending on the participants’ needs, e.g. instruction in Finnish, discussions in Finnish, and other communal activities Kansainvälinen työ – Sodankylän vapaaseurakunta.

  Independent study

  You can find a selection of language courses at the web address https://finnishcourses.fi/fi.

Note this

• Application for access to a military site

  https://www.sodankyla.fi/en/municipality-and-decision-making/information-on-sodankyla/for-the-migrant/application-for-access-to-a-military-site/