If you need the YKI certificate for citizenship, for a regulated profession or for a residence permit, the first practical question is not how to prepare — it is when you can actually sit the test. There are only a handful of test days per year, registration windows are short, and popular test centres fill up fast. Below are all the test dates in Finnish for autumn 2026 and spring 2027, along with registration periods, fees, and the rules that changed significantly on 1 January 2026.
The next test is on 29 August 2026 (intermediate and advanced levels), and registration is open now but closes on 13 August. The next chances at intermediate level are 16 September (writing and listening only), 2 October and 7 November.
This information is accurate as of 19 July 2026 and comes from the Finnish National Agency for Education — oph.fi. Dates, fees and rules do change, so always check the official source before you pay.
YKI test dates in Finnish — autumn 2026
| Test date | Level | Subtests | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Aug 2026 | Intermediate and advanced | All subtests | 1 Jun – 13 Aug 2026 |
| 16 Sep 2026 | Intermediate | Writing and listening only | 17 Aug – 31 Aug 2026 |
| 19 Sep 2026 | Basic | All subtests | 19 Aug – 31 Aug 2026 |
| 2 Oct 2026 | Intermediate and advanced | All subtests | 24 Aug – 16 Sep 2026 |
| 7 Nov 2026 | Basic, intermediate and advanced | All subtests | 21 Sep – 22 Oct 2026 |
If you need the test for Finnish citizenship, the level you want is intermediate (keskitaso) — that means 29 August, 2 October or 7 November, when all four subtests are held.
16 September: the new subtest day pilot
Autumn 2026 sees the first ever subtest day (osakoepäivä). It is a pilot: Finnish only, intermediate level only, and only two subtests — writing (kirjoittaminen) and listening comprehension (puheen ymmärtäminen). Speaking and reading are not held that day. Registration opens on 17 August 2026 at 10:00.
You receive results only for the subtests you actually take, and the format costs noticeably less than a full exam.
Important: citizenship requires at least level 3 in both speaking and writing, so a subtest day alone does not satisfy that requirement. Before registering for individual subtests, confirm on oph.fi and migri.fi that the result will be accepted for your specific purpose.
YKI test dates in Finnish — spring 2027
| Test date | Level | Subtests | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Jan 2027 | Intermediate and advanced | All subtests | 4 Jan – 7 Jan 2027 |
| 13 Feb 2027 | Basic and intermediate | All subtests | 18 Jan – 28 Jan 2027 |
| 10 Mar 2027 | Intermediate | Speaking and reading only | 8 Feb – 22 Feb 2027 |
| 10 Apr 2027 | Intermediate and advanced | All subtests | 8 Mar – 25 Mar 2027 |
| 24 Apr 2027 | Basic | All subtests | 22 Mar – 8 Apr 2027 |
| 12 May 2027 | Intermediate | Writing and listening only | 12 Apr – 26 Apr 2027 |
| 22 May 2027 | Advanced | All subtests | 20 Apr – 6 May 2027 |
| 2 Jun 2027 | Intermediate | Speaking and reading only | 3 May – 17 May 2027 |
Look closely at the first row: for the 16 January 2027 test you can register for only four days, from 4 to 7 January. If you are planning a January attempt, set a reminder now — the holiday season swallows a window that short.
How registration works
Registration is online only, through yki.opintopolku.fi. What matters in practice:
- The window opens on a specific day and hour. Places in popular centres — Helsinki, Tampere, Turku — go quickly, so register in the first days, not the last.
- One registration per test day. You cannot be both registered and on the waiting list for the same date.
- There is a waiting list. If a place frees up, you get a payment link that is valid for one day only. Miss it and the place passes to the next person.
- Registration is personal. You cannot transfer it to someone else.
What the YKI test costs
| Level | Fee |
|---|---|
| Basic (perustaso) | 165 € |
| Intermediate (keskitaso) | 190 € |
| Advanced (ylin taso) | 216 € |
Individual intermediate-level subtests, available in Finnish and Swedish only, cost less: listening 43 €, reading 43 €, writing 70 €, speaking 84 €. These fees apply from 1 January 2026, VAT 0 %.
What changed on 1 January 2026: registration is now binding
This is the change that makes choosing a date much more consequential than it used to be. You can no longer reschedule. Once you have paid, you cannot change:
- the test day;
- the test centre;
- the level;
- the language;
- the set of subtests.
A refund requires all three of the following: a medical certificate showing illness prevented you from attending, cancellation by 08:00 on the test day, and an application submitted within two weeks of the test date.
The practical takeaway: decide on your level, city and date before you pay. A mistake now costs the full exam fee.
When results arrive
The certificate is issued roughly two months after the test day, plus another one to two weeks for postal delivery. This matters if you have a documentation deadline: sit the test on 7 November 2026 and you should expect the certificate around January 2027. Build that buffer into your plans.
Choosing the right date for your level
It is tempting to grab the nearest date, but the exam is binding and not cheap, so a realistic choice pays off:
| Your situation | Sensible target date |
|---|---|
| Confident B1, just need exam technique | The nearest one: 29 August or 2 October 2026 |
| Around B1, weak speaking and writing | 7 November 2026 — about 3.5 months to prepare |
| A2 or below | Spring 2027 — build the foundation first |
Not sure which subtest is holding you back? Our breakdown of what the YKI intermediate test actually involves walks through all four parts and the 1–6 scoring scale, and how long it takes to learn Finnish gives realistic timelines by level.
Frequently asked questions
When is the next YKI test in Finnish?
The next test day is 29 August 2026 for the intermediate and advanced levels, with registration closing on 13 August 2026. After that: 16 September (intermediate, writing and listening only), 19 September (basic level), 2 October (intermediate and advanced) and 7 November 2026 (all three levels).
When does registration for the YKI test close?
Each test day has its own registration window, and it closes several weeks before the test itself. For the 2 October 2026 test, registration runs from 24 August to 16 September. Some windows are very short: for the 16 January 2027 test you can only register for four days, from 4 to 7 January.
How much does the YKI test cost in 2026?
Since 1 January 2026 the basic level costs 165 euros, the intermediate level 190 euros and the advanced level 216 euros, with 0 percent VAT. Individual subtests at the intermediate level in Finnish are cheaper: listening and reading are 43 euros each, writing is 70 euros and speaking is 84 euros.
Can I move my YKI registration to another date?
No. Since 1 January 2026 registration is binding: once you have paid, you cannot change the test day, the test centre, the level, the language or the set of subtests. A refund is only possible if all three conditions are met: you have a medical certificate, you cancel by 08:00 on the test day, and you apply within two weeks of the test date.
What if the test date I need is full?
You can join the waiting list. If a place becomes available you will get a payment link, and it is only valid for one day — if you miss it, the place goes to the next person. For any single test day you can either be registered or on the waiting list, but not both at the same time.
In short
In autumn 2026 you can take the Finnish YKI test on 29 August, 16 September (two subtests only), 19 September, 2 October and 7 November. Registration happens at yki.opintopolku.fi in short windows, the fee is 165–216 €, and since 1 January 2026 nothing can be changed after payment. The certificate arrives about two months later.
Once you have picked a date, the rest is preparation. We run targeted YKI preparation courses, and you can start with a free trial lesson where we assess your level and tell you honestly which test date is realistic for you.