Home education in Finland (2026)
Last reviewed: 30 October 2026
In short: Compulsory education can be met by attending organised basic education or by obtaining equivalent knowledge in another way. The home municipality supervises the progress of a child who is not in organised teaching. Compulsory education starts in the year the child turns seven and ends at 18.
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| Legal status of home educationChildren of compulsory school age | Permitted, no prior approval or notification [1] |
| Nature of the parental dutyChildren of compulsory school age | Duty to provide education, at school or at home [1] |
| Approval or notification neededChildren of compulsory school age | A compulsory-education child must either take part in basic education organised under the Basic Education Act or obtain knowledge corresponding to the basic education syllabus in another way. If the child does not attend the organised teaching, the child's home municipality must supervise the child's progress. [1] |
| Compulsory schooling ageChildren of compulsory school age | Compulsory education begins when the school year starts in the year the child turns seven. It ends when the person turns 18, or earlier on completing an upper secondary or vocational qualification. Basic education ends at the latest when the school work of the year in which the pupil turns 17 ends. [2] |
Notes
- Basic Education Act 628/1998, section 26: the duty can be met by 'obtaining knowledge corresponding to the basic education syllabus in another way'; the municipality supervises.
Sources
- Finlex (Oikeusministeriö): Perusopetuslaki | 628/1998 | Lainsäädäntö | Finlex (consulted 30 October 2026) · all sources
- Finlex (Oikeusministeriö): Oppivelvollisuuslaki | 1214/2020 | Lainsäädäntö | Finlex (consulted 30 October 2026) · all sources
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General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.