Information for those taking the Estonian language proficiency examination who are not able to take the examination under general procedure due to health reasons

A person who is not capable of taking the Estonian language proficiency examination under general procedure may apply for a change in the extent and means of taking the examination, based on their particular health condition.To do so, an application must be filed with the expert committee, in the case of both work-related Estonian-language proficiency examinations as well as for Estonian-language proficiency examinations to be taken by applicants for Estonian citizenship or a long-term residence permit.

On the basis of expert committee’s decision, the examination can be taken in a different place and a different time than the norm. Additional time may also be granted for solving examination problems. The person filing the application can be excused from taking a part of the examination, or the oral part of the examination can be replaced by a written examination and vice versa.The expert committee may by decision grant other reasonable exceptions based on the health condition of the applicant.Applicants for Estonian citizenship may also be excused from the examination due to health reasons.

To apply for special conditions or an exemption, the person or his or her notary-confirmed representative must file an application with the National Examinations and Qualifications Centre.

Please select the appropriate application form.

Application requesting special conditions for Estonian-language proficiency examinations for applicants for long-term residence permit or citizenship

Application for special conditions for participants in a work-related Estonian language proficiency examination

The following must also be submitted:

certificate from the person’s attending physician or corresponding medical specialist;
if applicable, decision of an medical expert regarding determination of disability or incapacity for work, conforming to annex 1 to Regulation no. 144 of the Minister of Social Affairs of 13 December 2002;
copy of an identification document;
document certifying representation if the application is submitted by a representative;
if applicable, other documents describing the health condition of the person may be submitted.

All medical certificates, notices and expert’s reports must be submitted in the form of original documents on the letterhead of the relevant medical institution, signed by the issuer and endorsed with the impression of the issuer’s seal.

The medical expert committee’s decision on determination of disability or incapacity for work must be submitted as one of the following:

1. original document, which we will return by registered post after the committee session;

2. notarized copy;

3. officially endorsed copy of the original document;

4. copy endorsed by the State Examination and Qualification Centre, which can be made in the SEQC information hall.

An expert committee shall take the decision regarding the extent and means for taking the Estonian language test for applicants for citizenship or long term residence permit, or the examination on the Citizenship Act and Estonian Constitution in the case of applicants for citizenship, or grant them an exemption from the specified examinations. The members of the committee shall be appointed by the Minister of Education and Research. The expert committee may by its decision leave an application unapproved or decide to satisfy it in full or in part.

A person shall be released completely from the duty of taking examinations:

in the case of a severe or profound mental disability;
in case of total deafness, or hearing loss of the third degree, in both ears;
persons with a severe or profound visual impairment accompanied by one of the following (on the basis of the WHO classification):
- severe visual impairment OD-OS 0.12 – 0.05 correction in the stronger eye;
- blindness OD-OS 0.05-0;
persons with a compound disability who have the following simultaneously:
- hearing impairment and visual impairment = deafness-blindness; including persons who have a moderate or severe visual impairment and hearing loss (40 db or more);
- hearing or visual impairment or reduced mobility accompanied by mental retardation;
Persons with a hearing impairment who have hearing loss of 50-60 db or more (after correction);
- deaf persons whose primary language (mother tongue) is sign language;
- oral deaf persons, with impaired speech manifesting in their primary language (spoken language) – in the mid-range speech frequency range of 500-4000 Hz, 50-100 dB and speech impairment as a result);
- people with cochlear implants.

» Information for those taking the Estonian language proficiency examination who are not able to take the examination under general procedure due to health reasons