Applying
At the earliest, you can apply for military service the year you turn 18. Those applying between 16 January 2026 and 15 January 2027 can apply for the 2027 July contingent and both the January and July contingents of the next three years (2028, 2029, 2030). You can complete military service in various service tasks in any of the Defence Forces’ or the Border Guard’s brigade-level units. However, not all service tasks are available in every brigade-level unit. Read about different service tasks. Online application for voluntary military service for women opens on 15 May 2026. The online application will close on 15 January 2027.
This is how you apply to service
How to apply
1. Fill in the questionnaire for examination of health and print it out.
Log in To MyMilitary (OmaIntti) online service and fill in the “Questionnaire for examination of health". Print out the questionnaire that you filled out and book an appointment at your own wellbeing services county’s social and health centre for a preliminary medical examination for the assessment of fitness for military service. When booking the appointment, remember to say that the appointment is for the assessment of fitness for military service concerning the voluntary military service for women.
2. Go to the the preliminary medical examination
Book the appointment for the preliminary medical examination at your own wellbeing services county’s social and health centre and say that this is for a preliminary medical examination for voluntary military service for women. Bring the printout/download of the Questionnaire for examination of health to the preliminary medical examination, during which a physician will provide you with the medical certificate that you then need to annex to your application.
In case you have the preliminary medical examination not later than 31 December 2026, you can request reimbursement for expenses from the Finnish Defence Forces. For a medical examination by a private sector medical service provider, the maximum reimbursement is the cost of a corresponding appointment at a wellbeing services county. Remember to ask for proof of payment if the medical examination is not free of charge! If you have the appointment at a private sector service provider, print out alongside the questionnaire also the form for medical certificate on state of health, "Medical examination form”.
Please note that due to a legislative amendment that will take effect on 1 January 2027, the Finnish Defence Forces will no longer reimburse expenses relating to the preliminary medical examination. From 1 January 2027 onwards, the wellbeing services counties and the City of Helsinki will arrange for the preliminary medical examination for applying to voluntary military service for women as part of primary health care as provided either in student health service or other applicable primary health care service.
3. Fill in your application for voluntary military service for women and submit it.
Once you have received your medical certificate, log in To MyMilitary (OmaIntti) online service and fill in an application for women’s voluntary military service. Attach the medical certificate and the receipts for reimbursement to your application. In some cases, the physician who conducted the examination may also send the medical certificate to the regional office. Should this be the case, make a note in your application.
4. Send your application by the deadline. The application period ends on 15 January each year.
5. If you wish to apply for special forces, fill in a separate application form after you have submitted the application for voluntary military service for women.
Instructions on how to apply for special forces can be found here
Paper applications
If you are unable to submit your application online, you can fill in a paper application and send it by mail To your regional office. Do not forget to attach the medical certificate to your application. The application with your signature should be received by your regional office by the application deadline, 15 January.
Selection Criteria
To be selected, the applicant must be in good health. They must also be fit to be trained for the Defence Forces’ reserve.
You will get more information about voluntary military service at the selection event where you will also be interviewed and your health will be examined. The selection event will be organised by your regional office during April.
You must start your service the year you turn 29 at the latest.
