Legislation related to interpretation and translation
Kielikoulu Nuevo Mundo is committed to following Finnish legislation concerning interpretation and translation services. Our professional interpreters follow strict principles of professional confidentiality, impartiality and customer confidentiality.
We work with public authorities, immigration services, legal institutions, the police, hospitals, social-service providers and other professional organisations that need reliable interpretation or translation in official contexts.
Right to interpretation and translation
Finnish law includes several provisions concerning the right to interpretation and translation. These provisions are especially important in matters where a person does not understand Finnish or Swedish, cannot be understood because of a disability or illness, or needs interpretation to safeguard their rights.
The following sections summarise key legal provisions mentioned in the original legislation page. The wording has been reorganised for readability and website use, while preserving the essential content.
Aliens Act 301/2004
Section 203 — Interpretation and translation
Under the Aliens Act, authorities shall provide interpretation or translation if an alien does not understand Finnish or Swedish as used by the authorities under the Language Act, or if the person cannot be understood because of a disability or illness, in matters that:
- are processed in the asylum procedure;
- concern refusal of entry or deportation;
- may be initiated by the authorities.
Authorities may also provide interpretation or translation in other matters when this is necessary to clarify the matter or to secure the rights of the person concerned.
The obligation of an authority or court to provide interpretation or translation does not apply to material that has no relevance to the processing of the matter. A person concerned has the right to be notified of a decision concerning them in their mother tongue or in a language that they can reasonably be expected to understand. A decision may be notified through interpretation or translation.
Administrative Procedure Act 434/2003
Section 26 — Interpretation and translation
Under the Administrative Procedure Act, an authority shall arrange interpretation and translation in a matter that may become pending on the initiative of the authority if:
- a party using Romani, sign language or another language does not know Finnish or Swedish as used by the authority;
- a person cannot be understood because of a disability or illness.
The matter may be interpreted or translated into a language that the party can be considered to know sufficiently, taking into account the nature of the matter. For clarification of the matter or safeguarding the rights of the parties, the authority may also arrange interpretation and translation in other situations.
The right of a person using Finnish or Swedish to interpretation and translation arranged by an authority is governed by the Language Act. Separate provisions apply to interpretation and translation into the Sámi language. Authorities must also ensure that citizens of other Nordic countries have access to the interpretation and translation needed in matters considered by the authority.
Language Act 423/2003
Section 10 — The right to use Finnish and Swedish before an authority
Everyone has the right to use Finnish or Swedish before a state authority and an authority of a bilingual municipality. An authority must also arrange that a person to be heard in a matter has the possibility of being heard in their own language, Finnish or Swedish.
A unilingual municipal authority uses the language of the municipality unless the authority decides otherwise on request or unless otherwise provided by law. However, everyone has the right to use and be heard in their own language in a matter that has become pending on the initiative of an authority and that directly affects their fundamental rights, the fundamental rights of a person in their custody, or an obligation assigned to them by the authority.
Section 18 — The right to interpretation
If a person has the right under law to use their own language but the language of the authority or proceedings is different, the authority shall arrange interpretation free of charge unless it provides the interpretation itself or unless otherwise provided by law.
In certain court-related cases, a party who wants interpretation may need to arrange and pay for the interpretation themselves unless the court decides otherwise based on the nature of the case.
Act on the Status and Rights of Social Welfare Clients 812/2000
Section 5 — Client’s right to receive clarification
Social welfare staff must clarify to the client their rights and obligations, the available options, their effects and other relevant details related to the client’s case. The clarification must be given in a way that the client can understand its content and importance.
If the staff does not know the client’s language or the client cannot be understood because of a speech impediment, sensory disability or another reason, an interpreter should be used where possible.
If the matter has been initiated by a public authority, interpretation and translation are handled according to Section 26 of the Administrative Procedure Act.
Act on the Status and Rights of Patients 785/1992
Section 5 — Patient’s right to be informed
A patient must be given information about their state of health, the significance of treatment, alternative forms of treatment and their effects, and other factors related to treatment that are significant when decisions are made about the patient’s care.
This information should not be given against the patient’s will or when it is obvious that giving the information would cause serious danger to the patient’s life or health.
Healthcare professionals should provide information in a way that the patient can understand. If the healthcare professional does not know the language used by the patient, or if the patient cannot be understood because of a sensory disability or speech defect, interpretation should be provided where possible.
Why professional interpretation matters in official contexts
In official, legal, healthcare and social-service matters, interpretation is often necessary to ensure that the person concerned understands the matter, can express themselves and can participate in the process appropriately.
Professional interpretation helps reduce misunderstandings, supports procedural fairness and makes communication clearer for all parties involved.
Confidentiality and professional conduct
Interpretation and translation assignments may involve sensitive personal, legal, medical or official information. For this reason, confidentiality and professional conduct are essential in every assignment.
Our interpreters work according to professional standards and respect the confidentiality requirements of each assignment.
Contact us
Contact us for more information about legal, official, healthcare, social-service or community interpretation services. We can help you choose a suitable interpreting method and arrange the right interpreter for your assignment.
Email: info@knm.fi
Telephone: +358 40 506 2398
