diff --git a/fpdf/template.py b/fpdf/template.py
index 772003656..38c2011d7 100644
--- a/fpdf/template.py
+++ b/fpdf/template.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 __license__ = "LGPL 3.0"
 
 import csv
+import locale
 import warnings
 
 from .errors import FPDFException
@@ -65,7 +66,7 @@ def load_elements(self, elements):
         self.elements = elements
         self.keys = [v["name"].lower() for v in self.elements]
 
-    def parse_csv(self, infile, delimiter=",", decimal_sep="."):
+    def parse_csv(self, infile, delimiter=",", decimal_sep=".", encoding=None):
         """Parse template format csv file and create elements dict"""
         keys = (
             "name",
@@ -88,7 +89,9 @@ def parse_csv(self, infile, delimiter=",", decimal_sep="."):
         )
         self.elements = []
         self.pg_no = 0
-        with open(infile) as f:
+        if encoding is None:
+            encoding = locale.getpreferredencoding()
+        with open(infile, encoding=encoding) as f:
             for row in csv.reader(f, delimiter=delimiter):
                 kargs = {}
                 for i, v in enumerate(row):
diff --git a/fpdf/util.py b/fpdf/util.py
index 02831483e..e48778641 100644
--- a/fpdf/util.py
+++ b/fpdf/util.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ def try_to_type(value):
             pass
     return value
 
+
 def substr(s, start, length=-1):
     if length < 0:
         length = len(s) - start
diff --git a/test/template/test_template.py b/test/template/test_template.py
index 96909d2a1..2298e415c 100644
--- a/test/template/test_template.py
+++ b/test/template/test_template.py
@@ -136,6 +136,11 @@ def test_template_nominal_csv(tmp_path):
     tmpl.add_page()
     tmpl.render()
     assert_pdf_equal(tmpl.pdf, HERE / "template_nominal_csv.pdf", tmp_path)
+    tmpl = Template(format="A4", title="Sample Invoice")
+    tmpl.parse_csv(HERE / "mycsvfile.csv", delimiter=";", encoding="utf-8")
+    tmpl.add_page()
+    tmpl.render()
+    assert_pdf_equal(tmpl.pdf, HERE / "template_nominal_csv.pdf", tmp_path)
 
 
 def test_template_code39(tmp_path):  # issue-161