Social insurance in Finland

Residence-based benefits

The social insurance system in Finland is divided into residence-based and work-based benefits. The Social Insurance Institution of Finland, Kela, administers the residence-based benefits. You are eligible for benefits from Kela if you for example 

• have children
• become ill or injured
• are a pensioner (receive a basic pension)
• have functional disabilities
• are a surviving dependent
• become unemployed (basic benefit)
• need housing support.

Employment-based benefits

If you work in Finland you are normally insured for employment-based benefits. The employment-based benefits are, for example, earnings-related pension, vocational rehabilitation, compensation for injury at work and industrial illnesses as well as income-related daily allowance if you are a member of an unemployment benefit fund. The Finnish Centre for Pensions, ETK, administers the earnings-related pensions.

When you move to Finland

You can be considered a resident of Finland from the day you moved in if you intend living permanently in Finland. Residence is considered permanent if you are returning to Finland, if you work in Finland for at least two years or if you move for family reasons.

If you move to Finland temporarily you cannot normally be covered by social insurance in Finland. An exception are non-active persons, for example students and pensioners, who move from another Nordic country. These are eligible for Finnish social security if they live in Finland according to the population register. There are also a few exceptions that concern those who move to Finland from another EU/EEA country.

If you work in Finland

If you move from another Nordic country to Finland to work, your eligibility for social insurance in Finland depends on how long you plan to work here. If the duration of your employment is at least 2 years, you are considered a permanent resident in Finland and are then fully covered by social insurance. You are then eligible for all Kela benefits from the date you move. 

If your employment is for less than two years, you are eligible for certain social benefits. This however presumes that you work at least 18 hours a week and that your income complies with the collective agreement within the industry or is at least EUR 1 019 a month (2009).

If your employment lasts for at least 4 months but not two years, you may, in addition to the benefits referred to above, receive health insurance benefits and family allowance. You are also eligible for basic pension and family pension and insured for unemployment. 

If your employment lasts less than 4 months, you are normally not eligible to social security in Finland. If you are insured in Finland through an earnings-related pension you are however eligible for child home care allowance and general health care.

If you work as an employee, your employer shall arrange an earnings-related pension insurance for you. If you are self-employed or a farmer, you must arrange your own earnings-related pension insurance. The insurance will make you eligible for an income-related pension. 

When you move from Finland

If you leave Finland for a period that is longer than one year you are normally no longer considered to be a resident of Finland. In this case you will no longer be covered by the social insurance in Finland. There are however special rules for certain groups such as posted employees and students who may be covered by social insurance in Finland even though they may be abroad for more than one year.

Eligible for benefits?

The fact that you are a permanent resident in Finland does not mean that you have an automatic right to a residential or work-based benefit. You must also fulfill the other requirements for the benefit. The possibility of getting benefits paid to you while you are abroad is limited.

National registration and reporting to Kela

If you move to or from Finland you must report this to the local register office.

When you move to Finland permanently you must report to a Kela office and complete a Form Y77. You will be given a Kela card to show that you are registered with the Finnish health insurance.

When you move from Finland you must fill in a Form Y39 or Y38 depending on how long you plan to be abroad. If you plan to live abroad permanently you must hand back your Kela card. 

Remember always to notify Kela of any changes to your family circumstances, your work or your address information.

More information

For further information contact Kela, the Social Insurance Institution of Finland, or ETK, the Finnish Centre for Pensions.
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