Finnish social security

This page contains information about the residence-based social security provided by Kela. In addition, social security in Finland is provided by municipalities, unemployment funds, pension institutions and other insurance institutions.

The InfoFinland page Unemployment benefit contains more information about who is entitled to unemployment security. More information about the Finnish pension system can be found on the InfoFinland page Pension.

Kela pays benefits, for example, to families with children, unemployed persons, students, disabled persons and those who are ill for a long time or need rehabilitation. You can also apply for support for housing costs from Kela in certain situations.

If you are covered by Finnish health insurance, you will receive a Kela card. When you show your card, you will be reimbursed for your expenses at pharmacies and many private clinics. Then, you only have to pay the deductible.

The grounds for Kela benefits are defined by law. When you apply for a Kela benefit, Kela checks whether you have a right to receive Kela benefits. It may be affected by permanent residence and working in Finland. When deciding on a benefit, Kela reviews the life situation of each applicant individually.

The situations in life and needs for benefit often vary greatly between applicants. Therefore, the amounts and grounds of the benefits also vary. Always clarify your own situation separately.

As a general rule, if you live permanently in Finland, you can receive Kela benefits. The law defines what is meant by permanent residence.

Working in Finland may also give you a right to Kela benefits.

Do you have a right to benefits? This is affected by whether you are moving to Finland

• from a country belonging to the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA), the United Kingdom or Switzerland, or
• from some other country.

The EEA countries include the EU countries, along with Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

Your right to benefits is also affected by the capacity in which you are moving to Finland, for example:

• employee or entrepreneur
• student
• family member
• seconded employee.

Finland has made agreements regarding social security with a number of countries. They include the Nordic countries, the US, Canada and Quebec, Chile, Israel, India, China, South Korea, Japan and Australia. The agreements primarily apply to pensions. Some of them also concern, for example, health care. If you are coming from one of these countries, check with Kela whether or not these agreements affect your social security.

When you move to Finland, Kela always first assesses whether or not you are moving to live in the country permanently, as defined by the social security legislation.

Kela may consider that you are moving to Finland permanently in the following cases, for example:

• You are a returnee, i.e. you are returning to Finland from abroad.
• You have a permanent employment contract, or similar agreement, regarding work you will be doing in Finland.
• You are married to or in an otherwise close family relationship with a person who is already a permanent resident of Finland.

In addition, if you are obliged to obtain a residence permit, Kela usually requires that your permit is valid.

Kela will make an overall assessment of your situation. Based on the assessment, Kela will consider whether or not your residence is permanent.

Once Kela has decided that you are permanently residing in Finland, you will be entitled to Kela benefits. Your entitlement to benefits continues as long as

• you have your primary residence and home in Finland and you spend most of your time in Finland, or
• you have some other reason for your permanent residence in Finland, such as family ties or work.

However, if you begin work in another country or go abroad for more than six months, your right to Kela benefits may be terminated. More information about these situations is available from Kela.

If Kela considers that your move to Finland is not permanent, you do not usually have a right to Kela benefits. However, you may be entitled to some benefits, for example based on your work.

If your salary is at least EUR 800.02/month, you will normally be entitled to some Kela benefits even if you have a short employment contract. It does not matter how many hours you work per week. The benefits you can receive depend on, for example, the country from which you are moving to Finland.

If you move to Finland to study, your right to Kela benefits depends on how long your studies last and from which country you are moving to Finland. If you come from an EU or EEA country, Switzerland or Great Britain, you do not need to pay a health care fee. If you come from a different country and your studies last at least 2 years, you may be entitled to some Kela benefits.

There are also benefits that you cannot receive if you are not, or have not previously been, a permanent resident of Finland. If you are coming from another EU country, however, you can in some cases utilise the insurance periods you have accumulated in the other EU country. Ask for more information at Kela’s international situations unit.

Persons fleeing the war in Ukraine can apply for a residence permit in Finland based on temporary protection. 

You can become entitled to Kela benefits if you work in Finland or have been living in Finland for at least a year. Before that, you are entitled to the services of your reception centre. You can receive a reception allowance if your or your family members’ income and assets are not enough to cover necessary expenses, such as food and clothes.

Right to use an interpreter

If you are unable to take care of Kela matters in Finnish, Swedish or English, Kela can arrange interpretation for you. You do not need to pay for the interpretation service. You can order an interpreter from Kela’s telephone service or visit a Kela service point. Interpreters are bound to professional secrecy.

A relative or friend can also act as an interpreter if the matter in question does not affect your legal protection. However, those under 18 years of age cannot act as an interpreter.

Taking care of Kela matters on behalf of another person

If you want someone else to take care of Kela matters on your behalf, you can prepare a letter of authorisation for that purpose. The person you authorise can apply for Kela benefits on your behalf or appeal against a decision.

You can also provide oral authorisation for one appointment, for example, by phone.

A guardian can take care of all matters of a child under the age of 15.

The InfoFinland website contains a lot of information on Kela benefits. Read more on the following pages:

• Unemployment benefit
• Housing allowance
• Financial support for families
• Support during illness
• Financing your studies
• Disabled persons