Study or research

Students or researches from another EU/EEA country or from Switzerland

Students and researchers moving to Finland from an EU/EEA country, Switzerland or a country that has a social security agreement with Finland are normally not covered by the Finnish social security system, because their residence in Finland is of a temporary nature. However, they are entitled to necessary medical treatment in Finland by presenting a European Health Insurance Card.

If you work while studying in Finland, your social security coverage is determined in the same way as it is for workers in general. If you work for at least 4 months while studying in Finland and meet the condition regarding the terms of employment, you qualify for coverage under the Finnish social security system for the duration of your employment. After you no longer work, your coverage is determined by reference to whether your residence in Finland is temporary or permanent.

Researchers supported by a grant are not considered as workers within the meaning of EU Regulation 1408/71, even if their grant corresponds in amount to the salary that would be paid for comparable research work. Just as with researchers from other countries, your coverage under the Finnish social security system depends on whether you are considered to move permanently to Finland.

Students and researchers from countries with a social security agreement

Students and researchers moving to Finland from another Nordic country gain social security coverage in Finland if they are resident in Finland according to the population register. If you move to Finland for over 6 months, make sure to register with the local register office. Following registration, you are covered by the Finnish social security system. Financial aid benefits from Finland are, however, only available to students who live permanently in Finland for some other reason than attending a school.

Students who work and meet the condition regarding the terms of employment are covered by the Finnish social security system for the duration of their employment, as specified in EU Regulation 1408/71, even if they are entered in the population register of another Nordic country.

Students and researchers moving to Finland from a country that has a social security agreement with Finland are normally not covered by the Finnish social security system, because the agreements do not contain any particular provisions applicable to them.

Researchers supported by a grant are not considered as workers within the meaning of the social security agreements, even if their grant corresponds in amount to the salary that would be paid for comparable research work.

Researchers from countries that have a social security agreement with Finland can gain coverage under the Finnish social security system only if they are considered to take up permanent residence in Finland.

Students and researchers from other countries

With students from some other country than an EU/EEA country, Switzerland or a country with a social security agreement with Finland, the decisive point in determining their coverage under the Finnish social security system is the length of their residence in Finland. Persons living in Finland solely for the purpose of studying cannot normally be covered under the Finnish social security system. However, if you have other reasons besides studying for living in Finland, you may be considered to have taken up permanent residence in Finland, in which you will qualify for social security coverage.

If the circumstances of your residence in Finland change, and you meet the requirements for permanent residence, you may qualify for social security coverage from the date the change became effective. One example of such a change is marriage to a person who lives permanently in Finland.

Research supported by a grant is normally of a temporary nature and does not result in coverage under the Finnish social security system. However, if your grant is equivalent in amount to a salary that would be paid for comparable research work, you may qualify for social security coverage in Finland. If you work for at least 2 years, you are considered to have moved to Finland permanently and are entitled to all Kela benefits.