Family members

Family members are considered to include married and cohabiting spouses and partners in a registered partnership. Children under 18 years of age (children of one’s own, adopted children or children of one’s spouse if living in the same household) are also considered as family members.

Family members from another EU/EEA country or from Switzerland

The EU Regulation 1408/71 contains no provisions regarding the country under whose social security system the family members of workers are covered. Instead, their social security rights are determined according to the national rules of each country. This means that the family members of a worker who moves to Finland from another EU/EEA country or from Switzerland must move to Finland permanently in order to qualify for social security coverage in Finland.

However, the family members of persons working in Finland are under the EU Regulation entitled to medical treatment and family benefits in Finland even if they live in Finland temporarily or not at all.

In certain situations, workers can choose whether they wish to be covered under the social security system of their country of employment or that of their country of residence. This choice has no effect on the country under whose social security system their family members are covered. However, it may affect a family member’s right to medical treatment or family benefits.

Family members from a country with a social security agreement

Family members moving to Finland from a country that has a social security agreement with Finland must normally live in Finland permanently in order to be covered by the Finnish social security system. However, the family members of persons working in a foreign diplomatic mission to Finland cannot be covered under the Finnish system.

Family members moving to Finland from another Nordic country can gain social security coverage in Finland if they are resident in Finland according to the population register. However, this does not apply to the family members of posted workers, who are covered by the social security system of the same country as the posted worker.

Family members accompanying a worker posted to Finland from the United States are covered by the U.S. social security system in respect of the benefits specified in the social security agreement between Finland and the United States. These are: national pensions, survivor pensions, health insurance and child benefits. In order to qualify for Finnish social security, you must live permanently in Finland.

Under the social security agreement with Canada, the family members accompanying a worker covered by the Canadian social security system are themselves also covered by the Canadian system in respect of the benefits specified in the agreement. These are national pensions and survivor pensions. With regard to other social security benefits, coverage is determined by reference to whether you live in Finland temporarily or permanently.

Under the social security agreement with Australia, the family members accompanying a worker covered by the Australian social security system are themselves also covered by the Australian system in respect of the benefits specified in the agreement. That is the national pension. With regard to other social security benefits, coverage is determined by reference to whether you live in Finland temporarily or permanently.

The family members of a worker posted from Israel to Finland or of a person employed by the state, other public-sector entity or a diplomatic mission are covered by the Israeli social security system in respect of the benefits specified in the social security agreement between Finland and Israel. In order to qualify for Finnish social security, you must live permanently in Finland.

Under the social security arrangement with the Province of Quebec, the family members accompanying a worker posted from Quebec to Finland are covered by the social security systems of Canada and Quebec in respect of the benefits to which the agreement applies. In order to qualify for Finnish social security, you must live permanently in Finland. If you work in Finland, you will be subject to the rules concerning workers.

Some of the social security agreements allow locally hired personnel of diplomatic missions to choose the country under whose system they wish to be have social security coverage. This choice has no effect on the country under whose social security system their family members are covered.

Family members from some other country

If you move to Finland for family reasons and you come from another EU/EEA country, from Switzerland or from a country that has a social security agreement with Finland, you are entitled to social security coverage in Finland if you are moving to Finland permanently and you have a residence permit valid for at least one year. If you are accompanying another family member, you are normally considered to be moving to Finland permanently, just as is the case with the family member whom you are accompanying and who comes to Finland for the purpose of working or studying.

You are not considered to be living in Finland permanently if you are the family member of a person working in the diplomatic mission of another country or in an intergovernmental organization, and live in the same household as that person. However, if you were already living in Finland permanently when the employment in a foreign mission or intergovernmental organization began, you remain covered by the Finnish social security system.

If you work in Finland yourself, your right to social security benefits in Finland is determined according to the rules applicable to workers.