Social security coverage in other situations
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Trainees and au pairs
Trainees and au pairs often do not receive social security benefits in their country of employment because their period of employment is too short or their wage too small. In cases like this, you can still receive benefits from Kela if your stay abroad is no longer than 6 months. However, if your work meets the minimum requirements regarding the length of the employment and the wage, you will usually become covered under the social security system of your country of employment (EU and EEA countries, Switzerland and the United Kingdom). You cannot receive benefits from Finland at the same time.
Example
As a part of his higher education studies, Markus completes a period of on-the-job training with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs at the Finnish embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The training lasts three months. As Markus has a short-term employment of less than six months, he is entitled to residence-based social security benefits from Kela during his training.
If your on-the-job training or work as an au pair lasts for more than 6 months, your right to social security coverage in Finland will end when you leave Finland. Be sure to find out whether you have a right to social security coverage in your country of employment.
Persons performing conscript or alternative civilian service
Persons who go to another EU or EEA country, Switzerland or the United Kingdom to perform their conscript or alternative civilian service are covered by the social service system of the country of service.
For persons performing conscript or alternative civilian service in a country other than the EU or EEA countries, Switzerland or the United Kingdom the duration of the stay abroad determines their right to coverage under the Finnish social security system. You may still be entitled to benefits if your stay abroad is no longer than 6 months. If your stay abroad lasts more than 6 months, the entitlement to Kela benefits will end.
Athletes
Those who work as professional athletes abroad are usually entitled to social security coverage in their country of employment if the country in question is an EU or EEA country, Switzerland or the United Kingdom. In other situations, your right to social security coverage in Finland depends on the temporary (less than 6 months) vs. permanent nature of your residence abroad.