Social security coverage in other situations

Links to the content of this page:

• Returnees
• Refugees and holders of a residence permit
• Unemployed jobseekers
• Trainees and au pairs
• Persons performing conscript or alternative civilian service
• Athletes

Returnees

Persons who return to Finland and who have previously been covered by the Finnish social security system usually become entitled to benefits immediately.

If you have been granted a residence permit for at least one year on the basis of your Finnish origins, you will usually become entitled to benefits starting from the date of your move to Finland.

Refugees and holders of a residence permit

If you have come to Finland as an asylum seeker and you have been granted a residence permit on the basis of asylum or subsidiary protection, you are entitled to social security coverage from the date when the residence permit was issued if you plan to take up permanent residence in Finland. If you are granted a residence permit in Finland you are eligible for the same Kela benefits and other social security services as all other permanent residents. Kela does not pay benefits to asylum seekers while the application for asylum is being processed.

If you enter Finland as a “quota refugee”, you become entitled to social security coverage as soon as you enter Finland.

Unemployed jobseekers

You can move to Finland from another EU or EEA country or Switzerland for up to 6 months to look for work if you have an U2 form from your country of origin. You can also come to Finland from the United Kingdom to look for work within the EU, if the British authority responsible for the payment of unemployment benefits grants you an U2 form. While you are looking for a job you receive unemployment benefits from the country that issued the form. You cannot receive benefits from Finland at the same time.

If you have a European Health Insurance Card and an U2 form issued by another EU or EEA country, Switzerland or the United Kingdom, you are entitled to medically necessary treatment in Finland.

If you find work in Finland, you can become entitled to benefits as an employee. If you do not find work but decide to stay in Finland, your coverage is determined by whether you are considered to live in Finland permanently. For instance family ties can be an indication of permanent residence.

Trainees and au pairs

Usually trainees and au pairs do not become entitled to Kela benefits since the work they perform is limited in scope and duration. If your wage amounts to a minimum of EUR 800.02 per month, you may be entitled to benefits as an employee. Read more about social security coverage for employees and self-employed persons.

Persons performing conscript or alternative civilian service

Persons who come to Finland from an EU or EEA country or Switzerland to perform their conscript or alternative civilian service are entitled to social security coverage in Finland for the duration of their service.

If you come to Finland from a non-EU country, you can become entitled to benefits only if you move to Finland on a permanent basis and your intention is to remain here after the service.

Athletes

Professional athletes are treated as equivalent to employees. If your monthly wage amounts to at least EUR 800.02 per month, you can be entitled to benefits.

If you come from a country outside the EU or EEA area, you need a residence permit for employees.