More than a year abroad

This information applies to you who are moving abroad for a timeperiod exceeding one year.

EU/EEA member countries and Switzerland
Countries with a social security agreement with Finland
Countries with no international agreement with Finland

More than a year in an EU/EEA country or in Switzerland

If you move permanently (i.e., for more than a year) to another EU/EEA country or to Switzerland, you will normally lose your National Health Insurance coverage in Finland. In this case, you should find out what is required for you to gain coverage in your new country of residence.If you leave Finland for the purpose of working in another EU/EEA member country or in Switzerland, you may lose your health insurance coverage in Finland even if you will stay abroad for less than a year. Most often, you will be covered by the health insurance system of your country of employment as soon as you start working, provided that you meet such specific employment conditions as may apply in your country of employment.Employees and civil servants posted from Finland retain their Finnish health insurance coverage during their foreign posting. However, they and the non-employed members of their families get the medical treatment they need in their country of residence (EU/EEA country or Switzerland) as specified in the national legislation of that country.

To obtain coverage for medical care in Finland, workers posted from Finland to another EU/EEA country or to Switzerland must register with the health insurance institution of their place of residence. During a residence of less than a year, posted workers and the members of their families can use the personal European Health Insurance Card they have received from Kela to obtain medical care.

For purposes of registering with the local health care institution, Kela can on request provide workers posted abroad for a period of more than a year with an E106 form. More information about the E106 form is available from Kela's Office for International Affairs.

Kela can issue an E109 certificate on request to family members who do not qualify for health insurance coverage in their country of residence (because of employment reasons, for example) and who live in another foreign country than the posted employee. Further information is available from Kela's local offices.

Kela evaluates on an individual basis whether the criteria required to issue an E106 or E109 form are fulfilled. Further, the health insurance institution of the country of residence will make an individual assessment of whether the holder of an E106/E109 form issued by Kela meets the requirements for registration.Employees posted to another EU/EEA country or to Switzerland who are covered under the Finnish social security system and those of their family members who live with them outside Finland are entitled to medical treatment while visiting Finland, subject to the same fees that apply to the local residents. On request, Kela can provide proof of this entitlement in the form of a document titled "Todistus oikeudesta hoitoetuuksiin Suomessa". Further information is available from Kela's local offices.

If the health insurance coverage of persons moving to another EU/EEA country or to Switzerland is conditional on the completion of a qualifying period, the competent institution must recognize any periods of insurance, residence or employment completed under the legislation of other countries. This ensures that the persons do not lose their health insurance coverage when changing jobs or moving to another country.

More than a year in a country with an agreement concerning social security or medical treatment

The only agreement with any relevance for persons moving permanently from Finland is the social security arrangement with the Province of Quebec, which concerns the medical treatment and health insurance coverage of students and posted workers.

Posted workers prove their right to medical treatment in the Province of Quebec by presenting the FIN/Q1 form, which is available from the Finnish Centre for Pensions. Students prove their right by presenting the SF/Q4 form, which is available from Kela. The agreement with the Province of Quebec covers not only necessary medical treatment but also other medical services. For details, contact the local health insurance institution.

Employees posted to the Province of Quebec who are covered under the Finnish social security system are, along with their non-working accompanying family members, entitled to medical treatment while visiting Finland.

Persons moving permanently to another Nordic country are subject to the same rules as those moving permanently to another EU/EEA country or to Switzerland.

Regarding healthcare, persons moving to other countries with a social security agreement with Finland are treated in the same way as persons moving to countries without an agreement.

More than a year in some other country

Persons moving to some other country than an EU/EEA country, Switzerland or a country with a social security agreement with Finland normally lose their Finnish social security and health insurance coverage upon moving from Finland.

If you move permanently to a country whose health insurance system does not cover you, you should purchase private insurance. You will be entitled to emergency medical treatment while visiting Finland, but will have to pay the full cost of such treatment. This is yet another reason to purchase private insurance.

Updated 04/11/13