Kela card

A Kela card is automatically sent to

• everyone who is covered under the Finnish national health insurance scheme
• newborn children, when Kela receives information about the child from the Digital and Population Data Services Agency.

What do you need a Kela card for?

By presenting your Kela card at the pharmacy or at many private medical clinics, you can get a direct, on-the-spot reimbursement for your costs. Direct reimbursement means that the Kela reimbursement will be deducted directly from the cost of the medical treatment or the medicines and you pay only the remaining amount.

Your right to use public healthcare services is based on you being registered with the Digital and Population Data Services Agency as a resident of a Finnish municipality. Even though public healthcare providers will often ask you to identify yourself using a Kela card, you can access public healthcare services without a Kela card.

If you are entitled to a special rate of reimbursement for medicines, Kela will add a notation about this to your Kela card.

The Kela card is not an official ID card. There is no electronic version of the Kela card.

Changes to the Kela card

Kela will send you a new Kela card automatically

• if your name changes and you have reported the change to the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (dvv.fi)
• if your entitlement to a special rate of reimbursement for medicines changes.

What to do if you have lost your card

You can apply for a Kela card either on a form or in the OmaKela e-service. OmaKela is currently only available in Finnish and Swedish. Kela’s forms are also available in English.

Apply in OmaKela

Apply for a Kela card in OmaKela. Go to Tee hakemus (Submit an application). Select Kelan kortit (Cards granted by Kela).

Apply on a form

1. Fill in and print out the form the application form SV 157e (pdf).
2. Send the application by mail. The address is Kela, PL 10, 00056 KELA.

You can also call Kela’s customer service number 020 634 2650.

No fee is charged for the renewal of the Kela card. If you find a Kela card that belongs to another person, please return it to Kela.

When can you not use the Kela card?

Moving abroad may affect your right to use the Kela card. If you move abroad temporarily or on a permanent basis, let us know of this in the OmaKela e-service (available only in Finnish and Swedish). Go to ‘Ilmoita muutoksista’ (Notify Kela of changes) and select ‘Suomesta ulkomaille tai ulkomailta Suomeen’ (Leaving Finland or coming to Finland). Kela will check if you are covered under the Finnish national health insurance scheme and if you are entitled to benefits from Kela.

You cannot use the Kela card in the following situations:

• You have moved from Finland to another country and you are therefore not covered under the Finnish national health insurance system.
• You have been granted a Kela card on the basis of employment in Finland, but you no longer earn enough for you to be covered under the Finnish national health insurance system.
• You need a residence permit in Finland, but your residence permit is not extended or the permit is cancelled.

You can see your right to benefits from Kela in the OmaKela e-service by going to ‘Päivitä omia tietojasi’ (Update your information).

Kela photocard

Kela photocards are no longer being issued. If you have a Kela photocard, you can still use it to prove your identity at Kela’s customer service points.