Pension from Finland to another country
Pension to an EU or EEA country or to Switzerland
If you wish to apply for a national pension or an earnings-related pension and you live in an EU or EEA country or Switzerland, you should file the application with the pension provider in your country of residence. The pension provider forwards the application to Kela and to your authorised pension provider in Finland. Further instructions about the application procedure is provided by the pension provider in the country of residence.
Pension to a country that has a social security agreement with Finland
If you live in a country that has a social security agreement with Finland and you wish to apply for a national pension or an earnings-related pension, you can apply for pensions that are covered by the agreement by filing a pension application with the pension provider in the country of residence. The pension provider sends the application to Finland for processing.
The agreements do not cover all pensions from Kela. The agreements with the United States, Canada, Chile and Israel cover old-age pensions and survivors’ pensions. The agreement with Australia only applies to old-age pensions.
The agreements with India, China and South Korea do not concern pensions from Kela. If you live in one of the countries mentioned, you cannot apply for a pension from Kela on the basis of the agreement. However, you can apply for an earnings-related pension (tyoelake.fi) from Finland, if you have worked in Finland. You can find more information on an earnings-related pension from the website tyoelake.fi.
Pension to other countries
If you live in some other country than an EU or EEA country, Switzerland or a country that has a social security agreement with Finland, you cannot apply for a pension from Kela. However, you can apply for an earnings-related pension from Finland, if you have worked in Finland. You can find more information on an earnings-related pension from the website tyoelake.fi.
If you receive a national pension and you move abroad
If you receive a national pension and you move abroad, the continued payment of the pension depends on where you move. How long you intend to stay abroad is also of significance. Payment abroad of an earnings-related pension continues regardless of the country to which you move. Notify Kela when you move abroad.