Social security coverage for civil servants

The category ’civil servants’ is considered to include not only employees in government service but also other public-sector workers.

If you move to Finland from an EU or EEA country, Switzerland or the United Kingdom as a civil servant employed by another country, you are covered under the social security system in your employer country for the duration of the employment in Finland. In other words, you are eligible for social security benefits from the country employing you, under the terms applicable there. Each country is free to define whom it regards as civil servants. If you are part of the personnel of a foreign diplomatic mission in Finland, you are entitled to Kela benefits if the minimum requirements regarding the terms of employment are met or if you are resident in Finland on a permanent basis.

If you move to Finland from a country other than an EU or EEA country, Switzerland, the United Kingdom or a country that has a social security agreement with Finland, you become entitled to benefits if you move to Finland permanently or if the minimum requirements regarding the terms of employment are met. The same rule applies to benefits that are not covered by the social security agreements.

If you work as a posted worker at a foreign diplomatic mission, you are not entitled to social security coverage in Finland. Foreign nationals working at foreign diplomatic missions are entitled to Finnish social security benefits only if they were living in Finland permanently before their contract of service began. Locally hired Finnish citizens at foreign diplomatic missions who are permanently living in Finland remain entitled to the social security benefits handled by Kela.