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Quick guide for people moving abroad

When you move abroad from Finland, your entitlement to benefits from Kela is determined on the basis of how long you intend to stay abroad, to which country you move and your reason for the stay abroad.

See the quick guide

Quick guide for people moving to Finland

When you move to Finland from another country, your entitlement to benefits from Kela is determined on the basis of how long you intend to stay in Finland, which country you come from and your reason for the stay in Finland. See the quick guide
How corona affects international situations
Update on the coronavirus situation

Moving abroad

Working abroad
Even a brief period of employment in another EU or EEA country or Switzerland may mean that your social security coverage is changed to the country in which you work for the duration of your employment.
Studying abroad
You are entitled to Kela benefits during temporary stays abroad of a maximum of 6 months. If you study abroad for more than 6 months, you must study on a full-time basis in order to be entitled to Kela benefits.
Moving abroad as a family member
If you accompany a person who is covered under the social security system abroad as a family member, you are entitled to Kela benefits if you were entitled to them already before the move abroad.

Moving to Finland

Coming to work in Finland
You can be covered by the Finnish social security system either on the basis of permanent residence or employment.
To Finland as a student
If you move to Finland in order to study, you will as a rule not be covered by the Finnish social security system.
To Finland as a family member
If you move in with a family member who is already living permanently in Finland, you may be covered by the Finnish social security system. If you move to Finland together with a family member who comes to work or study here, your status is as a rule assessed on the basis of whether your family member is considered to be permanently resident in Finland or not.

Other international situations

From Finland to another country to look for work
You retain your entitlement to basic unemployment allowance paid by Kela or earnings-related unemployment allowance paid by the unemployment fund for a maximum of 3 months.
Can I receive a pension from abroad?
If you have lived or worked abroad, you have possibly accrued pension rights in the country/countries in question.
Medical treatment in international situations
Medical treatment in international situations refers to situations where you receive treatment in some other country than your country of residence or when your country of residence does not cover the costs of your medical treatment.

Information about Brexit

How is Brexit going to affect Kela's benefits? See answers to frequently asked questions.

Kysy Kelasta discussion forum for international situations

You can easily ask Kela’s experts, for example, about studying or working abroad via the Kysy Kelasta discussion forum for international situations.

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