Maintenance break in e-services on 21 May at 6–20 More information
Maintenance break in the appointment booking system on 21 May at 6–20 More information
Possible maintenance breaks in e-services on 16 May at 23–02 More information
A technical problem has been discovered in the Kela’s remote services More information
Pensions in international situations
You can accrue pension rights in all the countries where you have lived or worked.
Brexit and pensions
The United Kingdom withdrew from the EU on 1 February 2020. The Brexit withdrawal agreement signed by the EU and the UK specifies a transition period which extends to 31 December 2020, During the transition period, the social security entitlements for persons who move between the EU countries and the UK will be determined in accordance with the Brexit agreement.
The payment of pensions will not be affected by the transition. During the transition period, the rules for applying for a pension are the same as when applying for pension from an EU/EEA country or from Switzerland.
See more details on applying for a pension from Finland to another country and applying for a pension from abroad.
Also keep an eye on our Brexit page.
EU/EEA countries and Switzerland
Pension rights accrue in all the countries whose social security system you have been covered under. The overall pension consists of the sum of the pensions from all these countries. Each country decides on the pension application on the basis of its own pension legislation. Kela and the Finnish Centre for Pensions (Eläketurvakeskus) can help you with the pension application.
Countries which have a social security agreement with Finland
Finland has concluded social security agreements with some countries with the purpose of ensuring, for instance, the granting and payment of pensions to the other signatory country or from the other signatory country to Finland. Pension rights accrue according to the pension legislation of the countries that have a social security agreement with Finland. Kela and the Finnish Centre for Pensions can assist you with the pension application procedures in these countries.
Other countries
If you have lived in some other country than an EU or EEA country, Switzerland or a country that has a social security agreement with Finland, you have possibly accrued pension rights there. You must yourself check your pension entitlements with the pension provider in the country in question.