Pension from Finland to another country

If you move from Finland to another EU or EEA country, Switzerland or the United Kingdom on or after 1 January 2025, Kela will suspend the payment of your old-age pension or disability pension from the beginning of the month following your move. Survivors’ pensions will continue to be paid as usual.  

If you move to a country that has a social security agreement with Finland (About Kela section), the payment of pensions available from Kela which are covered by the agreement will continue on certain conditions.

The social security agreements with the United States, Canada, Chile and Israel cover old-age pensions and survivors’ pensions. If you move to the United States or Canada, the payment of your disability pension can also continue. However, different countries have different conditions for the payment of pensions, such as conditions concerning citizenship and the length of residence. 

The social security agreement with Australia covers old-age pensions. If you receive a pension from Australia, the amount of the pension will change, since Australia takes any basic pensions paid by the other signatory country into account as income.

If you move to a country other than an EU or EEA country, Switzerland, the United Kingdom or a country that has a social security agreement with Finland (About Kela section), Kela will continue to pay your old-age pension, disability pension and survivors’ pensions for a maximum of one year. 

However, if you have not lived in Finland for at least one year immediately before moving abroad, the payment of your pension will be stopped from the beginning of the month following your move abroad.

If you live in an EU or EEA country, Switzerland or the United Kingdom and you wish to apply for a national pension or an earnings-related pension, you should file your application with the pension provider in your country of residence. The pension provider will send your application to Kela and your authorised pension provider in Finland. For further instructions on the application process, contact the pension provider in your country of residence. 

Whether your disability pension from Kela can be granted to the United Kingdom depends on whether your situation is covered by the partnership agreement or the withdrawal agreement between the EU and the United Kingdom.

If you live in a country that has a social security agreement with Finland (About Kela section) and 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 your country of residence. The pension provider will send your application to Finland for processing. Alternatively, if you live in the United States, you can send the application directly to Kela or the Finnish Centre for Pensions.

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 covers old-age pensions. You can only apply to Kela for pensions that are covered by the agreement.

If you live in India, China or South Korea, you cannot receive a pension from Kela. However, if you have worked in Finland, you can apply for an earnings-related pension from Finland. For more information about earnings-related pensions, visit the työeläke.fi website.

If you permanently live in a country other than an EU or EEA country, Switzerland or a country that has a social security agreement with Finland, you cannot receive a pension from Kela. 

However, if you have worked in Finland, you can apply for an earnings-related pension from Finland. For more information about earnings-related pensions, visit the työeläke.fi website.