Pension from abroad to Finland
You may have accrued pension rights in all the countries where you have lived or worked. Pension benefits are typically accrued from employment. Pension benefits on the basis of residence are available from the Nordic countries and the Netherlands, Canada, Australia and Israel, for example.
Applying for a pension from abroad
You can apply on the same application form that you use to apply for pensions from Finland. Include the form Appendix U - Residence and employment abroad, ETK/Kela 7110e (pdf) with your application. Application instructions are available on the individual webpages for each type of pension.
Most pension providers have online services where you can file your pension application.
When you apply for a pension from an EU or EEA country, Switzerland or the United Kingdom, there are several pension providers involved in the processing of your application. The pension providers send details of their pension decisions to a so-called contact institution. The contact institution keeps you informed of how the processing of your pension case progresses. If you live in Finland, the contact institution is the Finnish Centre for Pensions (etk.fi).
Finland has concluded social security agreements with certain countries. You can check these countries and the benefits covered by the agreements on the International legislation page (About Kela section).
If you wish to apply for a pension from a country that has a social security agreement with Finland, use the same application form that you use to apply for pensions from Finland. Application instructions are available on the individual webpages for each type of pension. Include the form Appendix U - Residence and employment abroad, ETK/Kela 7110e (pdf) with your application. Most pension providers have online services where you can file your pension application.
When you have filed your application, the Finnish Centre for Pensions will send you application instructions and another pension application form that is connected with the social security agreement in question. If you wish to speed up the processing of your application, you can also visit the työeläke.fi website and print out the forms yourself.
If you apply for a pension 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 must apply for the pension directly from the pension provider in the country in question.
Information about these pensions and the application procedure is provided by the diplomatic mission in Finland of the country in question (um.fi, in Finnish or Swedish).
Other things to remember about pensions from abroad
At regular intervals, the foreign pension providers need a certificate stating that the pensioner is still alive. If you live in Finland, the so-called life certificate is issued by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (dvv.fi). Send the certificate to your foreign pension provider.
The Digital and Population Data Services Agency is the only authority in Finland that can issue an official life certificate. Sometimes, a foreign pension provider may send you a precompleted form for confirming that you are alive. If necessary, Kela can use that form to confirm that you are alive, but the pension provider will decide whether Kela’s confirmation is enough or whether you need an official life certificate. You must send the form back to the pension provider yourself. Kela does not issue separate life certificates but only confirms precompleted forms.
Always remember to notify the Finnish Tax Administration of any pensions from abroad.
Contact the Tax Administration (vero.fi) to check how pensions from abroad are taxed in Finland.
Do you still have questions?
You can call Kela’s Centre for International Affairs.
What else is going on in your life?
Are you about to move to Finland?
For more information for pensioners moving to Finland, see the Coming to Finland section. Also remember to apply for a Kela card.
When money is tight
The guarantee pension secures a minimum pension for pensioners living in Finland. If you cannot afford your necessary living expenses, you can apply to Kela for basic social assistance.
Do you need assistance with your housing costs?
You are eligible for the housing allowance for pensioners if you are living permanently in Finland, you have a low income and you receive a pension which entitles you to the housing allowance for pensioners.