Moving to Finland
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Kela, the Social Insurance Institution of Finland, looks after the social security for all persons resident and employed in Finland through the different stages of their lives.
Kela benefits when you live in Finland permanently or work in Finland
The benefits available from Kela cover a wide range of situations.
When you move to Finland you can usually get benefits from Kela and a Kela card (Kela-kortti) starting from the day of the move. This is possible if either one of the following criteria is met:
- Kela considers that you are living in Finland permanently
- you are working in Finland.
The range of benefits you can get from Kela on the basis of living in Finland permanently is wider than on the basis of working in Finland.
You can get more information about the payment of benefits from our website at kela.fi or by calling us.
You can get benefits from Kela if we consider that you are living in Finland permanently. We consider each customer’s situation case by case.
When considering whether you live in Finland permanently, we check for instance the following:
- length of stay in Finland
- your family ties in Finland and elsewhere
- employment in Finland or in other countries and the length of the employment
- previous residence in Finland
- permanent home in Finland or in another country.
You can get benefits from Kela on the basis of living in Finland permanently, but also on the basis of working in Finland.
On the basis of working in Finland, you do not have the right to all the benefits you could get on the basis of living in Finland permanently.
In order to get benefits from Kela on the basis of working in Finland, your wage in Finland must amount to EUR 800.02 per month or more.
Did you know?
Your citizenship does not affect your right to Kela benefits. You can be a Finnish citizen or the citizen of any other country.
However, in order to get benefits from Kela you must have a residence permit granted by the Finnish Immigration Service (migri.fi), if you are required to get one.
Have you moved to Finland and you are applying for a benefit from Kela for the first time?
When you have moved to Finland you can apply for a Kela card (Kela-kortti) and, when needed, for benefits from Kela. We will determine your right to benefits when you file your application. Different benefits are applied for on different forms.
What to do when you are applying for benefits for the first time
- Apply for a Kela card and Kela benefits in the OmaKela e-service (in Finnish and Swedish). You can get more information about Kela benefits from our website.
Also notify us of your move to Finland in the OmaKela e-service.
If you cannot use OmaKela, send the application forms and the form Moving to Finland or employment in Finland Y 77e (PDF) to Kela by mail. Save the forms to your device and fill them in after saving them. Print out the forms and send them and any supporting documents to the address Kela, PL 10, 00056 KELA.
Before you file an application with Kela, make sure you have
- a Finnish personal identity code
- a bank account.
The personal identity code is issued by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (dvv.fi). You need a bank account so that we can pay the benefit to you. We do not pay benefits in cash.
In order to get benefits you must also have a residence permit granted by the Finnish Immigration Service (migri.fi), if you are required to get one.
Read more about how your application is processed at Kela.
Watch a video about the Finnish social security system
The video tells you how Kela handles your social security. Length 3 min. 48 s, subtitled.
Are you returning to Finland?
If you have lived in Finland previously and received benefits from Kela, you can usually get benefits starting from your return.
What to do on your return to Finland
- Notify us of your move to Finland in the OmaKela e-service (in Finnish and Swedish).
- Apply for benefits or a Kela card in the OmaKela e-service, as needed. You can get more information about Kela benefits from our website.
If you cannot use OmaKela, send the form Moving to Finland or employment in Finland Y 77e (PDF) and the application forms to Kela by mail. Save the forms to your device and fill them in after saving them. Print out the forms and send them and any supporting documents to the address Kela, PL 10, 00056 KELA.
If you have children under age 18 who are moving with you and for whom you are the legal guardian, also inform us of their move in your notification. Your spouse/partner must file a separate notification about their move.
Did you get benefits from Kela during your stay outside Finland?
If you received benefits from Kela during your stay outside Finland and you have returned to Finland, notify us of your return to Finland as soon as possible. That way, the payment of your benefits can continue without interruptions.
You can conduct your business with Kela in the OmaKela e-service
The processing of the applications takes longer if we need information from other countries
Please note that the processing of the applications can take longer if we have to request information from the social insurance institutions of other countries.
Which other authorities should you contact?
In addition to Kela there are other authorities in Finland that you must contact when you move to Finland.
If you move to Finland for one year or more, you need to notify the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV) of your move.
On the basis of your notification, the Digital and Population Data Services Agency will determine
- whether you can be registered in the Finnish population data system
- whether you get a municipality of residence in Finland.
When you have a municipality of residence in Finland, you are entitled to the medical care you need within the public health care system.
When you are registered in the Finnish population data system, you get a Finnish personal identity code, if you do not already have one.
Go to the website of the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (dvv.fi).
Check with the Finnish Immigration Service what you have to do when you consider coming to Finland.
Go to the website of the Finnish Immigration Service (migri.fi).
Different reasons for coming to Finland
Read more about how your situation affects your right to benefits when you come to Finland as
- an employee or a jobseeker
- a student
- a pension recipient
- a family member
- an asylum seeker or a quota refugee.
You may also have come to Finland for other reasons. In these cases, you must also notify us of your move if you are applying for benefits.
What else is going on in your life?
Are you looking for information on medical care in Finland?
Are you only visiting Finland?
You may be entitled to medical treatment in Finland during your stay.
Current topics
Checklist when moving to Finland
The checklist at InfoFinland can help you in the most essential matters when moving to Finland.
Read more (infofinland.fi)