The Finnish social security system is designed to ensure that everyone in Finland has access to essential services and financial support in various life situations. Finnish social security is divided into
- Residence-Based Social Security
- Employment-Based Social Security
Earnings-related social security
The social security system is administered by Kela, the Social Insurance Institution of Finland.
When you have coverage under the Finnish social security system, you can apply and receive a personal health insurance card, the Kela card. This is proof of your eligibility to social security. When you are buying prescription medications at your pharmacy or paying for a doctor’s appointment at a private clinic, for instance, the Kela card entitles you to a discount.
All permanent residents in Finland are issued a Kela card. When you move to Finland, register at a local Kela office and complete the required application forms. You can read more about applying for the card on the Kela website: https://www.kela.fi/kela-card
You can be entitled to Kela benefits both on the basis of permanent residence in Finland and employment in Finland. Your social security coverage is mainly affected by the country you come from and for how long you plan to work in Finland.
If you come to Finland as an employee, Kela determines whether your residence in Finland can be considered permanent also on the basis of your employment. An open-ended contract of employment or a fixed-term contract of employment of at least two years can be taken into account as an indication of a permanent move to Finland.
In case your eligibility for residence-based social security benefits will be created on the basis of employment, the eligibility will terminate when the employment ends.
You can become entitled to social security coverage in Finland on the basis of employment even if you are not permanently resident here. However, for instance general housing allowance is not payable to employees coming from a country outside the EU area who are not considered to be permanently resident in the country.
For more precise information, please see:
Kela.fi: Social security coverage for employees and self-employed persons
Information on family members' eligibility for social security benefits in Finland can be found at Kela.fi: Social security coverage for family members
Usually family members of employees are entitled to the same KELA-benefits as is the employed one, if the work contract is for a minimum of two years. Social security matters are quite complex and many different factors have affect the decision concerning social security benefits. Therefore, it is advisable to contact the local KELA office to discuss your personal situation.
In Finland, social security payments for employees include several contributions:
Employee Contributions
- Pension Insurance Contribution:
- 7.15% for employees aged 17 to 52 years or 63 to 67 years.
- 8.65% for employees aged 53 to 62 years
- Sickness Insurance Contribution:
- 1.52%, which includes a Medicare contribution of 0.51% and a Daily Allowance contribution of 1.01%
Employer Contributions
- Health Insurance Contribution:
- 1.53% of the employee’s wage.
These contributions are deducted from the employee’s gross salary and are used to fund various social security benefits, including pensions, health care, and unemployment insurance. For more information, please see Social Insurance Contributions in Finland - Finnish Centre for Pensions (etk.fi)
Researchers working on a grant are usually not covered by the Finnish social security since their stay in Finland is considered temporary. However, if the research work continues for more than a year, you have financing for more than a year and all other circumstances also indicate permanent residence in Finland, you may, as a rule, be covered by the Finnish social security system on the basis of permanent residence.
The definition of permanent residency in Finland, however, varies depending on your country of origin. If you are moving to Finland from outside the EU or Nordic countries, the qualification for permanent residency and municipality is 2 years of residency in Finland. If your research grant is for two years or more, you will normally be covered by the Finnish social security system and will qualify for Kela (The Social Insurance Institution of Finland) benefits as soon as you move to Finland.
Researchers from the EU/EEA countries who carryout research work or pursue postgraduate studies in Finland financed through a Finnish grant which entails the obligation to take out an insurance under the Farmers' Pensions Act (MELA) for at least four months, you are covered by the Finnish social security system for the duration of your research work or postgraduate studies. Coverage under the Finnish social security system has to be applied for with Kela.
For more precise information, please see: