22
S t a t e Regu l a t i on s and I n s u r an ce s
Students
Students moving to Finland simply to study are
not generally entitled to Finnish social security.
If you move to Finland temporarily from an EU/
EEA country or Switzerland, you will be entitled
to basic health care through a European Health
Insurance Card granted in the country of origin.
You may, however, become entitled to Finnish
social security if you are staying here for reasons
other than your studies or if your circumstances
change during the time you are here so that
the conditions of permanent residence are
fulfilled, e.g. through marriage to someone living
permanently in Finland.
If you work while studying in Finland, your social
security coverage is determined in the same
way as it is for workers in general. If you work
for at least 4 months while studying in Finland
and meet the condition regarding the terms of
employment, you qualify for coverage under the
Finnish social security system for the duration of
your employment.
Students moving to Finland from another Nordic
country gain social security coverage in Finland
if they are residents in Finland according to the
population register. If you move to Finland for
over 6 months, make sure to register with the
local register office. Following registration, you
are covered by the Finnish social security system.
Financial aid benefits from Finland are, however,
only available to students who live permanently
in Finland for some other reason than attending
a school. The benefits can be received by those
living permanently in Finland and who meet the
appropriate criteria.
Researchers
If you move to Finland temporarily from an EU or
EEA country or Switzerland, you will be entitled
to basic health care through a European Health
Insurance Card granted in the country of origin.
Researchers supported by a grant are not
considered as workers within the meaning of the
social security agreements, even if their grant
corresponds in amount to the salary that would
be paid for comparable research work. Just as
with researchers from other countries, your
coverage under the Finnish social security system
depends on whether you are considered to be
moving permanently to Finland (meaning at least
for 2 years). In case the research lasts e.g. a year
and is later on prolonged by another year, the
researcher is entitled to social benefits as of when
the condition of two years research has been
fulfilled, i.e. when the decision that the research
will continue has been made.
If you will be working in Finland for at least 2
years, you will normally be covered by the Finnish
social security system as soon as you move to
Finland. The duration of your employment in
Finland is checked by consulting your employer
or your employment contract. If a period of
employment originally intended to last less than
2 years ("temporary employment") lasts longer
than 2 years ("permanent employment"), you
will be covered by the Finnish social security
system from the date on which your employment
became permanent.
Employed Persons from EU/EEA -countries or from
Switzerland
Employment Relationship Lasting Less than 4
Months
If you are going to be working in Finland for less
than 4 months, normally, you will not be covered
under the Finnish social security system. However,
if contributions are being paid in your behalf to
the Finnish earnings-related pension system, you
are entitled to the child home care allowance
(basic allowance and supplement) and to medical
treatment in the public system.
Employment Relationship Lasting Between 4
Months and 2 Years
If you are going to be working in Finland
between 4 months and 2 years, you will be
entitled to health insurance benefits, the child
home care allowance and the child benefit
from the beginning of your employment. You
will also accrue rights to national pensions and
survivors' pensions, and will be covered by the
Unemployment Security Act.
Employment Relationship Lasting at least 2 Years
You will have full coverage under the Finnish
residence-based social security system and will be
eligible for all Kela benefits either as soon as you
move to Finland or as soon as your employment is
confirmed to last more than 2 years.
