23
S t a t e Regu l a t i on s and I n s u r an ce s
Employed Persons from Countries with a Social
Security Agreement
You may have a right to social security on the
basis of a social security agreement. Finland has
such agreements with the other Nordic countries
and with the United States, Canada, Australia,
Chile and Israel. Further, Finland has made a
separate arrangement concerning social security
with the Province of Quebec. With Australia,
Finland also has an agreement covering medical
treatment during a temporary stay in the other
signatory country.
If you move to Finland from another Nordic
country for the purpose of employment, you will
be subject to most of the same rules that apply to
workers moving to Finland from another EU/EEA
country or from Switzerland.
Workers moving to Finland from the United
States, from Canada (including the Province of
Quebec), from Chile or from Israel are eligible for
benefits covered by the relevant bilateral social
security agreement regardless of the length of
their residence in Finland. Finnish benefits not
covered by the agreement are available to them
only if they take up permanent residence in
Finland.
Everyone who moves to Finland for the purpose
of employment and comes from a country that
has a social security agreement with Finland
will, however, start to accrue rights towards an
earnings-related pension as soon as they begin
working, and will be insured against employment
accidents. If they work in Finland for at least 4
months, they will also be covered by the health
insurance and unemployment security systems.
Employed Persons from other Countries
The social security coverage of employees
moving to Finland from some other country
than an EU/EEA country, Switzerland or a
country with a social security agreement with
Finland is determined solely by reference to the
intended length of their residence. To qualify for
benefits from Kela, you must have a contract of
employment for at least 2 years. However, you
will obtain health insurance cover as soon as you
begin employment if you will work for at least 4
months and you meet the condition regarding
the terms of employment.
The condition regarding the terms of
employment is satisfied if you work at least 18
hours a week and your pay is consistent with the
terms of the relevant collective agreement. Where
no collective agreement exists, monthly pay must
be at least 1154 euros a month (year 2014).
How to Claim
Persons moving to Finland on a permanent basis
must apply for coverage under the Finnish social
security system by filing the Kela/Fpa form Y 77e.
The applicant will be issued a written decision on
the coverage under the applicable social security
system. Kela decisions are always issued in Finnish
or Swedish only. If the person is considered to be
eligible for residence-based social security, he/she
will be awarded a personal Social Insurance Card
called Kela card.
If you are covered by Finnish social security, any
accompanying family members are usually also
covered. However, if an employee or student
moves to Finland on a temporary basis and is
not covered by Finnish social security, his or her
family members are not covered either. If you
qualify for coverage under the Finnish social
security system based on employment, the
coverage is for the duration of your employment,
and does not apply accompanying family
members.
For more information about the social security
provided by Kela/Fpa, please visit
or
.
The local office in Turku/Åbo:
Kansaneläkelaitos/Folkpensionsastalten
Eriksgatan 26
Open Mon 9.00-17-00, Tue-Fri 9.00-16.00
The local office in Vaasa/Vasa:
Kansaneläkelaitos/Folkpensionsastalten
Fredsgatan 24
Open Mon-Fri 9.00-16.00
Kela has nationwide customer service numbers
for different benefits. The service is open Monday
through Friday 8 am to 6 pm.
Please be aware that the numbers below operate
primarily in the Swedish language. Therefore,
the customer service person answering your
call will initiate the conversation in Swedish. If
