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S t a t e Regu l a t i on s and I n s u r an ce s
forms are available at all post offices and
magistraten/ maistraatti
, and are also printable
from the Internet.
The notification can also be made by calling
the nationwide change of address-service line
+358 (0)295 535 535 (local call charge/mobile
charge, queuing is subject to charge), Mon-Fri
08:00-16:00 (service also in English). You can
also fill in the notification on the Internet, see:
www.posti.fi/changeaddress/ .3.3 Insurances
(social, medical, private)
Social Insurance
The Finnish Social Insurance Institution
(
Folkpensionsanstalten (FPA)/Kansaneläkelaitos
(KELA)
) is responsible for providing most of the
Finnish social security benefits. The objective
of the Finnish Social Security is to guarantee
an adequate basic income in all life situations.
Eligibility for Finnish social security benefits is
based on residence in Finland. The residence
is considered permanent if a person moves
to Finland for family reasons, or has a regular
employment relationship in Finland for at least
two years. Students are not considered to be
permanently residing in Finland.
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 three months, please 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