How moving from Finland to another country affects your social security benefits.

When does moving abroad affect social security?

The main rule is that you can claim social security benefits if you live permanently in Finland. You are deemed to live in Finland permanently if you have permanent accommodation and a home here, and you live predominantly here.

If you move abroad for less than 6 months, you are usually entitled to Kela benefits. This rule is flexible if your stay in EU or EEA country, Switzerland or the United Kingdom lasts longer than 6 months, i.e. you can retain your right to Kela benefits even longer than 6 months. Working in EU and EEA countries as well as Switzerland or the UK* is an exception: even when working for less than 6 months, you will be transferred to the social security system of the country in which you are working.

If you intend to live abroad for more than 6 months, in most cases you will lose your right to Finnish social security.

Statutory earnings-related pension is paid from Finland to all countries, even when you move abroad permanently.

* Each case needs to be assessed individually to determine whether a person falls within the scope of Art 30 of the Withdrawal Agreement, and so the EU Coordination Regulations apply, or whether they fall within the scope of situations described in Art 32 of the Withdrawal Agreement and/or come under domestic legislation and the Protocol on Social Security Coordination attached to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

When does the effect of the move on social security begin?

If you move abroad for good or stay in a country other than an EU or EEA country, Switzerland or the United Kingdom for longer than 6 months, your entitlement to Kela benefits usually ends on the day of moving. Exceptions include workers and students who have been sent abroad on assignment, who can in certain situations remain in the social security system whilst remaining abroad for a period of over 6 months.

If you originally intended to stay abroad temporarily, i.e. less than 6 months, but it turns out that your stay becomes permanent, your social security coverage in Finland will end effectively from the date when your circumstances changed.

If, however, you still work in Finland, you can in certain situations, remain part of the Finnish social security system, even though you have moved to another EU/EEA country, Switzerland or the UK.

In a case of working in an EU or EEA country, Switzerland or the United Kingdom as a posted worker, the employer or the employee can apply for a posting certificate from the Finnish Centre for Pensions. The certificate shows if the coverage by the Finnish social security will continue during a temporary period of working abroad. The certificate can be granted for a continuous maximum period of 24 months per country to EU/EEA countries, to Switzerland or to the UK. A new posting period can normally be regarded to begin to the same country when at least two months have gone by after the end of the previous posting period. The maximum periods for posting to countries that Finland has concluded bilateral social security agreements with, are defined in the agreements in question. The maximum period for posting to all other countries is 5 years.

If the maximum period for posting is exceeded in the same country, the employer or the employee can apply for an exemption to prolong the maximum period of posting from the Finnish Centre for Pensions. An exemption can only be granted with the approval from the officials of the country of employment.

You can check whether you belong to the Finnish social security system through Kela, either by using their e-services or by contacting Kela's customer services (customer service locator).

You can check whether you belong to the Finnish social security system while working as a posted worker from the Finnish Centre for Pensions: ulkomaanasiat@etk.fi or tel. +358 (0) 29 411 2816.

How should I provide notification that I'm moving abroad?

Notify Kela of your move abroad if you stay abroad for longer than three months and Kela is currently paying you benefits, you will stay abroad for longer than 6 months and you are a full-time student, a posted employee, or otherwise entitled to Kela benefits despite staying abroad. Also notify Kela if you move abroad and if you will be employed briefly in another EU or EEA country, in Switzerland or in the United Kingdom or you stay abroad on a frequent basis and spend most of your time abroad and Kela is paying you benefits.

The notification to Kela must be made at the latest when you return to Finland, or sooner if your stay abroad becomes relevant to your benefits.

You can notify Kela through the e-services system (www.kela.fi/omakela) or by filling in the Moving from Finland or employment abroad (Y 38) and posting it to any Kela office.

Jargon busters

A permanent move abroad refers to a move lasting over 6 months in another country.

A temporary stay abroad usually means a stay that lasts a maximum of 6 months. This rule is flexible even if your stay in EU or EEA country, Switzerland or the United Kingdom lasts longer than 6 months.

Useful forms

If you are temporarily moving to another EU or EEA country, Switzerland or the UK, order a free European Health Insurance Card from Kela. More information about applying for a card: https://www.kela.fi/european-health-insurance-card

More information is available on Kela's website: http://www.kela.fi/web/en

More information and useful forms when applying for a posting certificate:

• https://www.tyoelake.fi/en/Pages/Lomakkeet.aspx
• https://www.etk.fi/en/work-and-pensions-abroad/insurance-while-working-abroad/apply-for-an-a1-certificate/

Know your rights

The Commission's publication and website:

http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=849&langId=fi

Who should I contact?

More information about Kela http://www.kela.fi/web/en.

More information about the Finnish Centre for Pensions: http://www.etk.fi/en/.