1. KELA The Social Insurance Institution

2. SERVICES OF KELA Kela looks after the social security of people covered under the Finnish social security system Covers such areas of social security as family benefits, health insurance, rehabilitation, basic unemployment security, housing benefits, financial aid for students and basic pensions

3. ELIGIBILITY FOR FINNISH SOCIAL SECURITY As a rule, international students who are in Finland solely for the purpose of studying are not covered by the Finnish social security and thus are not entitled to social benefits Insurance under the social security system administered by Kela generally requires a permanent residence in Finland If a student resides in Finland for a reason other than studying (work, family ties or return migration), he/she can contact Kela for more information

4. SOCIAL SECURITY As a rule, students and researchers who come to Finland are not covered by the Finnish social security system since their stay in Finland is considered temporary. If the student has also other reasons for the stay in Finland, he or she can be covered by the Finnish social security system. If the circumstances of your studies in Finland change, and you meet the requirements for permanent residence, you may qualify for social security coverage from the date the change became effective. One example of such a change is marriage to a person who lives permanently in Finland. If you work in Finland during your studies you can become covered by the social security system for the duration of the employment on the same grounds as other workers who come to Finland.  EU/EEA and Switzerland: Coverage by the social security system presupposes that your employment in Finland lasts for at least 4 months  Non-EU/EEA: Coverage by the social security system presupposes that your work meets the minimum requirements (please check with Kela about the requirements)

5. FINANCIAL AID FOR STUDENTS If you are not a Finnish citizen, you may be entitled to financial aid with education in Finland if  you are registered as a permanent resident of Finland in the population register system and  your purpose for residence in Finland is something other than education (for example, work, family ties or return migration). If you are in Finland for the express purpose of studying, you are not eligible for financial aid from Finland Permanent residence in Finland is determined by reference to the Municipality of Residence Act. The purpose of residence in Finland is determined in different ways depending on one's nationality.

6. FINANCIAL AID/ EU/EEA COUNTRIES You may eligible for financial aid if you are in Finland for reasons other than education and you have registered your residence in Finland. Even if an EU/EEA/Swiss student is in Finland for the purpose of study but is also working in the same time, he/she can be granted financial aid for the duration of the employment. Coverage by the social security system presupposes that your employment in Finland lasts for at least 4 months and a minimum of 18h/week. EU/EEA/Swiss students are entitled to necessary medical treatment in Finland by presenting a European Health Insurance Card granted by their country of residence

7. CONTACT KELA Web pages in English: http://www.kela.fi/web/en Social insurance of foreign students: http://www.kela.fi/web/en/moving-to-finland_study-or-research-in- finlandhttp://www.kela.fi/web/en/moving-to-finland_study-or-research-in- finland http://www.kela.fi/web/en/financial-aid-for-foreign-students Social security when moving to Finland Phone service: 020 634 0200 Kela office Vapaudenkatu 40-42 Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri from 9 am to 4 pm Tue from 9 am to 5 pm