Finland has an extensive social security system, run by the state Social Insurance Institution (KELA). Social security benefits include maternity and paternity pay, child allowances and childcare benefits, payments for illness, unemployment and disability, and pensions. Additional benefits available include financial aid for students and employment training allowances.

All foreign nationals working in Finland for at least four months are required to make social security contributions and are eligible for various social security benefits after specified periods of time. Their employers are also required to make contributions to the social insurance fund.

Those posted for temporary periods to Finland may apply to be covered while in Finland by the insurance system in their home country, if this country has a reciprocal social security agreement with Finland. These include the EU/EEA countries, Switzerland, the USA, Canada and Israel.

In order to join the social insurance system, you need to register at a KELA office and obtain a KELA card. Application forms are available online on the KELA website.

For periods of employment in Finland from four months to two years foreign nationals are usually entitled to sickness benefits, medical care, child allowances and unemployment insurance and will contribute to the pensions fund. If working in Finland for at least two years they are entitled to additional benefits including childcare, disability benefits, maternity benefits and housing subsidies. To be eligible for maternity, paternity and parental allowances there is a requirement to be living in Finland or a country with which Finland has a reciprocal agreement for at least 180 days before the child is due.

The KELA website sets out full details of benefits and eligibility criteria, and countries with which Finland has reciprocal social security agreements.