Are you going abroad?

Medically necessary treatment means treatment that cannot wait until you return home. In addition to treatment for a sudden illness, this includes treatment related to a long-term illness, pregnancy or childbirth.

How can I access healthcare as a student in EU countries?

As a student, you can usually receive medically necessary treatment with a European Health Insurance Card.

This means you are covered by the Finnish social security system, and Finland will cover the costs of your medical treatment. You only pay the local client fee.

You are usually covered by the Finnish social security system, and Finland will cover your healthcare costs when you go abroad to study or undertake an unpaid work placement.

If you undertake a paid work placement abroad as part of your studies, this may affect your entitlement to use the European Health Insurance Card issued by Kela. Check with Kela about your situation.

Follow these steps when you go abroad as a student:

1. Check with Kela whether you will continue to be covered by the Finnish social security system while studying abroad.
2. Order a European Health Insurance Card from Kela. You can receive medically necessary treatment in the country where you are staying using a European Health Insurance Card.
3. Check the terms of your travel insurance.
4. Take your medicines and prescriptions with you.
5. If you want to buy medicines while abroad, ask your doctor to write you a prescription that you can use abroad.
6. Find out about healthcare services in your destination country.

Always notify Kela if you work abroad. Working abroad may affect your entitlement to use the European Health Insurance Card issued by Kela.

How can I access healthcare as a student in Quebec?

Finland has a social security agreement with the province of Quebec (Canada). Under the social security agreement, you may be entitled to healthcare in Quebec.

The following are entitled to medical care:

• exchange students
• researchers
• students completing a work placement as part of upper secondary or higher education
• family members of all of the above.

Call Kela if you go to Quebec.

How can I access healthcare as a student outside the EU?

• As a student, you are entitled to healthcare in the country where you are staying in accordance with local legislation.
• Outside the EU, you will usually have to pay for your treatment yourself.
• You should take out private insurance to cover healthcare costs.

You can ask your educational institution for more information and advice about healthcare services in the country.

If you are studying in an EU or EEA country, the UK or Switzerland:

• You will receive treatment in Finland in the same way as before you left Finland.
• You will also receive direct reimbursement from Kela for medicines at a pharmacy or for treatment in the private healthcare sector in the same way as before you left Finland.
• You can use healthcare services in the same way as before you left Finland if you have a municipality of residence in Finland. The Digital and Population Data Services Agency will assess whether you have a municipality of residence in Finland after you move abroad.
• If you do not have a municipality of residence in Finland, you will need a certificate issued by Kela confirming your entitlement to medical care in Finland. You will receive the certificate from Kela once you have notified Kela that you are moving abroad. By showing the certificate, you can use healthcare services in the same way as before you left Finland.

If you are studying in any other country:

• If you do not have a municipality of residence in Finland, you are only entitled to urgent medical treatment in Finland’s public healthcare system. You have to pay for your treatment yourself.
• You are entitled to use all public healthcare services in the same way as people living in Finland if you still have a municipality of residence in Finland after moving abroad. The Digital and Population Data Services Agency will assess whether you have a municipality of residence in Finland after you move abroad.
• If you are covered by the Finnish social security system while studying, you can receive direct reimbursement from Kela for medicines at a pharmacy or for treatment in the private healthcare sector in the same way as before you left Finland.

If you are working remotely for a Finnish employer from abroad or are on a work assignment, please read the section Employed by a Finnish employer.

How can I access healthcare as an employee or self-employed person in an EU or EEA country, the UK or Switzerland?

• You must register with the local health insurance institution in order to receive treatment in your new country.
• Once you have registered, you will usually receive healthcare in your country of employment in the same way and at the same cost as local residents.
• You will receive treatment in accordance with that country’s legislation and healthcare system.

Follow these steps when you go abroad to work:

1. Notify Kela of your departure and submit a notification of move to the Digital and Population Data Services Agency.
2. Register with the local health insurance institution.
3. Check with your employer and the health insurance institution in the country where you are working to find out how to arrange your health insurance.
4. Also notify the social security institution in your new country of your move.

If necessary, ask for help from the country’s Contact Point for Cross-Border Healthcare.

How can I access healthcare as an employee or self-employed person in any other country?

• You will receive medical treatment in the country where you are working, in accordance with local legislation. 
• Check in advance, for example with your employer or insurance company, whether you need private health insurance to cover healthcare services.

I am visiting Finland after moving abroad. What healthcare services am I entitled to use?

If you are coming from an EU or EEA country, Switzerland or the UK:

Apply for a European Health Insurance Card in the country where you work.

• With a European Health Insurance Card, you are entitled to medically necessary treatment within the Finnish public healthcare system.
• You will pay the same client fee as people who live permanently in Finland.
• If you use private healthcare to receive medically necessary treatment, you can apply to Kela afterwards for reimbursement of the costs of treatment and medicines.

You are entitled to use all public healthcare services in the same way as people living in Finland, provided you have a municipality of residence in Finland after you move abroad. The Digital and Population Data Services Agency will assess whether you have a municipality of residence in Finland after you move abroad.

If you are coming from any other country:

• If you do not have a municipality of residence in Finland, you will only receive urgent medical treatment within the Finnish public healthcare system. You have to pay for your treatment yourself.
• You are entitled to use all public healthcare services in the same way as people living in Finland, provided you have a municipality of residence in Finland after you move abroad. The Digital and Population Data Services Agency will assess whether you have a municipality of residence in Finland after you move abroad.
• However, you can still receive Kela reimbursement for treatment in the private healthcare sector and direct reimbursement for medicines at a pharmacy, provided you remain entitled to Kela benefits. Check with Kela.

You may still be employed by a Finnish employer if you work remotely from abroad for a Finnish employer or have been posted abroad on a work assignment.

How can I receive medical treatment while working for a Finnish employer in an EU or EEA country, Switzerland or the UK?

• You can receive medically necessary treatment in the country where you are working using a European Health Insurance Card, provided you have an A1 certificate issued by the Finnish Centre for Pensions.
• You only pay the local client fee for the treatment.
• If you do not have an A1 certificate, read about healthcare for employees abroad.

If you are working abroad for more than a year:

• Apply to Kela for an S1 certificate of entitlement to medical care.
• Register your S1 certificate with the local health insurance institution. Once you have registered, you will usually receive healthcare in your country of employment in the same way and at the same cost as local residents.
• You will receive treatment in accordance with that country’s legislation and healthcare system.

If you work in the Nordic countries or the UK, you do not usually need an S1 certificate, as it is not used between Finland and the Nordic countries or between Finland and the UK.

How can I access healthcare while working for a Finnish employer in any other country?

• You will receive medical treatment in the country where you are working, in accordance with local legislation. 
• Ask the social security and health authorities in the country where you are working for further information.
• If you are travelling to Quebec or Israel, there may be exceptions to your healthcare cover. In that case, please contact Kela.

I am visiting Finland after moving abroad. What healthcare services am I entitled to use?

If you are coming from an EU or EEA country, Switzerland or the UK:

• You can use healthcare services in the same way as you did before you left Finland, provided you have a municipality of residence in Finland. The Digital and Population Data Services Agency will assess whether you have a municipality of residence in Finland after you move abroad.
• You will need a certificate issued by Kela confirming your entitlement to medical care in Finland if you do not have a municipality of residence in Finland.
• If you have an S1 certificate from Kela, you have also been issued with a certificate entitling you to treatment in Finland. By showing your certificate, you can use healthcare services in Finland in the same way as you did before you left Finland.
• You will also receive direct reimbursement from Kela for medicines at a pharmacy or for treatment in the private healthcare sector in the same way as before you left Finland.

If you are coming from any other country:

• If you do not have a municipality of residence in Finland, you will only receive urgent medical treatment within the public healthcare system. You have to pay for your treatment yourself.
• You are entitled to use all public healthcare services in the same way as people living in Finland, provided you have a municipality of residence in Finland after you move abroad. The Digital and Population Data Services Agency will assess whether you have a municipality of residence in Finland after you move abroad.
• You can receive Kela reimbursement for treatment in the private healthcare sector and direct reimbursement for medicines at a pharmacy, provided you remain entitled to Kela benefits. Check with Kela.

How can I access healthcare as a researcher or grant holder in an EU or EEA country, Switzerland or the UK?

If you work in a new country for more than a year as a researcher or grant holder on a Finnish grant or if you are covered by MYEL insurance:

• You must register with the local health insurance institution in order to receive treatment in your new country.
• Once you have registered, you will receive healthcare in your new country in the same way and at the same cost as local residents.
• You will receive treatment in accordance with that country’s legislation and healthcare system.

If you are working as a researcher or grant holder on a Finnish grant in a new country for less than a year, you will usually receive medically necessary treatment using a European Health Insurance Card.

If you are going abroad and fund your research by means other than a Finnish grant, and you are not covered by MYEL insurance, please contact Kela.

Follow these steps if you are going abroad as a researcher or grant holder for more than a year:

1. Apply for an A1 certificate from the Finnish Centre for Pensions if you are working abroad on a Finnish grant or are covered by MYEL insurance. Kela is automatically notified when the Finnish Centre for Pensions issues an A1 certificate.
2. Please also submit a notification of move to the Digital and Population Data Services Agency.
3. Apply to Kela for an S1 certificate of entitlement to medical care.
4. Register your S1 certificate of entitlement to medical care with the health insurance institution in the country where you are working.

If you work in the Nordic countries or the UK, you do not usually need an S1 certificate, as it is not used between Finland and the Nordic countries or between Finland and the UK.

How can I access healthcare as a researcher or grant holder in any other country?

• You will receive medical treatment in the country where you are staying in accordance with local legislation.
• Outside the EU, you will usually have to pay for your treatment yourself.
• You should take out private insurance to cover healthcare costs.
• If you are travelling to Quebec, there may be some exceptions to your healthcare cover. In that case, please contact Kela.

Are you working abroad without a grant or on a foreign grant? Please contact Kela.

I am visiting Finland after moving abroad. What healthcare services am I entitled to use?

If you are coming as a researcher or grant holder from an EU or EEA country, the UK or Switzerland:

• You will receive medical treatment in Finland as you did before you left Finland, provided you are covered by the Finnish social security system. Check with Kela.
• You will then also receive direct reimbursement from Kela for medicines at a pharmacy or for treatment in the private healthcare sector, just as you did before you left Finland.
• You can use healthcare services in the same way as before you left Finland, if you have a municipality of residence in Finland. The Digital and Population Data Services Agency will assess whether you have a municipality of residence in Finland after you move abroad.
• You will need a certificate issued by Kela confirming your entitlement to medical care in Finland, if you do not have a municipality of residence in Finland.
• If you have an S1 certificate from Kela, you have also been issued with a certificate entitling you to treatment in Finland. By showing the certificate, you can use healthcare services in the same way as before you left Finland.

If you are coming from another country as a researcher or grant holder:

• If you do not have a municipality of residence in Finland, you will only receive urgent medical treatment within the public healthcare system. You have to pay for your treatment yourself.
• You can receive Kela reimbursement for treatment in the private healthcare sector and direct reimbursement for medicines at a pharmacy if you are covered by the Finnish social security system. Check with Kela.
• You are entitled to use all public healthcare services in the same way as people living in Finland, provided you have a municipality of residence in Finland after you move abroad. The Digital and Population Data Services Agency will assess whether you have a municipality of residence in Finland after you move abroad.

I live in Finland, but I work in another country. What healthcare services am I entitled to use?

If you work in an EU or EEA country, Switzerland or the UK:

• You are entitled to all necessary medical care both in the country of employment and in Finland. For a seafarer, the country of employment is the country whose flag the ship flies.
• You will receive care in both countries by paying only the local client fee.
• In Finland, you are entitled to direct reimbursement for private healthcare and medicines purchased at a pharmacy.
• Apply to Kela for entitlement to medical care. If you are working outside the Nordic countries or the UK, you must submit an S1 certificate of entitlement to medical care issued by the country where you are working when applying to Kela for entitlement to medical care.

If you work in any other country:

• You will receive medical treatment in the country where you are working, in accordance with local legislation.
• In Finland, you are entitled to all public healthcare services because you have a municipality of residence in Finland.

Once you have notified Kela of your departure, Kela will assess whether you are moving abroad on a temporary or permanent basis.

If you are abroad temporarily:

• You are covered by the Finnish social security system while staying abroad.
• Finland will cover the costs of your medical treatment. You only pay the local client fee.

Read more on Kela’s website about temporary stays in an EU or EEA country, Switzerland or the UK

If you are living abroad permanently:

• Your social security cover from Finland will usually end on the day you move.
• Usually, your new country of residence will cover the cost of your healthcare.
• However, Finland may cover the costs of your medical treatment if you receive a pension from Finland.

What healthcare services am I entitled to in a new country if I am abroad temporarily?

• You can receive medically necessary treatment within the local public healthcare system using your European Health Insurance Card.
• You will pay the same client fee for the treatment as local residents.

If you come to visit Finland, you will receive medical treatment in the same way as you did before travelling abroad.

Follow these steps if you are moving abroad permanently as a pensioner:

1. Notify Kela of your move abroad.
2. Kela will determine which country is responsible for covering the costs of your medical treatment. The costs of medical care for pensioners are usually covered by the country from which you receive your pension.
3. If Finland covers the cost of your medical care, you will receive an S1 certificate of entitlement to medical care from Kela. Kela will also issue you with a European Health Insurance Card for pensioners.
4. Register your S1 certificate of entitlement to medical care with the health insurance institution in your country of residence. This will allow you to receive the healthcare you need in your new country in the same way as local residents.

If you live in the Nordic countries or the UK, you do not usually need an S1 certificate, as it is not used between Finland and the Nordic countries or between Finland and the UK.

If Finland does not cover the costs of your medical treatment, check with the authorities in your new country of residence to find out how you can access medical treatment there.

If necessary, ask for help from the country’s Contact Point for Cross-Border Healthcare.

Remember to submit a notification of move to the Digital and Population Data Services Agency as well.

I am visiting Finland after moving abroad. What healthcare services am I entitled to use?

You can obtain a European Health Insurance Card for pensioners from Kela if Finland covers the cost of your medical treatment.

• With the European Health Insurance Card for pensioners, you can receive all the healthcare you need within the public healthcare system.
• With this card, you can receive treatment in the same way as people living in Finland. You will also receive direct reimbursement from Kela for medicines purchased at a pharmacy or for treatment received in the private healthcare sector. You can also claim reimbursement from Kela for travel costs incurred due to illness.
• You may have to pay the treatment costs yourself if you do not have your card with you or if the healthcare provider does not accept it. In that case, you can apply to Kela for reimbursement afterwards.

If Finland does not cover the costs of your medical treatment, you can apply to the authorities in your new country of residence for a European Health Insurance Card. With this card, you are entitled to medically necessary treatment in Finland when you visit the country, for example on holiday.

When you go to a country other than an EU or EEA country, the UK or Switzerland, you will usually have to pay all treatment costs yourself.

• Before you leave Finland, find out what healthcare services are available in your new country and whether you need private insurance.
• If you move to Chile permanently, you will be entitled to healthcare in Chile in the same way as local pensioners. The pensions you receive from Finland affect the healthcare fees you pay in Chile. Ask Kela for a certificate showing the pensions you have been awarded in Finland.

I am visiting Finland after moving abroad. What healthcare services am I entitled to use?

• You are entitled to use all public healthcare services in the same way as people living in Finland, provided you have a municipality of residence in Finland after you move abroad. The Digital and Population Data Services Agency will assess whether you have a municipality of residence in Finland after you move abroad.
• If you do not have a municipality of residence in Finland, you will only receive urgent medical treatment within the public healthcare system. You have to pay for your treatment yourself.
• You are entitled to Kela reimbursement for treatment in the private healthcare sector and direct reimbursement for medicines purchased at a pharmacy if you are covered by the Finnish social security system. Check with Kela.

If you move abroad, your new country of residence will determine what sort of healthcare you receive. Your entitlement to medical care may also be affected by the circumstances of the family member you are accompanying abroad.

Find out more about your rights on Kela’s website: Are you going abroad as a family member? (kela.fi)

Finnish citizenship does not affect whether you are entitled to use healthcare services in Finland.

Your entitlement to use public healthcare services is based on whether you have a municipality of residence in Finland. If you have a municipality of residence in Finland, you can use public healthcare services as usual.

If you do not have a municipality of residence in Finland, your entitlement to medical care in Finland depends on the country where you live permanently. For example, if you live in another EU or EEA country or in Switzerland, you are generally entitled to a wider range of healthcare services in Finland than if you live elsewhere.

An S1 certificate of entitlement to medical care indicates which country will cover the costs of your medical care. In some circumstances, when you move to live in another EU or EEA country or in Switzerland, the costs of your healthcare will be covered by a country other than your country of residence.

For example, if you are posted from Finland on a work assignment to another EU country, you can obtain an S1 certificate from Kela.

You must register your S1 certificate yourself with the health insurance institution in your country of residence. This enables you to receive the medical treatment you need in your country of residence, with the costs covered by Finland.

• In EU and EEA countries, the UK and Switzerland, you can receive treatment by presenting a European Health Insurance Card. In the Nordic countries, you can also receive treatment by presenting your passport or identity card.
• In Quebec, Canada, you will receive treatment in accordance with the social security agreement.
• In any other country, you will receive treatment in accordance with local legislation. Find out in advance, for example, from your educational institution whether you will need private insurance to cover healthcare services.

If you go abroad to undertake a paid work placement, this may affect your entitlement to use the European Health Insurance Card issued by Kela. Notify Kela in OmaKela that you have started working abroad.

Yes, you can. If you have a European Health Insurance Card for pensioners issued by Kela, you can use all healthcare services while staying in Finland in the same way as people living in Finland.

You can recognise a European Health Insurance Card for pensioners by its lime-green reverse side.

You can also travel to Finland for treatment from another EU country, even if you are not entitled to the European Health Insurance Card for pensioners issued by Kela. Check with the health insurance institution in your country of residence to see if you are entitled to reimbursement of the costs of treatment.

You are a frontier worker if you live in Finland but work in another EU country. A frontier worker returns regularly to their country of residence, either daily or at least once a week.

As a frontier worker, you are entitled to medical care in both your country of residence and your country of employment at the same cost as local residents.

When you move from Finland to another country, you can apply to Kela for a decision on your entitlement to medical care. The decision will tell you whether Finland is responsible for the costs of your medical care abroad.

You can appeal against the decision. If you are dissatisfied with Kela’s decision on your entitlement to medical care, you can appeal against the decision.

You can lodge an appeal with the Social Security Appeal Board if Kela considers that the decision cannot be revised as requested.

You can appeal against a decision of the Social Security Appeal Board to the Insurance Court, which is the highest appellate body.

Further information on the appeal process is available on the Kela website.

Processing times for international matters, such as entitlement to medical care when moving abroad, are longer than processing times for Kela applications in general.

You can check the estimated processing time on the Kela website: Processing times in international cases (kela.fi)

Yes. You can take your personal assistive device with you when you move abroad.

Usually, you can get the assistive device you need in your new country of residence. The authority responsible for healthcare services in the country is usually best placed to provide further information on obtaining assistive devices.

The assistive device I brought from Finland needs servicing, or I need a new one. What should I do?

• Arrange the servicing or repair of your assistive device, or the purchase of a new one, with the authorities in your country of residence.
• You can have your assistive device serviced or replaced through the Finnish public healthcare system if you are registered as a resident in Finland or if Finland is covering the costs of your medical care following your move. You are responsible for the cost of transporting the assistive device to Finland and back to your country of residence.

If you live in an EU or EEA country, Switzerland or the UK and have been granted a major appliance or prosthesis in Finland:

• In certain EU situations, Finland may continue to cover the cost of servicing a major appliance after you move abroad.
• Servicing a major appliance does not mean repairing a broken one, but instead refers to other types of maintenance, such as adjusting a hearing aid or providing additional training for a guide dog.
• Major appliances are devices that have been made to your individual measurements.
• Please contact Kela if you are unsure whether your assistive device is classified as a major appliance.
• You can still receive the assistive device from Finland after moving abroad if you have been granted a major appliance but have not yet received it by the time you move.

When you move between Nordic countries, the arrangements for your care, its costs and the transfer of responsibility for these costs from one country to another are set out in an agreement concerning your move. The agreement is concluded by the authorities responsible for social services.

Responsibility for costs may be transferred from one country to another on the date of the move, or a transition period of, for example, six months may be agreed. The agreement usually also specifies who will pay for your journey to your new country and how assistance will be arranged during the journey.