Social Insurance Institution of Finland, Kela, provides financial aid for people who are living in Finland permanently.
If you come to Finland from another EU or EEA country, Switzerland or the United Kingdom in order to study here, your stay in Finland is usually considered temporary. In that case, your country of origin is responsible for your social security benefits. You are, however, entitled to medically necessary health care if you have a European Health Insurance Card issued by your country of origin. Order the card before coming to Finland.
If you come to Finland from a country other than an EU or EEA country, Switzerland or the United Kingdom in order to study here for at least 2 years, you can usually receive a Kela card and certain benefits such as reimbursements from Kela for medicine costs. You are not, however, entitled to all Kela benefits. For instance, general housing allowance is not paid to students.
By presenting your card at the pharmacy or at many private medical clinics, you can get a direct, on-the-spot reimbursement for your costs. You will then only have to pay the copayment.
The right to use public healthcare services is based on you being registered with the Digital and Population Data Services Agency as having a municipality of residence in Finland. Even though you often have to present your Kela card to identify yourself when using public healthcare services, coverage under the health insurance system and proving the coverage by presenting the Kela card are not prerequisites for the right to use public healthcare services.
Your circumstances may change during your studies. When determining whether a person is entitled to social security coverage, Kela also takes into account possible other reasons for the stay in Finland in addition to studies. Such reasons may include previous residence, family ties or employment in Finland. If you work in Finland alongside your studies, you can become entitled to benefits on the basis of your employment even if your residence in Finland is not considered permanent. One requirement for entitlement to benefits on the basis of employment is that your wage amounts to at least EUR 767.98 per month.
Read more about social security for students on the Kela web page.
How to apply for a Kela card?
First, fill in the form “Notification – Moving to Finland”: https://www.kela.fi/benefit-forms/Y77e.pdf (form, PDF)
Also, fill in the Kela card application form: https://www.kela.fi/benefit-forms/SV157e.pdf (form, PDF)
Mail the completed forms to the address Kela, PL 10, 00056 KELA or take them to the Kela office in Joensuu, Koulukatu 24.