Healthcare

Registering, the European Health Insurance Card, the S1 form.

In Finland

Checked on 23 October 2026

How do I access healthcare and Kela when I settle in Finland?

In Finland, your access to public healthcare depends on your municipality of residence (kotikunta): if you have one, you are entitled to all necessary care in the public system, whatever your nationality. Alongside this, Kela (the national social security institution) decides whether you are covered by Finnish social security, either because you are settling permanently, or because you work with a salary of at least €800.02 per month; the Kela card then proves your right to have part of certain costs covered. During a temporary stay, your physical European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) gives access to necessary care in the public system.

Costs: Public care: co-payment; Kela cover through work from €800.02 of monthly salary
Timeframes: Kela cover generally from the day you settle if the conditions are met

Steps

Before you settle: keep your physical EHIC (digital cards are not accepted) for necessary care, that is, care that cannot wait until you return.
Get your henkilötunnus and a municipality of residence from the DVV (see FI-SEJOUR-TOUS-001 and FI-NIF-TOUS-001), and open a bank account: Kela asks for both before any application.
Declare your move to Kela in OmaKela (online space), and apply for the Kela card and benefits. If you cannot use OmaKela, send form Y 77e ("Moving to Finland or employment in Finland") by post with your applications.
If you have no municipality of residence but you can be covered by Finnish health insurance (through your work, for example), ask Kela for your right to care with form SV 141e: if it is granted, you receive a certificate that lets you pay only the co-payment.
If you are retired and your pension comes from another EU, EEA or Swiss country, ask for form S1 from the body in that country and present it to Kela.

Documents

Physical EHIC for the transition period.
Henkilötunnus and bank account, for any application to Kela.
Form Y 77e (if no OmaKela), SV 141e (right to care without a municipality of residence), S1 (pensioners paid by another country).

Costs and timelines

Public care: you pay a fee (asiakasmaksu) per consultation or stay. Public care is organised by your wellbeing services county (hyvinvointialue): check your county's website for the details of the fees. Kela does not reimburse the cost of public care. Private care costs significantly more; Kela reimburses a small part of it if you are covered by Finnish health insurance.
Cover through work alone: salary of at least €800.02 per month (figure published by Kela); you are then entitled to fewer benefits than a permanent resident.
Timeline: if Kela considers that you are settling permanently or that you work in Finland, you can generally be covered from the day you arrive. Processing times in international situations are published by Kela.

Common pitfalls

Coming with a digital EHIC. Kela states that digital cards are not accepted: take the physical card.
Confusing the Kela card and the right to care. The Kela card is used for reimbursements; it changes nothing about your right to public care, which depends on your municipality of residence.
Applying to Kela before the henkilötunnus. Without an identity code or a bank account, your application cannot succeed.
Case-by-case assessment. Kela looks at the length of stay, family, employment and housing to decide whether you are settling permanently.

What changes by country of origin

EU and EEA citizens: your nationality changes nothing about Kela benefits; S1 if your pension comes from another country.
Nordic citizens: pensioners coming from another Nordic country do not need an S1.
Swiss citizens: S1 for pensioners whose pension comes from Switzerland; Swiss EHIC for a temporary stay.
British citizens (Scots included): since Brexit, British citizens who live and work in Finland must have a residence permit from Migri to be entitled to Kela benefits. For arrivals since 2021, Kela applies the EU-UK partnership agreement; care works as before Brexit. Pensioners coming from the United Kingdom do not need an S1. Those who arrived before 2021 generally keep the European rules (withdrawal agreement). For a temporary stay, the European card issued in the United Kingdom or its provisional replacement certificate gives access to public care at the local rate.
Åland Islands: Ålands hälso- och sjukvård (ÅHS) runs all public health care on the archipelago: for a non-urgent problem, contact the health centre (hälsocentral) in Mariehamn or Godby (in the islands, the one in your municipality); Åland Living gives +358 18 538 500 for the Hälsocentralen and +358 18 535 117 for the ÅHS health information line; emergencies at the central hospital in Mariehamn or on 112. Social security (cards, reimbursements, S1) remains handled by Kela (FPA in Swedish); when you apply for a benefit, indicate your move to Åland with form Y77r (Åland Living, AMS website).

Official sources (9) ›

The European framework

These European rules also apply in Finland.

Checked on 23 October 2026

Health insurance required for visas and permits: what EU rules ask (short and long stays)

For a Schengen short-stay visa, you must show travel medical insurance covering urgent medical care, emergency hospital treatment and repatriation (including in case of death), valid in all Schengen countries, with at least €30,000 of cover (Visa Code, Article 15). For long stays, the EU directives ask for sickness insurance covering the risks normally covered for nationals of the destination, for example for students, family members, Blue Card holders and long-term residents. The exact proof, and whether you must buy private insurance or can join the public system, depend on the destination.

Who decides: Consulates (Schengen visas); the immigration authority of the destination (long stays)
Costs: Set by insurers; Schengen visa insurance must cover at least €30,000 (Visa Code, Article 15)

Before you act

No promise. The consulate or immigration authority decides whether your insurance is acceptable. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Scams. Buy insurance only from a real, identifiable insurer, and check the policy before paying. A fake or inadequate insurance certificate can lead to refusal of your application.
Ask a professional (the insurer, the consulate or a lawyer) if you have a chronic illness, are pregnant, or are over the age limits of standard policies.
Be honest in insurance forms about your health and your plans.

Steps

Short stay with a visa: buy travel medical insurance that meets Article 15 of the Visa Code (below) for the whole trip; for a multiple-entry visa, it must cover the first trip, and you sign a statement that you know you need insurance for later trips. Exceptions: the requirement may be considered met where adequate cover can be presumed from the applicant's professional situation (for example seafarers, Article 15(6)), and holders of diplomatic passports are exempt (Article 15(7)).
Visa-exempt short stay: insurance is not among the entry conditions listed in the Schengen Borders Code (Article 6), but medical care abroad can be expensive: travel insurance is your choice.
Long stay: read the destination's list for your route. Denmark and Ireland did not take part in the five directives below and are not bound by them (see the recitals of each text), so their rules are purely national. In the other EU countries, the directives ask for insurance "for all risks normally covered for nationals" for:
- students and researchers, valid for the whole planned stay (Directive (EU) 2016/801, Article 7(1)(c));
- family reunification, for the sponsor and the family, if the country requires it (Directive 2003/86/EC, Article 7(1)(b));
- Blue Card and seasonal workers, for periods not already covered through the job (Directive (EU) 2021/1883, Article 5(1)(e); Directive 2014/36/EU, Article 5(1)(b) for stays up to 90 days and Article 6(1)(b) for stays over 90 days);
- EU long-term residents, for themselves and for dependent family members (Directive 2003/109/EC, Article 5(1)(b)).
After arrival: ask whether your permit gives access to the public health system, and from when (see the destination's health fiche).

Documents

An insurance certificate in the name of each person, with dates, cover, amount and territory.
For a Schengen visa: proof that the cover is valid in all Schengen countries and is at least €30,000 (Article 15(3)); for a visa with limited territorial validity covering several Member States, the cover must be valid at least in the Member States concerned.

Costs and timelines

Price: set by insurers. The Visa Code asks you to take insurance, in principle, in your country of residence, or in another country if that is not possible (Article 15(4)).
Check: consulates verify that claims against the insurer can be recovered in an EU country (Article 15(5)).

Common pitfalls

Cover too low or not valid everywhere. For a Schengen visa: at least €30,000 and valid in all Schengen countries.
Wrong dates. The insurance must cover the whole stay or transit (Article 15(3)).
Travel insurance for a long stay. A short-trip policy may not meet the "all risks normally covered for nationals" standard required for long-stay permits, and what each country actually accepts varies: ask the immigration authority directly before you buy.
Gaps between the visa and the permit. Keep cover until you are registered in the public system or have the insurance the permit requires.

What changes by profile

Workers may be covered through their job; the Blue Card and seasonal directives ask for insurance only for periods not covered by, or resulting from, the work contract.
Retirees and people living on passive income follow national rules for national visas (for Portugal, see PT-VISA-TIERS-050).

Official links

Visa Code (consolidated), Article 15: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02009R0810-20240628
Commission, applying for a Schengen visa: https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen/visa-policy/applying-schengen-visa_en

Official sources (9) ›

These guides give the general rules. Your situation can change the answer: Moovy looks at it with you and tells you when you need a professional.

Healthcare

Registering, the European Health Insurance Card, the S1 form.

In Finland

Checked on 23 October 2026

How do I access healthcare and Kela when I settle in Finland?

Costs: Public care: co-payment; Kela cover through work from €800.02 of monthly salary
Timeframes: Kela cover generally from the day you settle if the conditions are met

Steps

Before you settle: keep your physical EHIC (digital cards are not accepted) for necessary care, that is, care that cannot wait until you return.
Get your henkilötunnus and a municipality of residence from the DVV (see FI-SEJOUR-TOUS-001 and FI-NIF-TOUS-001), and open a bank account: Kela asks for both before any application.
Declare your move to Kela in OmaKela (online space), and apply for the Kela card and benefits. If you cannot use OmaKela, send form Y 77e ("Moving to Finland or employment in Finland") by post with your applications.
If you have no municipality of residence but you can be covered by Finnish health insurance (through your work, for example), ask Kela for your right to care with form SV 141e: if it is granted, you receive a certificate that lets you pay only the co-payment.
If you are retired and your pension comes from another EU, EEA or Swiss country, ask for form S1 from the body in that country and present it to Kela.

Documents

Physical EHIC for the transition period.
Henkilötunnus and bank account, for any application to Kela.
Form Y 77e (if no OmaKela), SV 141e (right to care without a municipality of residence), S1 (pensioners paid by another country).

Costs and timelines

Public care: you pay a fee (asiakasmaksu) per consultation or stay. Public care is organised by your wellbeing services county (hyvinvointialue): check your county's website for the details of the fees. Kela does not reimburse the cost of public care. Private care costs significantly more; Kela reimburses a small part of it if you are covered by Finnish health insurance.
Cover through work alone: salary of at least €800.02 per month (figure published by Kela); you are then entitled to fewer benefits than a permanent resident.
Timeline: if Kela considers that you are settling permanently or that you work in Finland, you can generally be covered from the day you arrive. Processing times in international situations are published by Kela.

Common pitfalls

Coming with a digital EHIC. Kela states that digital cards are not accepted: take the physical card.
Confusing the Kela card and the right to care. The Kela card is used for reimbursements; it changes nothing about your right to public care, which depends on your municipality of residence.
Applying to Kela before the henkilötunnus. Without an identity code or a bank account, your application cannot succeed.
Case-by-case assessment. Kela looks at the length of stay, family, employment and housing to decide whether you are settling permanently.

What changes by country of origin

EU and EEA citizens: your nationality changes nothing about Kela benefits; S1 if your pension comes from another country.
Nordic citizens: pensioners coming from another Nordic country do not need an S1.
Swiss citizens: S1 for pensioners whose pension comes from Switzerland; Swiss EHIC for a temporary stay.
British citizens (Scots included): since Brexit, British citizens who live and work in Finland must have a residence permit from Migri to be entitled to Kela benefits. For arrivals since 2021, Kela applies the EU-UK partnership agreement; care works as before Brexit. Pensioners coming from the United Kingdom do not need an S1. Those who arrived before 2021 generally keep the European rules (withdrawal agreement). For a temporary stay, the European card issued in the United Kingdom or its provisional replacement certificate gives access to public care at the local rate.
Åland Islands: Ålands hälso- och sjukvård (ÅHS) runs all public health care on the archipelago: for a non-urgent problem, contact the health centre (hälsocentral) in Mariehamn or Godby (in the islands, the one in your municipality); Åland Living gives +358 18 538 500 for the Hälsocentralen and +358 18 535 117 for the ÅHS health information line; emergencies at the central hospital in Mariehamn or on 112. Social security (cards, reimbursements, S1) remains handled by Kela (FPA in Swedish); when you apply for a benefit, indicate your move to Åland with form Y77r (Åland Living, AMS website).

Official sources (9) ›

The European framework

These European rules also apply in Finland.

Checked on 23 October 2026

Health insurance required for visas and permits: what EU rules ask (short and long stays)

Who decides: Consulates (Schengen visas); the immigration authority of the destination (long stays)
Costs: Set by insurers; Schengen visa insurance must cover at least €30,000 (Visa Code, Article 15)

Before you act

No promise. The consulate or immigration authority decides whether your insurance is acceptable. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Scams. Buy insurance only from a real, identifiable insurer, and check the policy before paying. A fake or inadequate insurance certificate can lead to refusal of your application.
Ask a professional (the insurer, the consulate or a lawyer) if you have a chronic illness, are pregnant, or are over the age limits of standard policies.
Be honest in insurance forms about your health and your plans.

Steps

Short stay with a visa: buy travel medical insurance that meets Article 15 of the Visa Code (below) for the whole trip; for a multiple-entry visa, it must cover the first trip, and you sign a statement that you know you need insurance for later trips. Exceptions: the requirement may be considered met where adequate cover can be presumed from the applicant's professional situation (for example seafarers, Article 15(6)), and holders of diplomatic passports are exempt (Article 15(7)).
Visa-exempt short stay: insurance is not among the entry conditions listed in the Schengen Borders Code (Article 6), but medical care abroad can be expensive: travel insurance is your choice.
Long stay: read the destination's list for your route. Denmark and Ireland did not take part in the five directives below and are not bound by them (see the recitals of each text), so their rules are purely national. In the other EU countries, the directives ask for insurance "for all risks normally covered for nationals" for:
- students and researchers, valid for the whole planned stay (Directive (EU) 2016/801, Article 7(1)(c));
- family reunification, for the sponsor and the family, if the country requires it (Directive 2003/86/EC, Article 7(1)(b));
- Blue Card and seasonal workers, for periods not already covered through the job (Directive (EU) 2021/1883, Article 5(1)(e); Directive 2014/36/EU, Article 5(1)(b) for stays up to 90 days and Article 6(1)(b) for stays over 90 days);
- EU long-term residents, for themselves and for dependent family members (Directive 2003/109/EC, Article 5(1)(b)).
After arrival: ask whether your permit gives access to the public health system, and from when (see the destination's health fiche).

Documents

An insurance certificate in the name of each person, with dates, cover, amount and territory.
For a Schengen visa: proof that the cover is valid in all Schengen countries and is at least €30,000 (Article 15(3)); for a visa with limited territorial validity covering several Member States, the cover must be valid at least in the Member States concerned.

Costs and timelines

Price: set by insurers. The Visa Code asks you to take insurance, in principle, in your country of residence, or in another country if that is not possible (Article 15(4)).
Check: consulates verify that claims against the insurer can be recovered in an EU country (Article 15(5)).

Common pitfalls

Cover too low or not valid everywhere. For a Schengen visa: at least €30,000 and valid in all Schengen countries.
Wrong dates. The insurance must cover the whole stay or transit (Article 15(3)).
Travel insurance for a long stay. A short-trip policy may not meet the "all risks normally covered for nationals" standard required for long-stay permits, and what each country actually accepts varies: ask the immigration authority directly before you buy.
Gaps between the visa and the permit. Keep cover until you are registered in the public system or have the insurance the permit requires.

What changes by profile

Workers may be covered through their job; the Blue Card and seasonal directives ask for insurance only for periods not covered by, or resulting from, the work contract.
Retirees and people living on passive income follow national rules for national visas (for Portugal, see PT-VISA-TIERS-050).

Official links

Visa Code (consolidated), Article 15: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02009R0810-20240628
Commission, applying for a Schengen visa: https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen/visa-policy/applying-schengen-visa_en

Official sources (9) ›

These guides give the general rules. Your situation can change the answer: Moovy looks at it with you and tells you when you need a professional.

Healthcare

In Finland

How do I access healthcare and Kela when I settle in Finland?

Steps

Documents

Costs and timelines

Common pitfalls

What changes by country of origin

The European framework

Health insurance required for visas and permits: what EU rules ask (short and long stays)

Steps

Documents

Costs and timelines

Common pitfalls

What changes by profile

Other topics

Healthcare

In Finland

How do I access healthcare and Kela when I settle in Finland?

Steps

Documents

Costs and timelines

Common pitfalls

What changes by country of origin

The European framework

Health insurance required for visas and permits: what EU rules ask (short and long stays)

Steps

Documents

Costs and timelines

Common pitfalls

What changes by profile

Other topics