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Statutory insurance A significant part of social security in Finland is provided through statutory insurances. This package is called social insurance. The insurance-based forms of social security include earnings-related pension, occupational acc...

Insurance institutions In Finland, private insurance institutions handle both statutory and voluntary insurance. Operating in the insurance sector is subject to authorisation. The Government issues authorisation for statutory earnings-related pens...

Social insurance contribution Contributions in 2017–2026 Table: Social insurance contributions, % of salary. Employers 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 Health insurance all employers 1,08 0,86 0,77 1,34 1,53 1,34 1,53 1,16 1,87 1,...

Insurance business in Finland is subject to licence.The government grants licences to authorised pension insurance companies that manage earnings-related pension insurance.

Frequently asked questions about the Act on Secondary Use of Health and Social Data Usein kysyttyä: The law mentions the primary and secondary use of customer data. What is the difference between these two concepts? The primary use of customer dat...

Investmets and solvency Insurance companies must invest insurance premiums that they collect from the insured in a secure and profitable manner. However, when aiming for maximum returns, insurance companies must ensure that their solvency is not a...

Mental health services The aim of mental health work is to strengthen people's good mental health and to reduce factors that undermine it. This work includes activities to promote mental health and prevent mental health disorders, as well as menta...

Private providers of health and social services Private providers of health and social services, in other words companies, organisations and foundations, already account for about 22 per cent of the whole health and social services sector. They op...

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health provides overall guidance and prepares legislation on student health care in secondary and higher education.

4.6.2026 | The Government is proposing a new type of integration assistance. The general social security benefit would be paid as integration assistance to immigrants registered as unemployed jobseekers who do not meet the prior work requirement or have lived in Finland for less than three years.

Private providers of health and social services, in other words companies, organisations and foundations, already account for about 22 per cent of the whole health and social services sector. They operate in both publicly and privately funded markets.

Occupational health care and maintaining workability The MSAH directs, oversees and develops legislation on occupational health care Employers must create working conditions that do not adversely affect the health of employees. Occupational health...

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health guides, directs and develops legislation on occupational healthcare.

The Ministry The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (MSAH) is one of the 12 ministries in the Government. The Ministry's tasks promote the good health and functional capacity of people promote healthy living and working environments secure suff...

Health and social services for people arriving from Ukraine On 24 February 2022, Russia launched a military attack against Ukraine. Finland is committed to helping people who have fled the war in Ukraine to Finland, also with respect to healthcare...

Occupational accidents and occupational diseases The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is responsible for developing and preparing the legislation concerning insurance against occupational accidents and diseases. The workers’ compensation insu...

Rehabilitation The aim of rehabilitation is to enhance the individual's functional capacity, independent coping, opportunities for participation, work and study ability as well as their opportunities for employment and continuing working. Rehabili...

Healthcare and social welfare for undocumented persons When it comes to the organisation of healthcare and social welfare, it should be noted that there are people residing both legally and illegally in Finland who are usually referred to as undoc...

Legislation concerning income security The Finnish Constitution guarantees the right of all people living in Finland to Adequate social and health services Basic income security Essential subsistence and care. There is a range of legislation gover...

EHDS Regulation The EHDS Regulation is an EU regulation that improves citizens’ control over their personal health data and provides healthcare professionals with access to patient data, regardless of where patients live or receive treatment. The ...

Legislation on services and benefits for older people This page lists the key pieces of legislation on services and benefits for older people. Below you will find them by topic and also links to more detailed guidance. Health and social services I...

Earnings-related pension People earn earnings-related pension based on their earnings from work or self-employment. An earnings-related pension is paid to a person who has accrued pension according to their earnings either in an employment relatio...

Pension security in Finland The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is responsible for developing and drafting pension legislation. The pension system is based on a number of different acts. The pension acts can be found here: Legislation concer...

Ministry of Social Affairs and Health Minister of Social Security Karoliina Partanen The National Coalition Party Minister of Social Security Karoliina Partanen is responsible for matters covered by the Department for Insurance and Social Security...

Legislation concerning children, young people and families Family leaves Family leaves are regulated in the Employment Contracts Act. The Act contains provisions on the rights of parents to take leave for family reasons. Employment Contracts Act 5...

Safety of pharmacotherapy Pharmacotherapy is an integral part of comprehensive care. At its best, pharmacotherapy can cure illnesses, slow the progression of illnesses, reduce the symptoms of illnesses and prevent illnesses. Safe pharmacotherapy c...

Social assistance Shortly Social assistance is a last-resort form of social security that secures the essential livelihood for an individual or a family when they cannot support themselves with other income or assets. It is a means-tested benefit,...

National pension National pension can be paid to a person covered by the Finnish social security system who does not receive any earnings-related pension or whose earnings-related pension is small. Provisions on national pension are laid down in l...

Government branch The administrative branch of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health includes several independent institutions and agencies, which implement the ministry’s objectives in society and participate in Government Programme projects....

Family benefits The purpose of the benefit system for children and families is to safeguard the subsistence of the child and those responsible for his or her care, and to support the care of the child. The benefits are applied for at the Social In...

The status and rights of clients and patients The status and rights of patients and social welfare clients are protected by: the Act on the Status and Rights of Patients 785/1992 (Finlex) the Act on the Status and Rights of Social Welfare Clients ...

National pension and guarantee pension The national pension ensures the provision of minimum security for those who have not accrued any earnings-related pension or whose earnings-related pension is small. The guarantee pension is a minimum pensio...

According to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health Decree on the prescription of medicines (1088/2010), special attention must be given to the safety of pharmaceuticals.

Conscripts allowance and other armed service benefits The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is responsible for developing and preparing the legislation concerning conscripts allowance. Conscripts and civilian servicemen as well as their family...

Guidance of information management in healthcare and social welfare The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is responsible for the general planning, guidance and monitoring of information management within its administrative branch and for the f...

Supervising OSH The Finnish Supervisory Agency oversees compliance with workplace OSH in Finland. Occupational safety and health Administration in Finland The MSAH and the four-year framework agreements concerning The Finnish Supervisory Agency de...

Hospitals and specialised medical care Specialized medical services, including various specialist examinations and treatments, are primarily provided in hospitals, outpatient clinics, and emergency departments. Access to specialised healthcare is ...

Areas of experties The administrative sector of the MSAH is wide ranging. The Ministry's work is supported by expertise from all agencies and institutes throughout the sector. Promotion of welfare » Social and health services » Income security » I...

Unemployment security In brief Unemployment security consists of a general social security benefit and an earnings-related unemployment allowance. In order to be eligible for unemployment security, you must register with the employment authority a...

Value chain for pharmacotherapy Pharmaceuticals-related development, research and innovations The facilitation of research and development of pharmaceuticals is a requirement for new pharmaceutical innovations. It is characteristic of the pharmace...

Healthcare and social welfare for illegal residents Illegal residents mean persons who have no right of residence in Finland according to the Aliens Act. An asylum seeker’s residence in Finland is considered unauthorised when a decision to reject ...

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is preparing regulation on service choices in both healthcare and social welfare.

International examples to help Finland create governance model for wellbeing economy 4.12.2025 8.46 The economy of wellbeing offers tools for policy makers to secure the preconditions for a good life both for the current population and future gene...

Open positions and the Ministry as a workplace On this page Open positions Trainee positions at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health The Ministry as a workplace Service relationship, working hours, pay, and general collective agreements Well-...

19.5.2026 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is requesting comments on the draft government proposal on the adoption and implementation of the social security agreement between Finland and Uruguay. The agreement would make it easier for workers to move between the two countries and would facilitate the operations of businesses. The deadline for submitting comments is 30 June 2026.

9.4.2026 | The Government is proposing changes aimed at preventing intentional misuse of social security, reducing incorrect social security payments and improving information exchange with Kela, the Social Insurance Institution of Finland.

16.4.2026 | The Government proposes amendments to the Act on Child Home Care Allowances and Private Childcare Allowances. The proposal would implement the Norwegian model for child home care allowance. The proposal seeks to promote the integration and labour market position of women with an immigrant background and to increase the participation of children in early childhood education and care.

2.6.2023 | SUOMEN SÄÄDÖSKOKOELMAN SOPIMUS SARJA Julkaistu Helsingissä 31 päivänä toukokuuta 2016 (Suomen säädöskokoelman n:o 398/2016) Valtioneuvoston asetus 27/2016 vammaisten henkilöiden oikeuksista tehdyn yleissopimuksen ja sen valinnaisen pöytäkir- jan v...

17.2.2026 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is requesting comments on a proposal to amend the Act on Child Home Care Allowances and Private Childcare Allowances. The proposal seeks to promote the integration and employment of women with an immigrant background and to implement the so‑called Norwegian model for child home care allowance, in line with the Government Programme of Prime Minister Petter Orpo.

5.1.2026 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health invites comments on the integration support. The comments should be submitted by 16 February 2026.

17.12.2025 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is requesting comments on a draft government proposal that seeks to prevent intentional misuse of social welfare benefits, reduce incorrect social welfare payments and promote information exchange with the Social Insurance Institution (Kela). Statements may be submitted until 28 January 2026.

15.1.2026 | The changes to be made to social assistance will, for example, strengthen the obligations of recipients to apply for full-time work and primary benefits. The overall reform of social assistance aims to clarify the role of social assistance as a last-resort and temporary form of assistance, prevent social exclusion among young people and strengthen general government finances.

16.6.2026 | 1(4) 12 June 2026 WORKING LIFE RECOMMENDATIONS IN CASE OF DRONE THREATS The social partners, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health together have prepared these recommendations for workplaces ...

10.1.2023 | SOSIAALITURVAKOMITEAN JULKAISUJA 2023:1 Vaihtoehtoisten järjestämistapojen selvitystyöryhmä Selvitys sosiaaliturvan vaihtoehtoisista järjestämistavoista Selvitys sosiaaliturvan vaihtoehtoisista järjestämistavoista Vaihtoehtoisten järjestämistapoje...

27.11.2025 | The Government has issued a decree which determines the amount of the healthcare fee, the late payment fee and the fee for an unattended appointment charged from higher education students in 2026.

8.10.2025 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is requesting comments on a proposal to amend the Act on Child Home Care Allowances and Private Childcare Allowances. According to the proposal, child home care allowance could in future be granted after a minimum of three years’ residence in Finland. The amendment would implement the Norwegian model for child home care allowance as outlined in the Programme of Prime Minister Orpo's Government. The deadline for submitting comments is 20 November.

8.8.2025 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health proposes appropriations of EUR 14.8 billion for the Ministry and its branch of government for 2026. This is about EUR 475 million less than in the 2025 Budget. The funding of wellbeing services counties is not included in the appropriations for the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and its branch of government. Instead, it falls under the main title of the Ministry of Finance.

22.9.2025 | The Government has submitted a proposal to Parliament for an act on general social security benefit. In the first stage, the general social security benefit would be a new social security benefit for unemployed jobseekers, replacing labour market subsidy and basic unemployment allowance. The legislation concerning the general social security benefit is scheduled to enter into force on 1 May 2026.

22.9.2025 | The Government proposes a comprehensive reform of social assistance. The changes to be made would, for example, strengthen the obligations of recipients to apply for full-time work and primary benefits. The aim is to clarify the role of social assistance as a last-resort and temporary form of assistance, prevent social exclusion among young people and strengthen general government finances.

22.9.2025 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has today published three memorandums assessing the combined impacts of the Government’s changes to social security during this parliamentary term. The memorandums focus particularly on the impacts of the comprehensive reform of social assistance.

15.1.2026 | In the first stage, the general social security benefit will be a new social security benefit for unemployed jobseekers, replacing the existing labour market subsidy and basic unemployment allowance. The legislation on the general social security benefit is scheduled to enter into force on 1 May 2026.

Hallituksen esitys eduskunnalle laeiksi toimeentulotuesta annetun lain, sosiaali- ja terveydenhuollon asiakastietojen käsittelystä annetun lain 64 §:n ja kuntouttavasta työtoiminnasta annetun lain 10 §:n muuttamisesta ESITYKSEN PÄÄASIALLINEN SISÄL...

4.7.2025 | Starting from 1 September 2025, persons aged 65 and over can book a private healthcare appointment and pay only a deductible that is equal to the client fee charged for public healthcare services. The pilot is based on developing the reimbursements paid by the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela). The President of the Republic approved the legislative amendments enabling the pilot on 4 July 2025.

19.6.2026 | 1 CONCEPT NOTE OSTRAVA CASE STUDY The Social Rental Agency model to overcome Roma housing exclusion May 2026 The European Network on Roma Equality under EU Funds (EURoma Network) has been working since 2007 to foster an increased and effective use...

5.12.2025 | Country report: ECDC Public Health Emergency Preparedness Assessment for Finland, 2024 Under Article 8 of the Regulation (EU) 2022/2371 ASSESSMENT ECDC ASSESSMENT Country report: ECDC Public Health Emergency Preparedness Assessment for Finland, 20...

13.2.2026 | Together Against Cancer – Human-Centred Cancer Prevention and Care National Cancer Strategy 2026–2035 Finland National Cancer Strategy 2026–2035 Contents Summary 3 Strategic objectives 5 Current situation and operating environment 6 Cancer in Finl...

5.12.2025 | 1 Classified as ECDC NORMAL Appendix 10 - Country follow-up to ECDC PHEPA recommendations Following the PHEPA mission conducted in your country, the final ECDC assessment report includes a series of recommendations aiming at supporting your countr...

31.1.2022 | From February 2022 onwards, EU COVID-19 vaccination certificates will be accepted for travel purposes for a period of nine months since the administration of the last dose of the primary vaccination series. As of yet, no acceptance period will apply to certificates issued following the administration of booster doses.

17.11.2022 | The aim of insurance guarantees for emergency conditions is to ensure a sufficient insurance cover for transports that are essential to the livelihood of the population or the functioning of business and industry and the security of supply. The reason for updating the regulation is the changing security environment. 

9.10.2023 | The Government proposes amendments to the Act on Student Healthcare for Higher Education Students and the Act on the Social Insurance Institution of Finland. The Student Healthcare Act would be harmonised with the relevant EU Regulation in respect of reimbursements regarding students from certain European countries, and the provisions of the Act on the financial process would be specified.

9.10.2023 | The Finnish Government proposes about EUR 16.2 billion in appropriations for the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and its administrative branch for 2024. This is slightly over EUR 134 million more than in the 2023 Budget. The increase is due to needs assessment changes in pensions, for example, and to the implementation of reforms set out in the Government Programme.

5.6.2020 | The proposal aims to strengthen the financial position of people in need of unemployment security in a situation where many have become unemployed or have been laid off.

17.9.2021 | The Government has completed its proposal for the family leave reform, and the proposal will now proceed to Parliament for consideration as decided by the Government on 16 September. The reform is scheduled to enter into force on 1 August 2022.

4.9.2020 | In recent weeks, there has been discussion about whether a full communicable disease allowance should be paid to people who may have been exposed to coronavirus because of their own actions. This type of situation may occur, for example, when people travel to countries where the coronavirus situation is worse than in Finland or when people attend public events.  

9.7.2020 | The amendments made to the Communicable Diseases Act enable the development of a mobile application that helps break the chains of coronavirus (COVID-19) transmission more effectively. The Government submitted the bill amending the Communicable Diseases Act for approval and the President of the Republic approved the bill on Thursday 9 July. The Act amending the Communicable Diseases Act will enter into force on 31 August 2020.

17.9.2020 | The Social Security Committee, which started work in spring 2020, will first determine which social security problems it will seek to solve. Before the summer holidays, the Committee outlined four sets of key social security problems: 1) the complexity of social security; 2) combining employment and social security; 3) minimum social security, basic social security and housing; and 4) coordination of services and benefits.

16.2.2021 | The Government has completed and published its draft proposal for the family leave reform. The draft proposal will be circulated for comments between 19 February and 2 April 2021. 

30.6.2020 | At the moment, custodians can view data in the My Kanta Pages only on those children who are under the age of 10. In his decision, the Deputy Chancellor of Justice considered that the age limits concerning custodians’ right to act on behalf of their children in the My Kanta Pages do not meet the conditions set out in the Act on the Status and Rights of Patients.  

11.6.2020 | The Government proposes amendments to the Communicable Diseases Act that enable the development of an information system for contacting people who may have been exposed to coronavirus (COVID-19). The information system would consist of a mobile application and a back-end system with the goal of supporting the management of the coronavirus epidemic.

20.5.2020 | The Government proposes a temporary increase in the exempt amount of the unemployment benefit. Eligibility for commuting and relocation allowance for full-time work would be amended temporarily by decreasing the distance required for daily commuting.

19.12.2019 | The age limit for the extension on unemployment benefit will rise by one year for those born in or after 1961. In future, unemployed persons born in or after 1961 will be entitled to extended unemployment allowance at the age of 62 instead of 61, as is currently the case.

28.5.2020 | I have launched a reform of the Act on Social Assistance and appointed a working group to carry it out. Now is the right time for reform. We have been gathering experiences from the transfer of basic social assistance to the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela) over the past few years. In doing so, we have found several areas that need fixing.

5.6.2020 | The Government wants to secure the financing of unemployment benefits under the emergency conditions caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic.

11.6.2020 | The exempt amount of the unemployment benefit will be temporarily raised. Eligibility for commuting and relocation allowance for full-time work will be temporarily amended by decreasing the distance required for daily commuting.

1.12.2022 | The Government proposes that the generic substitution of biological medicines by pharmacies be made possible as from 2024. It also proposes that the reference price system could include reference price groups for both original biological medicines and biosimilars.

17.11.2022 | The Government proposes that the private interests of the members of the appeal boards operating under the administrative branch of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health be entered in the same register as the private interests and extra-judicial activities of judges. At the same time, the register's name would be changed to the register of private interests and outside employment. 

17.9.2021 | Press conference on family leave reform, 17 September 2021 Minister Hanna Sarkkinen Minister Tuula Haatainen Family leave reform 1 | #perhevapaauudistus #familyleavereform • Significant investment in families with children • More flexibility and f...

17.9.2021 | Press conference on family leave reform, 17 September 2021 Minister Hanna Sarkkinen Minister Tuula Haatainen Family leave reform 1 | #perhevapaauudistus #familyleavereform • Significant investment in families with children • More flexibility and f...

15.1.2021 | Kanta is being developed in order to address the needs of healthcare and social welfare and the citizens even better than before. The priorities in 2021 include coronavirus vaccines, the Client Data Act, and the development of My Kanta Pages.

31.5.2018 | A working group, appointed by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, proposes a road map for ending the use of tobacco and other nicotine products in Finland by 2030. It would mean that less than 5% of the adult population use tobacco and nicotine products daily. Reaching this goal, recorded in the Tobacco Act, requires that the future governments monitor and assess tobacco policy and develop new measures.

22.12.2017 | The establishment of a genome centre in Finland is proceeding. The working group appointed to prepare the establishment of a genome centre has sent for comments a memorandum that outlines its main proposals for a genome act and for setting up the centre. It is hoped that comments will be received, in particular, from healthcare and social service professionals, research communities, biobanks, enterprises and organisations by 2 February 2018.

27.1.2021 | In its meeting on 27 January, the Government decided on health insurance coverage for COVID-19 vaccines provided by private occupational healthcare. The Government also discussed the safe entry of seasonal workers and received a briefing on the pandemic-related legislation and government proposals currently in preparation.

15.2.2021 | Press conference on family leave reform, 16 February 2021 Minister Aino-Kaisa Pekonen Family leave reform 15.2.20211 | • Same amount of leave per each child, irrespective of the type of the family • Non-discrimination and equality would increase •...

19.11.2020 | The Government has presented a supplementary budget for 2021. The Government proposes an additional appropriation of EUR 135 million for the administrative branch of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, bringing the administrative branch’s total budget for 2021 to EUR 17.74 billion.

14.2.2020 | A comprehensive social security reform to be launched in spring 2020 is one of the major reform projects of this decade in Finland.

17.10.2019 | If the UK withdraws from the EU (Brexit) without an agreement, the recipients of Finnish national pension residing in the UK will receive national pension for a period of one year after the withdrawal. This so-called protection period of one year is the same as for national pension recipients moving to any country outside the EU.

9.11.2017 | The Finnish rehabilitation system works well in many cases, but fragmentation in the rehabilitation processes creates problems, according to a committee for reforming the rehabilitation services for restoring and maintaining functional and work capacity. Clients are not receiving the rehabilitation services they need at the right time or on an equal basis. Moreover, they do not have sufficient information about available services.

9.10.2020 | A People-centred Perspective on Employment Barriers and Policies FACES OF JOBLESSNESS IN FINLAND 2  This document and any map included herein are without prejudice to the status of or sovereignty over any territory, to the delimitation of interna...

3.9.2018 | National action plan ON ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE 2017–2021 Publications 2017:12MINISTRY OF SOCIAL AFFAIRS AND HEALTH National action plan on antimicrobial resistance 2017–2021 Antti Hakanen, Jari Jalava ja Liisa Kaartinen Ministry of Social Affair...

20.10.2016 | The Government proposes the implementation of a basic income experiment. The experiment would be carried out in 2017 and 2018, and its aim is to show whether basic income can be used to reform social security so that incentive traps relating to work are eliminated.