When going to work abroad

From which country social security benefits are obtained while working abroad depends on whether the other country is an EU country, an agreement country or a country with which Finland has not concluded a social security agreement. Further information is available here .

The fact that the person is a Finnish citizen or that he or she pays taxes to Finland does not automatically mean that the person is covered by the Finnish social security during the work abroad.

When working abroad the person is, as a rule, covered by the social security in the country of employment. In that case all social security contributions are paid to that country and the country of employment also provides social security benefits according to the legislation in that country. Further information is available here.

There are certain exceptions from this rule, for instance posted workers, who on certain conditions may remain covered by the social security of the country of origin during the work abroad.

If the employee is posted to an EU or agreement country, a certificate on coverage by Finnish social security (for instance A1) should be applied for with the Finnish Centre for Pensions. With the certificate the employee can prove in the country of employment that he or she is entitled to social security benefits from Finland and that the social security contributions are paid to Finland. Further information is available here .

An employee who is posted to a country with which Finland has no social security agreement, to work for a Finnish employer, has to be insured under the Finnish pension acts without any time limit. For the arranging of earnings-related pension insurance no separate certificate is needed. Coverage by the Finnish residence-based social security is in such cases applied for with the Social Insurance Institution (Kansaneläkelaitos Kela). Further information is available here.

Self-employed persons and grant recipients who go to work abroad are subject to their own rules on the taking out of insurance.

There are rules which differ from the main principle of insurance in the country of employment, also as regarding for instance:
- civil servants
- persons who normally work in several countries

More information available in the booklet Posting abroad (pdf file) and from the Finnish Centre for Pensions, Insurance matters regarding work abroad, phone number +358 (0)10 751 4216, fax +358 (0)10 751 2616, or via e-mail to ulkomaanasiat@etk.fi

http://www.etk.fi/Page.aspx?Section=41947 10.09.2010 03:46