Insurance

All students are responsible for their own insurance arrangements and we strongly recommend you to take a comprehensive insurance for your stay in Finland.

EU citizens & European Health Insurance Card

EU citizens who have the European Health Insurance Card are entitled to all the same health care services as Finnish citizens. Citizens of the EU and EEA countries are covered by the National Health Insurance plan administered by the Social Insurance Institution, or KELA (Kansaneläkelaitos).

More information
»European Health Insurance Card

Students Outside the EU: Private Insurance

The law requirements for being granted a residence permit require that a student from outside the EU area obtain insurance that covers costs for basic treatment before coming to Finland. The insurance should cover the treatment and health care provided by municipal health care services, not services in the private sector.

Students staying for less than two years must obtain an insurance policy covering health care costs up to 100 000€.
Students staying for more than two years are entitled to communal health care services. They are required to have an insurance that covers at least medication costs, but in practice also medical care costs up to 30 000€.

Taking insurance from an international insurance company is recommended. They cost on average 1000€ per year. International insurance companies that provide insurances accepted in Finland:

Finnish Health Insurance Card (KELA-Card)

International students are usually not granted permanent residence, and therefore they are not entitled to Finnish Social Security (KELA) benefits and cannot receive a Finnish Health Insurance Card (KELA card).

There are exceptions to this, if the student is working in Finland and certain criteria are fulfilled. KELA assesses independently whether a student is entitled to KELA benefits in certain cases due to work, legislation, social security agreements or other reasons.

More information
»KELA