YEL in work abroad

In the EU and EEA countries, Switzerland and the UK, self-employed people can be covered by the social security system of only one country at a time. You pay statutory contributions to a single country.

If you are self-employed only in Finland, you will be covered under YEL even if you live in another EU or EEA country, Switzerland or the UK.

A self-employed person lives in Haparanda, Sweden, but carries out their entrepreneurial activities in Tornio, Finland. They are covered by Finnish social security, and their pension accrues under YEL insurance.

If you live outside the EU and EEA, Switzerland and the UK, you cannot be covered by YEL insurance even if you work in Finland.

A self-employed person lives in Ukraine and works as a self-employed person in Finland. They are not covered by YEL insurance because they do not meet the requirement of residing in Finland.

If you temporarily move to another EU or EEA country, Switzerland or the UK to work as a self-employed person, you can remain covered by Finnish social security as a posted self-employed person for up to two years.

With an exemption, you may remain covered by Finnish social security for up to five years when temporarily working in another EU or EEA country or Switzerland.

To continue being covered by Finnish social security and keep your YEL insurance in force during your temporary work abroad, you must obtain an A1 certificate from the Finnish Centre for Pensions. Apply for the certificate before your work abroad begins.

Apply for an A1 certificate on the Finnish Centre for Pensions website

If you move to the United States for self-employed work for up to one year, you can apply for an FI/USA 1A certificate. During the validity period of the certificate, you pay pension insurance contributions only in Finland.

Apply for an FI/USA 1A certificate on the Finnish Centre for Pensions website

If you move to Chile or Israel for up to one year, you can apply for an exemption allowing you to remain covered by Finnish social security for up to one year.

Based on a certificate, you pay pension insurance contributions only in Finland.

Apply for the certificate on the Finnish Centre for Pensions website

Your other social security cover is determined under both Finnish legislation and the legislation of the country where you work.

You should also notify Kela about your work abroad.

If you move to South Korea, India or China to work as a self-employed person, you can keep your YEL insurance in force as a posted self-employed person for up to five years under the applicable social security agreements, provided that you have obtained a certificate equivalent to an A1 certificate from the Finnish Centre for Pensions.

The agreements with China and South Korea cover unemployment insurance in addition to pension insurance. Your other social security cover is determined under both Finnish legislation and the legislation of the country where you work.

In some situations, your coverage under Finnish social security can be extended beyond five years through an exemption.

Apply for the certificate on the Finnish Centre for Pensions website

If you move to Australia, Canada, Quebec or another country, you can generally keep your YEL insurance in force during your time abroad, provided that you return to Finland within one year of starting work abroad.

Please note that local legislation in the destination country may also require you to insure your self-employed activities there. In addition, Kela separately determines your residence-based social security cover.

If your work abroad in another country continues for more than one year, your YEL insurance will end on your last working day in Finland.

If you do not apply for or receive the required certificate, your YEL insurance will end on your last working day in Finland.

If you are unsure about your situation, contact our customer service on +358 10 192 100, via chat, or by sending a message through Varma Online Service. We will be happy to help you determine how your insurance should be arranged.

If you are self-employed in more than one EU or EEA country, Switzerland or the UK, you are covered by the social security system of your country of residence if a substantial part of your activities takes place there.

A substantial part generally means at least 25 per cent of one or more of the following:

• Working time
• Income
• Turnover
• Volume of services provided

If the criteria for a substantial part are not met, you will be insured in the country where your business has its centre of interest.

You must always obtain an A1 decision confirming which country's social security legislation applies to you. You pay all social security contributions only to the country that issued the certificate. Apply for an A1 certificate through the Finnish Centre for Pensions.

If you receive an A1 certificate from Finland, your pension will accrue under YEL insurance for all self-employed activities carried out within the EU.

Apply for an A1 certificate on the Finnish Centre for Pensions website

If you live in Finland and are self-employed both in Finland and in the United States, all of your self-employed activities are insured under YEL.

You must apply for an FI/USA 1A certificate from the Finnish Centre for Pensions. Based on the certificate, you pay pension insurance contributions only in Finland.

Apply for an FI/USA 1A certificate on the Finnish Centre for Pensions website

If you live in Finland and are self-employed in Canada or Quebec as well as in Finland, only your self-employed work carried out in Finland can be insured under YEL.

If you live in Finland and are self-employed both in Finland and in India, all of your self-employed activities are insured under YEL.

You must apply to the Finnish Centre for Pensions for an FI/IN 1 certificate confirming that you remain covered by Finnish social security.

Your other social security cover is determined under both Finnish and Indian legislation, as the agreement with India only covers earnings-related pension insurance.

Apply for an FI/IN 1 certificate on the Finnish Centre for Pensions website

If you live in Finland and are self-employed in another country, only the self-employed activities carried out in Finland can be insured under YEL.

Your other social security cover is determined under both Finnish legislation and the legislation of the country where you work, as there is no social security agreement preventing double social security contributions.