Information about Brexit and what it means for the social security benefits available from Kela
The United Kingdom completed its withdrawal from the European Union on 1 February 2020. The withdrawal is commonly referred to as Brexit.
Withdrawal agreement
The EU and the United Kingdom negotiated a withdrawal agreement which has been applicable since 1 February 2020. The agreement contains provisions on a transition period that lasted until the end of 2020.
The withdrawal agreement secures your social security rights based on the EU legislation, if you moved from Finland to the United Kingdom to live, work or study before 2021. It also guarantees your social security rights if you moved from the United Kingdom to Finland to live, work or study before 2021.
Partnership agreement
After finalising the withdrawal agreement, the EU and the EU negotiated a partnership agreement, officially known as the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
It protects the social security rights of persons moving between Finland and the United Kingdom in 2021 or later. We will update this page with information on the effects of the new agreement on social security rights.
- Moving to live, work or study in Finland or in the United Kingdom before 1 January 2021
- Moving to live, work or study in Finland or in the United Kingdom in or after 2021
Moving to live, work or study in Finland or in the United Kingdom before 1 January 2021
This section explains how Brexit affects your social security rights if you moved from the United Kingdom to Finland or from Finland to the United Kingdom before 2021.
If you moved to Finland or to the United Kingdom before 2021, you are, in the main, covered by the same EU provisions on social security as before Brexit. The withdrawal agreement protects your social security rights for life or for as long as your circumstances warrant the application of the withdrawal agreement.
One requirement for the entitlement to benefits provided by Kela for British nationals who live and work in Finland and their family members is that they are generally required to be residing legally in Finland. Please follow the instructions of the Finnish Immigration Service (migri.fi) as regards applying for a right of residence and the relevant time limits for doing so.
Information about your right of residence is provided to Kela by the Finnish Immigration Service (migri.fi). Kela obtains information on citizenship and changes in citizenship from the Digital and Population Data Services Agency.