Unemployment benefits in Finland: guide for immigrants

Unemployment benefits in Finland

Losing your job in Finland does not mean losing your safety net. The Finnish unemployment system provides financial support while you search for new work, along with services to help you find employment. This guide explains the types of benefits available, how to register, and what is expected of you as a job seeker.

Registering as a job seeker

The first and most important step when you become unemployed is registering with your municipality's employment services. Since 1 January 2025 the former state TE Offices have been replaced by municipal and employment-area services, and you register through Job Market Finland.

How to register

1. Register online at tyomarkkinatori.fi (Job Market Finland) on your first day of unemployment
2. Create an account using strong authentication (Finnish bank ID or mobile certificate)
3. Fill in your personal details, work history, education, and skills
4. Submit your registration

Who can register

• Finnish citizens and permanent residents
• EU/EEA citizens who have worked in Finland
• Non-EU citizens with a valid residence permit that includes the right to work
• Your right to unemployment benefits depends on your work history and permit status

What happens after registration

• You receive confirmation of your registration as a job seeker
• Your employment services assess your employment history and create an employment plan
• You may be invited to an initial interview within 2 weeks
• Your employment plan outlines job search activities, training, and services available to you

Important: Act immediately

• Register on the first day of unemployment
• Benefits cannot be paid retroactively for the period before registration
• Late registration means lost benefit days

Types of unemployment benefits

Finland has two main types of unemployment benefits. Which one you receive depends on your work history and whether you belong to an unemployment fund.

1. Earnings-related allowance (ansiosidonnainen päiväraha)

The most generous option, available to members of an unemployment fund (A-kassa).

Requirements:

• Registered as an unemployed jobseeker with municipal employment services (Job Market Finland)
• Member of an unemployment fund
• Met the work requirement: 12 months of work in the past 28 months (see Kela)
• Lost your job through no fault of your own (or resigned for a valid reason)

Amount:

• Based on your previous salary
• Basic formula: approximately 50-70% of previous gross salary
• Basic component: approximately 37.21 EUR/day (2026)
• Earnings component: 45% of the difference between daily salary and basic component
• For the part of monthly salary above 3,534.95 EUR (2026), the earnings component is 20% instead of 45%
• Step-down: the allowance falls to 80% of the original amount after 40 paid days and to 75% after 170 paid days (for benefit periods based on work requirement met on or after 2 September 2024)
• Salary is first reduced by 3.83% (2026) for pension and insurance contributions
• Child increases were abolished on 1 April 2024 and are no longer paid

Duration:

• 300 days if your work history is 3 years or less
• 400 days if your work history is more than 3 years
• 500 days if you were at least 58 when you met the work requirement and have at least 5 years of work in the past 20 years
• Your maximum is set when payment starts
• After the maximum period, you may be able to receive the general social security benefit (yleistuki) instead

2. General social security benefit (yleistuki)

From 1 May 2026, Kela pays the general social security benefit (yleistuki). It replaced both the basic unemployment allowance (peruspäiväraha) and the labour market subsidy (työmarkkinatuki), which ended on 30 April 2026.

Requirements:

• Aged 18-64 with permanent residence in Finland
• Registered as an unemployed jobseeker with your municipality's employment services via Job Market Finland
• Not entitled to earnings-related allowance, or your earnings-related allowance has run out
• A 21-week qualifying period applies if you do not have a vocational or higher degree

Amount:

• 37.21 EUR/day, paid for 5 days per week
• Monthly total: approximately 800 EUR before tax
• Means-tested: your own earned income and capital income above 311 EUR/month can reduce the amount. Your partner's or spouse's income does not count
• Paid by Kela

Duration:

• No time limit while you meet the conditions
• Subject to regular review

Details and current rules: Kela, general social security benefit.

A-kassa (unemployment fund) membership

What is A-kassa?

An unemployment fund (A-kassa) is an organization that provides earnings-related unemployment benefits to its members. Membership is voluntary but highly recommended.

Why join

• Earnings-related allowance is usually higher than the general social security benefit
• Example: With a 3,000 EUR/month salary, earnings-related allowance is approximately 1,700 EUR/month for the first 40 paid days, then about 1,400 EUR/month, and about 1,300 EUR/month after 170 paid days, compared to approximately 800 EUR/month for the general social security benefit
• Membership costs are modest and tax-deductible

How to join

• Choose a fund that corresponds to your field of work
• Most trade unions include A-kassa membership automatically
• You can also join an independent fund (e.g., YTK General Unemployment Fund) without joining a trade union
• Apply online through the fund's website
• Membership fee: roughly 40-130 EUR per year (about 3-11 EUR per month)

Common unemployment funds

Important timing

• You must have been a fund member while meeting the work requirement (12 months of work in the past 28 months) to qualify for earnings-related benefits
• Join as soon as you start working: do not wait until you become unemployed
• Membership periods from other EU/EEA countries may count under EU coordination rules (apply within one month of starting work in Finland)

Job search requirements

Receiving unemployment benefits comes with obligations. Your employment services set requirements in your employment plan.

Active job search

• You must actively seek work and be available for full-time employment
• Apply for the number of jobs specified in your employment plan (typically 0-4 applications per month, depending on your situation)
• Report your job search activities to your employment services regularly
• Respond to job offers and invitations from your employment services
• Attend scheduled interviews and meetings

Accepting work

• You must accept suitable full-time work offered to you
• After 3 months of unemployment, the definition of "suitable work" broadens
• A commute averaging up to about 3 hours per day in total is considered reasonable (about 2 hours for part-time work)
• Part-time work does not necessarily end your benefits (adjusted unemployment benefit applies)

Participation in services

Your employment services may direct you to:

• Job search coaching and workshops
• Career guidance
• Finnish language courses
• Professional training or re-skilling programs
• Work trials or subsidized employment
• Integration training (for immigrants)

Sanctions for non-compliance

• Waiting period: 15-90 days without benefits for refusing suitable work or failing to comply with your employment plan
• Loss of benefits: Repeated refusals can result in losing your right to benefits entirely
• Always communicate with your employment services if you have concerns about a requirement

Support services for immigrants

Integration services

If you are a new immigrant (within your first 3 years in Finland), your municipality may create an integration plan that includes:

• Finnish or Swedish language training
• Civic orientation courses
• Skills mapping and career guidance
• Recognition of foreign qualifications
• Work trials with Finnish employers

Language training

• Free Finnish language courses are available through municipal employment services
• Courses range from beginner to advanced levels
• Full-time language training is considered an acceptable activity (benefits continue)
• Some municipalities offer additional language programs

Qualification recognition

• Municipal employment services and the Finnish National Agency for Education (OPETUSHALLITUS) can help evaluate your foreign qualifications
• Some professions require specific Finnish authorization (healthcare, teaching, law)
• Supplementary training may be available to bridge gaps

Practical tips

1. Join an unemployment fund immediately when you start working - do not wait
2. Register with your municipality's employment services on day one of unemployment - benefits are not retroactive
3. Keep records of your job applications and search activities
4. Attend all scheduled meetings - missing appointments can result in sanctions
5. Take advantage of training - language courses and professional development improve your prospects
6. Consider part-time work - you can work part-time and still receive adjusted unemployment benefits
7. Check your residence permit - some permits restrict your right to unemployment benefits; consult your employment services or Kela

Official resources

• Job Market Finland (tyomarkkinatori.fi): Jobseeker registration and job search
• Kela - Unemployment
• Earnings-related allowance and the general social security benefit
• YTK: General Unemployment Fund
• InfoFinland - Unemployed in Finland
• Guide for immigrants

Related guides

• Employee rights - Notice periods and termination protections
• Social security - Kela benefits and coverage
• Taxation - Tax implications of unemployment benefits
• Work permits - How unemployment affects your residence permit

Last updated: October 2026. Benefit amounts are adjusted annually. Always verify current figures at kela.fi and tyomarkkinatori.fi.