Residence-based benefits for people without residence permit end

People who do not have a valid residence permit will not be entitled for residence-based Kela benefits anymore, said the Social Insurance Institution-Kela in a press release on Wednesday.

The right to residence-based benefits will be ended immediately when a negative decision is issued on a residence permit even if the decision is appealed.

The amended Aliens Act made more specific definitions of what constitutes legal and illegal residence in Finland.

As of 1 April 2026, citizens of outside of EU or EEA countries or Switzerland who live or work in Finland will only be eligible to get residence-based benefits from Kela, if they are residing in Finland legally and have a valid residence permit.

In other words, persons who reside in Finland illegally do not qualify for residence-based benefits.

From now people will not be eligible for residence-based benefits if their application for a residence permit is denied or expired.

People will also not be eligible for the benefits if they fail to apply for an extended permit or their residence permit is revoked.

The right to residence-based Kela benefits will end when the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) issues a negative decision on residence permit even if the applicant goes on to appeal the decision.

Previously, Kela could continue to pay benefits during the appeals process until Migri’s decision became final and legally binding.

Even after the amendment, people may still be able to get Kela-paid benefits while Migri processes application for an extended permit, if the applicant submits application before the previous permit is expired.

In that case, the applicant will qualify for benefits until Migri issues a decision on the extended permit.

People may continue to qualify for residence-based Kela benefits after 1 April 2026, if Migri issued a negative decision on their residence permit or application for asylum before 1 April 2026 and the appeals process is still ongoing.

If Migri issued its negative decision on or after 1 April 2026, the applicants do not qualify for residence-based Kela benefits during the appeals process.

Even if people get a negative decision on residence permit, they still have the right to emergency support to secure a minimum standard of living if your situation is urgent.

In practice, this means that they can get a voucher from Kela for necessities such as food and necessary prescription medicines.