You’ve been living in Finland for a year, you have a Finnish personal identity code - and you’re only now realising you could have been getting a Kela card, medication reimbursements, and child benefit for months. Your Ukrainian documents aren’t translated, it’s unclear what needs translating, and whether you need a notarially certified translation or if a regular one works.
Here’s everything you need to know - straight to the point.
What Is Kela and What Benefits Can Ukrainians Get¶
Kela (Kansaneläkelaitos) is the Social Insurance Institution of Finland. It covers basic social security needs for all permanent residents: medication reimbursements, child benefits, housing assistance, pensions, parental benefits, and more.
For Ukrainians with temporary protection status (§ 89-91 of the Aliens Act), what you can access depends on how long you’ve been in Finland and whether you’re working.
Immediately upon arrival (no time requirement): - Short-term emergency assistance (grocery vouchers for one week) - Reception allowance (vastaanottoraha) while staying at reception centres - Basic social assistance (toimeentulotuki) - forms TO 1ukr and TO 2ukr available in Ukrainian
After 12 months of residence OR if working with a salary of at least €800.02/month: - Kela card (Kela-kortti) - for prescription medication reimbursements - Child benefit (lapsilisä) - for children under 17 - General housing allowance (yleinen asumistuki) - Child home care allowance (WH 1ukr) - Rental deposit assistance
For employed people (salary from €800.02/month): - Sickness allowance (sairauspäiväraha) - Maternity/parental/pregnancy benefits - Healthcare insurance coverage
After 3 years of permanent residence + age 65+: - National old-age pension (€787.07/month for single people in 2026) - Disability pension - Guarantee pension (takuueläke) - up to €990.90/month in 2026 - Housing allowance for pensioners
According to Kela’s official announcement, the first Ukrainians who arrived in March 2022 and turned 65 became eligible for Kela pensions in spring 2026.
Key update: since September 1, 2024, the minimum salary threshold for work-based eligibility is €800.02/month.
What Documents You Need: Breakdown by Benefit Type¶
Kela card and child benefit (form UA 1ukr)¶
In 2023, Kela introduced a combined form UA 1 (also UA 1ukr - in Ukrainian) that lets you apply for both the Kela card and child benefit simultaneously. You’ll need:
- Identity document (passport or Ukrainian internal passport; Diia app accepted)
- Children’s birth certificates
- Proof of 12+ months residence in Finland
- Finnish personal identity code (henkilötunnus) from DVV
General housing allowance (form AT 1 or AT 1ukr)¶
- Rental agreement
- Bank statements for all accounts (Finnish and foreign) for the past 2 months
- Documentation of housing costs
- If you share housing with others - their written authorisation
Basic social assistance (forms TO 1ukr, TO 2ukr)¶
- Bank statements for the past 2 months
- Documentation of all income sources, including any Ukrainian pension or benefit decisions and payment notices
- Most recent reception allowance decisions (if applicable)
Pension applications (forms ET 1, EV 1, GE 1e + Appendix U)¶
- Appendix U form (mandatory - lists all countries where you’ve lived, worked or studied)
- Documentation of any Ukrainian pension - copies of pension decisions, payment notices
- If no official documents exist - Kela accepts your own written or verbal statement
- Medical statements (for disability pension, must be no older than 6 months)
Pregnancy/maternity benefits¶
- Certificate of pregnancy from a maternity clinic (neuvola) - must confirm 154+ days; can be issued by a doctor or midwife abroad
What Needs Translating and How¶
This is the most important part. Kela requires that all supporting documents are in Finnish, Swedish, or English.
But here’s the crucial nuance: not all documents require an officially certified translation.
When a self-made translation is enough¶
Kela’s official website is explicit about this:
“The supporting documents must be in Finnish, Swedish or English. If the documents issued by your place of study are written in some other language, they must be translated into one of these three languages before you can submit them to Kela. We accept translations that you have done yourself.“
So for most supporting documents - bank statements, rental agreements, employment records, salary certificates - Kela accepts self-made translations. You don’t need to pay hundreds of euros for an official translation of every document.
In practice: - A Ukrainian bank statement can be translated by you or someone you know who speaks Finnish or English - Employment record (trудова книжка) - same approach - Ukrainian pension or benefit decisions - an informal English translation is fine
When an official authorised translation is required¶
An authorised translator (akreditoitu kääntäjä - registered with the Finnish National Agency for Education, OPH) is required when:
- Registering in DVV’s population registry - birth certificates, marriage and divorce certificates must be submitted to DVV with an official translation + apostille
- Documents for Migri (Finnish Immigration Service) - for residence permits, family reunification
- Court documents - for any legal proceedings
- Kela specifically requests one - in complex international situations they may ask for an official translation
The register of authorised translators for Ukrainian is searchable at akr.opintopolku.fi.
Apostille for Ukrainian documents¶
Ukraine is a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention - so official Ukrainian documents (birth certificates, marriage certificates, diplomas) can be apostilled in Ukraine and will be accepted in Finland.
Apostille confirms the document’s authenticity but doesn’t replace translation. An apostilled document still needs to be translated into Finnish, Swedish, or English.
If you’ve already registered with DVV and received your Finnish personal identity code, most basic documents have already been verified by DVV. Generally, you won’t need to apostille them again for Kela.
Free Interpreters from Kela¶
This is something many people don’t know: Kela provides free interpreter services for anyone who doesn’t speak Finnish or Swedish. From Kela’s official page:
“You can get an interpreter if you are applying for benefits from Kela, and an interpreter does not cost you anything.”
This means: if you don’t speak Finnish, Swedish, or English, Kela will arrange an interpreter for your appointment or phone call - completely free. Just mention it when scheduling.
This solves most of the language barrier when dealing with Kela. You don’t need to struggle through Finnish bureaucratic language on your own.
OmaKela: What’s Available Online¶
OmaKela - Kela’s online self-service - is only in Finnish and Swedish. If you don’t speak either, you have three options:
- Submit applications on paper forms (by post)
- Visit a Kela service point with an interpreter
- Ask someone who speaks Finnish to help you with OmaKela
Special forms for Ukrainians (UA 1ukr, TO 1ukr, TO 2ukr, WH 1ukr) are available for download on Kela’s page for Ukrainians - they’re in Ukrainian. There’s also a video guide (6 min 19 sec) showing how to fill out form UA 1.
Step-by-Step: How to Apply for Kela Card and Child Benefit¶
Step 1: Confirm you’re eligible - You’ve lived in Finland for 12 months, OR - You’re officially employed with a salary of at least €800.02/month
Step 2: Prepare your documents - Passport or Ukrainian internal passport - If you have children - birth certificates (translated into English; self-translation is fine) - Proof of address in Finland
Step 3: Download and fill out form UA 1ukr Available at kela.fi/information-in-ukrainian-about-kela-benefits. The video guide “How to fill out form UA 1” is there too.
Step 4: Send by post or bring to a service point The postal address is in the form. If going in person - book in advance and ask for an interpreter.
Step 5: Wait for the decision - Child benefit: decision within 1 month - International situations: may take longer
A real example: a Ukrainian woman who moved to Helsinki submitted her Kela card application exactly one year after arrival. Her children’s birth certificates were in Ukrainian - she translated them into English herself. Kela accepted everything without questions. Decision came within a week.
Kela Pension for Ukrainians: What to Know¶
For pension applications, the Appendix U form is mandatory - it lists all countries where you’ve lived, worked, or studied. Without it, your application won’t be processed.
On documenting Ukrainian work history, Kela explicitly states:
“If you do not have any official documentation on your foreign pension(s), you can submit other documents you may have or your own written or verbal statement in the matter. Kela will consider whether the documents and explanation you provide are sufficiently informative and will contact you if needed.”
This is crucial for those who left Ukraine in a hurry or whose documents were destroyed during the war. Even a personal written statement about your work history in Ukraine will be considered.
If you do have documents - provide them with an English translation (self-translation is acceptable). Employment record, salary certificate, Ukrainian Pension Fund decision - all of these strengthen your application.
Translation Requirements Comparison: Kela vs DVV vs Migri¶
| Institution | Translation requirements |
|---|---|
| Kela (most benefits) | Finnish / Swedish / English; self-made translation acceptable |
| Kela (pension - complex situations) | May request official translation |
| DVV (population registry) | Official/authorised translation + apostille |
| Migri (residence permit) | Official/authorised translation |
| TE-palvelut (employment service) | Depends on document; often informal translation works |
| Kela (verbal communication) | Free oral interpreter provided by Kela |
For most Kela applications, you don’t need to pay €80-150 for an official translation of every document.
Common Mistakes to Avoid¶
Mistake 1: Applying before 12 months Kela doesn’t issue advance decisions. If you apply a month before the 12-month mark, your application will be rejected. Wait for the exact date.
Mistake 2: Not providing statements from all accounts (including Ukrainian ones) For housing assistance, Kela needs statements from all accounts - Finnish and foreign. Monobank, PrivatBank - include them all.
Mistake 3: Not using the free interpreter Many people spend hours struggling with Finnish paperwork alone. Just ask Kela to arrange an interpreter - it’s free and much more efficient.
Mistake 4: Expecting a quick decision on pension International pension situations take significantly longer to process. Kela explicitly warns about this. Submit well in advance.
Mistake 5: Assuming reception centre residents can’t access Kela Kela pays basic social assistance even to those still living in reception centres. The level of benefits increases significantly after getting a home municipality (kotikunta).
As noted by elamassa.fi, getting a home municipality is the turning point that unlocks full access to Finland’s social security system.
Useful Resources¶
- Kela official page for Ukrainians: kela.fi/information-in-ukrainian-about-kela-benefits
- DVV (registration): dvv.fi/en/instructions-on-arriving-in-finland-from-ukraine
- Integration portal: kotoutuminen.fi/en
- FinUA community: my.finua.org/uk/info/kela
- Authorised translators register: akr.opintopolku.fi
For translating your Ukrainian documents into English, ChatsControl lets you upload a document and get a translation in minutes - perfect for Kela supporting documents where self-made translations are accepted.
FAQ¶
Do I need a notarially certified translation for Kela?¶
For most Kela benefits - no. Kela explicitly states it accepts self-made translations for supporting documents. Certified translation is only required for DVV (population registry) and Migri (residence permits).
Which Kela forms are available in Ukrainian?¶
UA 1ukr (Kela card + child benefit), TO 1ukr and TO 2ukr (social assistance), WH 1ukr (child home care allowance). These forms can be filled out in Ukrainian.
How long after arrival can I apply for a Kela card?¶
After 12 months of living in Finland. Or sooner if you’re officially employed with a salary of at least €800.02/month.
What if I don’t speak Finnish - how do I communicate with Kela?¶
Kela provides a free oral interpreter for all appointments and calls related to benefits. Just mention it when booking.
What if I don’t have documents from Ukraine because of the war?¶
Kela directly addresses this: for pension and some other applications, your own written or verbal statement about your work history or circumstances is accepted. Write it down and attach it to your application.
Does Ukrainian work history count toward a Kela pension?¶
Yes, Kela coordinates pension payments between Finland and Ukraine. The mandatory Appendix U form and documents (or written statement) about your Ukrainian work history are required.
How long does Kela take to process applications?¶
Standard processing times: basic social assistance - 7 business days; child benefit - within 1 month. International pension situations take significantly longer. Always submit well before you need the benefit to start.
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