Introduction of a healthcare fee for students in higher education starting in 2021: Implications for students without a Finnish personal identity code

Starting in the spring term 2021, students in universities of applied sciences and universities who are entitled to use the services of the Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS) will pay a healthcare fee to Kela.

Students who are liable to pay the fee are students who have registered as attending and who are completing

• a bachelor's or master's level degree earned in a university of applied sciences

• a bachelor's or master's level university degree

Additional information:

https://www.kela.fi/web/en/healthcare-fee-for-students-in-higher-education

The fee must also be paid by foreign degree students attending a Finnish higher education institution.

To help us determine students’ liability to pay the fee, allocate payments to the correct student, and collect unpaid fees, please ensure that all degree students are registered in the student information system and consequently the VIRTA higher education achievement register with a Finnish personal identity code. Healthcare fees can be levied only on the basis of the personal identity code.

We are asking higher education institutions to clarify and register missing personal identity codes by 31 January 2021 for degree students who are registered as attending for spring term 2021.

Students may already have a Finnish personal identity code which they should report to the school administration. The personal identity code has typically been assigned as part of the residence permit process. Students who do not have a Finnish personal identity code should be advised to apply to the Digital and Population Data Services Agency in accordance with these instructions:

https://dvv.fi/en/foreigner-registration

Anyone residing in Finland will need a Finnish personal identity code in many situations not limited to the healthcare fee. We are asking higher education institutions to remind students of this for example in the admission notice.

Even if it is too late to register a missing personal identity code by 31 January 2021, registrations made after that date will help us with the collection of healthcare fees. For the autumn term, the due date for the fee is 30 September. It would be particularly helpful if as many new students as possible would have a Finnish personal identity code registered in the student information system by that date.



Kind regards,

Kansaneläkelaitos

Social Insurance Institution of Finland