Wild-berry pickers coming to Finland must apply for a seasonal work permit and the right to medical treatment

Persons arriving in Finland from outside the EU who wish to work as a wild-berry picker must apply for a residence permit for seasonal work. Once they have the permit, they can apply to Kela for the right to medical treatment in Finland, which allows them to receive necessary treatment from the public healthcare system at the local client fee even if they are not registered as a resident of any Finnish municipality.

An application for the right to medical treatment is needed because Kela does not routinely check seasonal workers’ right to treatment. Under previous practice, berry pickers worked in Finland on a tourist visa and were only entitled to urgent medical treatment, which they had to pay for themselves.

Applications for the right to medical treatment can be submitted on the Kela form SV 139e (pdf). Berry pickers wishing to authorise e.g. their employer's representative to apply for the right to medical treatment and to deal with Kela generally must grant a power of attorney to their employer. They can use a template VAL 3e (pdf) or write the power of attorney in their own words.

Seasonal workers are temporary workers hired by a Finnish employer for a job in agriculture, gardening, wild-berry picking or tourism.

Additional information for customers

Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment press release (6 February 2025):Legislative changes improving the status of foreign berry pickers to enter into force in February 2025 (tem.fi)

Ministry for Foreign Affairs press release (19 February 2025):Foreign wild-berry pickers now subject to seasonal work rules: legislative amendment combats exploitation and human trafficking (um.fi)

Työntekijä ulkomailta Suomeen (Työnantajat-osio)

Authorising another person to act in Kela-related matters