Learn about YEL insurance
YEL insurance is the statutory pension insurance for entrepreneurs in Finland. If you work as an entrepreneur, you must have YEL insurance. Voluntary insurance cannot replace it.
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What is YEL insurance?
Do I need YEL insurance?
When do I need to get the insurance?
How much does YEL insurance cost?
YEL income
Starting entrepreneur
Light entrepreneur
What is YEL insurance?
YEL insurance is a personal insurance for entrepreneurs. It builds up your pension for old age and gives you income security during your working life if you get sick, your work ability decreases, or you take family leave. The YEL income you set for your insurance also determines the amount of daily allowances from Kela, such as sickness allowance.
Do I need YEL insurance?
You need YEL insurance if you meet these conditions:
- You are 18–68 years old and work as an entrepreneur in Finland.
- Your YEL income is at least 9,423.09 euros per year in 2026 (about 786 euros per month).
- You work as an entrepreneur. (linkki vakuuttamisvelvollisuuden alle jossa yrittäjän määritelmä)
- Your business operates for at least 4 months.
When do I need to get the insurance?
You need to get the insurance within 6 months from the time your business meets the YEL insurance conditions. The start date of the insurance is always the date when the conditions were first met, even if you get the insurance later. This means you can wait to see if your business operates more than four months, but you will still need to pay insurance contributions for the entire period.
How much does YEL insurance cost?
The YEL contribution is based on your confirmed YEL income, your age, and if you get a discount as a new entrepreneur. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health sets the percentages for the fee each year.
In 2026, the YEL contribution is 24.40 % of YEL income.
If you are a new entrepreneur, you get a statutory 22 % discount for the first 48 months.
You can read more about how the fee is calculated, the new entrepreneur discount, tax deductions, due dates, payment options, and invoicing methods.
Read more about fees and payments
Do you need a certificate of insurance?
With a YEL insurance certificate, you can show that your insurance is valid and payments are up to date.
You might need this certificate, for example, as an attachment to a tender.
Read more about YEL certificates
What is YEL income?
YEL income refers to the monetary value of your work as an entrepreneur. It is defined as an annual amount that reflects your work input for 12 months. When you take out insurance or adjust your YEL income, the YEL calculator helps you estimate the right amount.
Starting as an entrepreneur
At the beginning of your entrepreneurial journey, it is important to ensure that statutory obligations and practical matters are in order. As an entrepreneur, you are personally responsible for taking out YEL insurance and paying the contributions.
One of the most important steps when starting your business is securing your social security The entire statutory social security for entrepreneurs, including payments and benefits, is based on the annual YEL income defined in the entrepreneur’s pension insurance (YEL insurance). This amount should be set as accurately as possible.
The obligation to take out YEL insurance begins when you start your entrepreneurial activity and your business operates uninterrupted for at least four months. The obligation applies if your estimated YEL income is at least 9,423.09 € per year in 2026. As a new entrepreneur, you receive a statutory 22 % discount on the insurance contribution for the first 48 months.
We have compiled an information package to give you a clear overview of YEL insurance.
Read more information for starting entrepreneurs
Light entrepreneur
As a light entrepreneur, you work for yourself without needing to establish a company or obtain a business ID. Even if you also have paid employment alongside light entrepreneurship, you are responsible for your pension security as an entrepreneur when:
• Your YEL income exceeds 786 € per month (9,423.09 € per year)
• Your light entrepreneurship work continues at least four months
• You work by employing yourself, without an employer
• You are 18–68 years old
• You live in Finland
Read more information for light entrepreneurs
Frequently Asked Questions
YEL insurance is mandatory when the conditions for YEL insurance are met. The entrepreneur's pension insurance ensures that you accumulate work pension from your entrepreneurial work and that your social security remains at the level corresponding to your YEL income. The obligation to insure begins when you start entrepreneurial activities that last continuously for at least four months. In 2026, the obligation to insure applies to you if your estimated income is at least 9,423.09 euros per year (9,208.43 euros in 2025).
YEL insurance accumulates future work pension from your entrepreneurial activities. YEL income also serves as the basis for many benefits granted by Kela, such as sickness allowance and various parental benefits. Properly assessed YEL income ensures you have the right level of social and pension security in the future.
The minimum income limit for YEL insurance, or the YEL threshold, refers to the lowest euro amount of income that can be confirmed in YEL insurance. YEL income reflects the monetary value of an entrepreneur's work input and should correspond to the salary that would be paid to an equally skilled employee for the same work. The threshold is reviewed annually based on the wage coefficient, and in 2026 it is 9,423.09 euros per year (9,208.43 euros in 2025). Practically, the threshold means that if the value of an entrepreneur's work input falls below this limit, YEL insurance is not required. A full-time entrepreneur's income usually clearly exceeds this threshold.
The entrepreneur's pension insurance (YEL) and the employee's pension insurance (TyEL) are part of Finland's pension security system. YEL insurance is intended for entrepreneurs who operate as independent professionals or run their their own business. TyEL applies to wage earners, i.e., individuals who work in companies as employees. The amount of the YEL insurance contribution is based on the entrepreneur’s confirmed YEL income, whereas TyEL contributions are based on the employee’s salary. The entrepreneur is responsible for taking out YEL insurance themselves, while the employer takes out TyEL insurance for the employee.
Brochures
As a new entrepreneur or employer, you can see the applicable limits and contribution percentages for pension and social insurance payments in the summary of social insurance contributions.
Load social insurance contributions 2026 (PDF)
Get Insurance online
Get YEL insurance easily by completing the online application. If we need any additional details, we’ll contact you.
What you need for the insurance:
- 2–5 minutes
- online banking credentials or a mobile certificate, and
- an estimate of your company’s turnover and your YEL income.