When you are starting out as a self-employed person, there are many things to take care of. Start by getting your social security sorted with YEL insurance. As a newly self-employed person, you will receive a 22 per cent discount on your YEL contributions for the first four years.
YEL insurance is the most important insurance for the self-employed. It accrues pension and affects, for example, sickness and parental allowances as well as unemployment security.
Take out Varma’s YEL insurance easily online! If you would like to take out insurance over the phone and go through your situation together, our sales service is available on 010 244 1010 (Mon–Fri between 8:00 and 16:00).
YEL insurance is statutory, meaning it is mandatory for the self-employed.
You must take out YEL insurance if
You cannot replace YEL insurance with voluntary pension insurance.
The amount of the YEL contribution is based on your YEL income, which means the value of your work input in euros.
When you take out YEL insurance, we will confirm your YEL income. We assess your YEL income on the basis of, for example, your company’s estimated turnover and the salary level in your sector.
You can deduct the full amount of your YEL contribution either from your personal or your company’s taxation.
Read more about YEL contributions
With our YEL calculator, you can estimate the amount of your YEL contributions and see how your YEL income affects your social security.
The YEL income calculator gives you a YEL income recommendation based on your sector and turnover.
Calculate your YEL income recommendation
As a newly self-employed person, you will receive a 22 per cent discount on your YEL contributions for four years.
You will need your online banking codes or a Mobile Certificate.
Fill in any missing details on the application. It only takes a moment.
Once you have submitted the application, you’ll have taken an important step towards taking care of your social security as a self-employed person.
As many as 45,000 self-employed persons already trust us to look after their pension cover.
Take out YEL insurance when you start your entrepreneurial activities and your YEL income exceeds an average of EUR 785 per month (in 2026). YEL insurance begins on the day you start working to this extent.
You have six months to take out the insurance. This is known as the six-month transition period. However, the start date of your YEL insurance is always the date on which you fulfil the YEL insurance obligation.
Yes, you can. You have six months to take out insurance. Please note, however:
If you take out insurance after six months have passed,
The company form determines which pension act applies to the self-employed person or a family member of the self-employed person.
In some cases, for example, a family member working in the company may need their own YEL insurance. This depends on the company form as well as the family member’s role and position within the company.
Yes, they do. YEL insurance forms the basis of a light entrepreneur’s pension and social security. A light entrepreneur’s sickness and parental allowances, as well as their unemployment benefits, are determined on the basis of their YEL income.
The Finnish Centre for Pensions monitors whether entrepreneurs take out the insurance or not. If you do not take out YEL insurance, the Finnish Centre for Pensions may ultimately take it out on your behalf.
In that case, in addition to the standard YEL contribution, you will have to pay a late payment penalty of at least 30 per cent and at most 100 per cent of the YEL contribution for the period of negligence. The amount of the late payment penalty is confirmed by the State Treasury.
You can manage your YEL insurance matters in Varma Online Service when it suits you best.
Our experts are here to support you through the ups and downs of life as a self-employed person. You can reach us by phone, through chat or via Varma Online Service.
If you ever need flexible payment arrangements, we will find a solution with you. Our own debt collection negotiators are here to help you.
In our online service, you can, for instance
Sign in to the service using your personal banking codes.
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