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Social and health care services for undocumented people

Who is undocumented?

You are undocumented, if:

  • you do not have a residence permit in Finland
  • your asylum application has been rejected.

You are not undocumented, if you hold one of the following documents:

  • a valid visa
  • registration of the right of residence of a citizen of the European Union or a European Health Insurance Card
  • a certificate of entitlement to healthcare in Finland (Todistus oikeudesta hoitoetuuksiin Suomessa) issued by Kela
  • a valid residence card from a Finnish reception centre, and you are covered by reception services at the reception centre.

Health care services

Necessary health care services are offered to undocumented people much like residents of Helsinki. Anyone under the age of 18 and pregnant mothers are offered the same health care services as residents of Helsinki.

Health care services in the day time

If you need health care services, please contact Kalasatama Health and Well-being Centre at Työpajankatu 14 A. It is open from Monday to Friday, 7‒20, tel. +358 (0)9 3105 0333.

You do not need a Kela card. You can turn to the attendants or service advisors in the lobby for help.

Click here to find out more about the Kalasatama Health Station's services


Health care services in the evenings, at night and on public holidays

Hospital on-call sites are at your service in the evenings, at night and on public holidays. Please call the free-of-charge Medical helpline, tel. 116 117, before coming to the emergency clinic. The medical helpline will provide assistance with sudden health issues.

Click here to find out more about emergency services

Dental care

You can seek help with dental care by contacting appointment booking:
Dental care appointment booking, Mon-Thu 7-18 and Fri 7-15, tel. +358 (0)9 3105 1400

Maternity and child health clinic services

You can seek help with maternity and child health clinic services by contacting appointment booking:
Maternity and child health clinic appointment booking, Mon-Fri 8-14, tel. +358 (0)9 3105 5530

Health care fees

Visiting the nurse or the doctor as well as maternity and child health clinic services are free of charge. Dental care and emergency services are subject to a charge.

Click here for more information about fees for social welfare and health care services

Social services

You can ask for help at the Immigration Unit social services, if you are worried about your means of supporting yourself, accommodation or other issues in your life.

Social services during the day

If you need social services, please contact Kalasatama Health and Well-being Centre, Työpajankatu 14 A. Please primarily visit the Immigration Unit reception in the first instance, where possible. It is open from Mon-Fri 8.15–16. You can call the Immigration Unit help line at +358 (0)9 3103 7577, when necessary.

Social services in the evenings, at night and on public holidays

In the evenings, at night and on public holidays you can contact Emergency social services, tel. 0206 96006, and Crisis Emergency Support, tel. +358 (0)9 3104 4222.

Click here for social and crisis emergency services

Emergency housing

Emergency housing for undocumented people is organised at Hermanni by the Parish Union of Helsinki.

The Helsinki Deaconess Institute organises emergency housing for what's called "mobile people" in the Deaconess Institute’s Alppikatu quarter.



 04.11.2020 16:12