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Health

Check your parental leave rights

Finland has generous parental leave. Each parent gets 160 days of paid leave. Check your entitlements at Kela.

When expecting a child or planning a family
Kela parental allowances

Why this matters

Parental leave in Finland is income-based and very generous. Not knowing your rights could mean missing months of paid leave.

How it goes

Since the 2022 reform, each parent receives 160 days of parental allowance. Up to 63 days can be transferred to the other parent. The pregnant parent also receives 40 days of pregnancy allowance. Allowance is typically about 70 percent of your salary. Apply through Kela well before your due date.

Good to know

  • Apply for parental allowance at least 2 months before the expected due date
  • Both parents get 160 days each, regardless of gender
  • You can use the days flexibly until the child turns 2
  • Employer cannot terminate your employment during parental leave