Parental leave in Finland (2026)

Last reviewed: 7 November 2026

In short: Kela pays pregnancy allowance for 40 working days and parental allowance for 160 working days to each parent. Up to 18 days can be taken together. An employer may not dismiss someone for pregnancy or family leave.

RuleWhat applies
Maternity leaveTaking parental leaveKela pays pregnancy allowance for 40 working days (Monday to Saturday, excluding weekday holidays), regardless of the actual birth date. Pregnancy leave can start 14 to 30 working days before the expected due date. The days must be taken consecutively and are not extended for twins or a single parent. [1]
Paternity leaveTaking parental leaveThe parent who did not give birth uses the same parental allowance as the birthing parent: each parent has 160 working days of parental allowance. Up to 18 working days of pregnancy or parental allowance can be taken at the same time as the other parent, as consecutive or separate days. [2]
Parental leaveTaking parental leaveFor a child with two parents, parental allowance is paid for 320 working days, 160 for each parent. A parent can transfer up to 63 days to another carer. The days can be used flexibly until the child is 2 years old. Each additional child of a multiple birth adds 84 working days, and the employer can limit leave to 4 periods of at least 12 working days unless otherwise agreed. [2]
Pay during leaveTaking parental leaveAllowances are based on annual income. At a yearly wage of EUR 20,000 pregnancy allowance is EUR 54.63 and parental allowance EUR 42.66 per working day. Anyone with no income or income of up to EUR 13,712 a year can get the minimum rate, EUR 31.99 per working day. The employer does not have to pay wages during family leave; if it does, Kela pays the allowance to the employer. [2]
Job protectionTaking parental leaveThe employer may not terminate an employment contract because of an employee's pregnancy or use of family leave; a dismissal is presumed to be for that reason unless the employer shows another reason. During maternity, special maternity, paternity, parental or care leave the employer may dismiss on the grounds of chapter 7 section 3 only if its activity ends entirely. After family leave the employee has the right to return primarily to the previous job, otherwise to equivalent work, otherwise to other work under the contract. [3]

Notes

  • The Employment Contracts Act text is the Finlex consolidated version of 29 May 2026 (open data).

Sources

  1. Kela (Social Insurance Institution of Finland): Pregnancy allowance | During pregnancy | Kela (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
  2. Kela (Social Insurance Institution of Finland): Parental allowance and partial parental allowance | On parental leave | Kela (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
  3. Finlex (Ministry of Justice), open data: Työsopimuslaki 55/2001 (ajantasainen, konsolidoitu 29.5.2026) (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources

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General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.