Finland’s parental leave system provides 160 days of shared parental allowance per child, with 63 days reserved exclusively for each parent. The system was overhauled in August 2022, replacing the old maternity, paternity, and parental leave structure with a unified model designed to encourage both parents to take leave. The benefit is paid by Kela (the Social Insurance Institution of Finland) and is income-based.
This guide covers Finnish parental leave in 2026: the 160-day structure, the 63-day reservation per parent, the Kela payment, and the interaction between shared and special parental leave.
Key takeaways
- Each child entitles parents to 160 days of shared parental allowance (vanhempainraha), under the Parental Allowance Act (vanhempainlaki).
- 63 days are reserved for each parent and cannot be transferred.
- 34 days are shared and can be used by either parent.
- The benefit is approximately 70% of qualifying income, with a ceiling set by Kela each year.
- Special parental leave (erityinen vanhempainvapaa) provides an additional 60 days for each parent.
- Parents can take leave as full days, half days, or in specific combinations — offering flexibility beyond full-week blocks.
The 2022 reform
Before August 2022, Finland’s system had separate maternity leave (105 days), paternity leave (18 days), and parental leave (158 days). The 2022 reform replaced all three with a single shared parental allowance of 160 days per parent, designed so that both parents take an active role in early childcare.
The reform also introduced the special parental leave of 60 days per parent, which can be taken to care for a sick child or for other specific reasons. This was a significant expansion of the previous system and brought Finland in line with the EU Work-Life Balance Directive.
The 160-day structure
Finnish parental leave is divided as follows:
| Category | Days | Transferable? |
|---|---|---|
| First parent’s reservation | 63 | No |
| Second parent’s reservation | 63 | No |
| Shared pool | 34 | Yes |
| Total per parent | 160 | Shared |
Each parent has 160 days available. Of these, 63 are reserved and cannot be transferred. The remaining 34 days can be given to the other parent — meaning one parent could theoretically use up to 194 days (160 + 34 from the other parent).
Leave can be taken as full days, half days, or in specific combinations. This flexibility allows parents to take, for example, every Monday off for an extended period, reducing their working week to 80% without a formal leave period.
Worked example
A couple each take their full 160 days, with the mother starting first after birth. She uses 63 reserved days plus 17 shared days (80 days total), then the father uses his 63 reserved days. The remaining 17 shared days are split 8/9, with both parents taking a few extra days at different times. Total used: 160 days each.
Special parental leave
In addition to the 160-day parental allowance, each parent is entitled to 60 days of special parental leave (erityinen vanhempainvapaa) per child. This leave can be used to:
- Care for a sick child under 8
- Attend medical appointments with a child
- Care for a child during a hospital stay
- Other specific family circumstances defined by Kela
Special parental leave is paid at the same rate as the parental allowance (approximately 70% of qualifying income) and is a separate entitlement from the 160 days. It does not reduce the pool of parental allowance days available.
Kela payment
The parental allowance is paid by Kela directly to the parent. The employer does not fund the leave — they are responsible for stopping salary payments and confirming the employee’s income to Kela.
The benefit is calculated as follows:
| Benefit detail | Amount |
|---|---|
| Rate | Approximately 70% of qualifying income |
| Maximum daily rate | Subject to annual ceiling (approximately €59/day in 2026) |
| Minimum daily rate | Fixed amount (approximately €37/day in 2026) |
| Payment period | Up to 160 days per parent per child |
The qualifying income is based on the parent’s earnings in the year before the leave. Parents who do not meet the income threshold receive the minimum rate.
For employees covered by collective agreements, employers often supplement the Kela payment to match full salary for a defined number of weeks. These terms vary by agreement.
Employer obligations
Finnish employers managing parental leave must:
- Grant parental leave when requested — refusal is not permitted
- Stop salary payments when the employee goes on parental allowance — Kela pays directly
- Confirm income details to Kela for benefit calculation
- Maintain employment terms during the leave period
- Reinstate the employee to their role at the end of the leave
- Apply collective agreement terms for any employer top-up during leave
The employer’s role is largely administrative. Kela handles the benefit payments, but accurate income reporting is critical.
Common pitfalls
1. Not applying to Kela early
Applications for vanhempainraha must be submitted to Kela before the leave starts. Late applications can delay payments by several weeks, leaving the parent without income.
2. Confusing special parental leave with parental allowance
Special parental leave (60 days) is separate from the 160-day parental allowance. Using the wrong entitlement disrupts reporting and may affect the employee’s benefit.
3. Forgetting the 63-day reservation
Each parent must use their 63 reserved days. An employer cannot assume that one parent will transfer all their days to the other — this is not permitted.
4. Not checking collective agreement terms
Employer top-up terms vary by collective agreement. Applying the wrong terms creates a liability.
Putting it into practice
Three checks cover most Finnish parental leave scenarios:
- Build a Kela application timeline into your parental leave process, so employees know when to apply before the leave starts.
- Track special parental leave separately from parental allowance, so absence data accurately reflects sick-child care versus extended leave.
- Check the applicable collective agreement for top-up terms before the employee goes on leave.
Managing 160 days per parent, 63-day reservations, special parental leave, and Kela payments across multiple employees requires a system designed for Finland’s post-2022 parental leave structure.
Sources
- Kela — Parental allowance
- Parental Allowance Act (vanhempainlaki 395/2017)
- Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
Last updated: 26 July 2026. This article is general information, not legal advice. Finnish parental leave rules change — confirm current entitlements with Kela or the applicable collective agreement.