Kela SV 15e (01.26) — Application for Parental Benefits

What is Kela SV 15e - parental benefits application?

Form SV 15e is the English application for Finland's parental benefits from Kela, the Social Insurance Institution of Finland. One form covers the maternity grant (äitiysavustus — the famous maternity package or a cash grant), pregnancy allowance (raskausraha) for the birthing parent, parental allowance (vanhempainraha) for either parent, partial parental allowance for parents working at most five hours a day, and the adoption grant for a child adopted from abroad. Child benefit is separate: Kela's form LL 1e.

Beyond the benefits themselves, the form collects what Kela needs to work out the amount: your employment and self-employment, whether your employer pays you during the leave, benefits from other countries, and whether your allowance should be based on the last three calendar months of income rather than a full year. There are six pages, with deadlines and rules printed right on the form.

FileIt walks you through SV 15e in plain English and prints your answers into Kela's own official PDF, edition 01.26. It pre-fills your name and e-mail from your vault, checks personal identity codes, your IBAN and a Finnish business ID, and applies the form's own rules — for example that only the birthing parent can apply for pregnancy allowance. Long answers are checked to fit their boxes, and names with any European letters print correctly. The PDF is saved in your vault and can be e-signed. You send it to Kela yourself; FileIt never submits anything.

Who needs to fill out Kela SV 15e - parental benefits application?

• An expectant birthing parent applying for the maternity grant and pregnancy allowance after getting the certificate of pregnancy.
• Either parent applying for parental allowance to stay at home with the baby.
• A parent who plans to work part-time, at most five hours a day, and take partial parental allowance.
• Both parents who want to take some days of allowance at the same time.
• Adoptive parents applying for the maternity grant, parental allowance or the adoption grant.
• A non-custodial parent applying for parental allowance for their own days.

When to use Kela SV 15e - parental benefits application

• Maternity grant: once you have the certificate of pregnancy, and no later than 2 months before the expected due date.
• Pregnancy allowance: after the certificate of pregnancy; it is available retrospectively for at most 2 months from the date of the application.
• Parental allowance: the birthing parent after the certificate of pregnancy, the other parent once the child is born, an adoptive parent after assuming care of the child — each at most 2 months retrospectively.
• Adoption grant: as soon as the child has been identified for placement with you, and within 2 months of the date of placement.
• Again later for further periods of parental allowance, which you can list in section 10.

What you need before you start

• Your personal identity code, bank account (IBAN), and your spouse's or partner's name and date of birth.
• The expected due date, the child's date of birth or the date of placement of an adopted child.
• The certificate of pregnancy (form SV 75) for the maternity grant and pregnancy allowance.
• Form SV 94 for the maternity grant, adoption grant or parental allowance as an adoptive parent.
• The dates or number of working days of parental allowance you want, and any days shared with the other parent.
• Your employer's details, and whether and for which period your employer pays you during the leave.
• Your business name and business ID (Y-tunnus) if you are self-employed.
• Details of any benefits from other countries, and wage certificates for income not in the Incomes Register.

What’s on Kela SV 15e - parental benefits application

The 2026 edition has 6 pages. FileIt asks for it in 11 parts, and it is signed by Applicant:

1. 1 ApplicantApplicant
2. 2 Bank account numberApplicant
3. 3 Information about the childApplicant
4. 4 ApplicationApplicant
5. 5 Residence, stay and employment abroadApplicant
6. 6 Details on employment and self-employmentApplicant
7. 7 Income during family leaveApplicant
8. 8 Information affecting the amount of the allowanceApplicant
9. 9 EnclosuresApplicant
10. 10 Additional informationApplicant
11. 11 SignatureApplicant

How to fill out Kela SV 15e - parental benefits application, step by step

1 1. Applicant

Your personal identity code, name, phone number and e-mail; your spouse's or partner's name and date of birth, and the date you started cohabiting if you are not married — or tick 'I have no spouse or partner'. Kela gets your address from the population data system; a different address goes in section 10.

2 2. Bank account number

The IBAN of the account the allowances are paid into.

3 3. Information about the child

The expected due date, the date of birth or the date of placement. Say whether you are the birthing parent, the child's other parent or someone else. If the parents are not married, or are a female couple, say whether the parenthood has been acknowledged at the child health clinic or child welfare officer, or will be later, with the name and date of birth of the acknowledging parent. A non-custodial parent gives the name and date of birth of the child's other parent.

4 4. Application — maternity grant and pregnancy allowance

Maternity grant: the number of maternity packages and/or cash grants you want (two children at once bring 3 grants, three children 6), and whether your phone number may be given to the package supplier. Pregnancy allowance, for the birthing parent only: start 30 or 14 working days before the due date, or on a date in between. It is paid for a continuous period of 40 working days; say if you will be working or on paid leave during it.

5 4. Application — parental allowance, partial allowance and adoption grant

Parental allowance can continue straight after pregnancy allowance for a number of working days, or be taken for a period. The form explains the days: 160 working days per parent in a two-parent family, 320 for a single parent, usable until the child is 2 (or 2 years from placement). Confirm you care for the child during the period. You can also take days at the same time as another person, apply for partial parental allowance while working at most 5 hours a day, or apply for the adoption grant for a child adopted from abroad (with form SV 94).

6 5. Residence, stay and employment abroad

Whether you live or stay abroad while getting the allowance, and whether you worked abroad in the year before it starts, with the country and dates. Stays abroad of more than 3 months or any work abroad also call for form Y 38e.

7 6. Details on employment and self-employment

Whether you have a valid employment relationship when the leave starts (name your employers), and whether you work, or worked in the past year, as a self-employed person, farmer or other entrepreneur (name of the business and business ID).

8 7. Income during family leave

If you are employed: is your wage paid during the leave? If your employer pays you for a period, Kela pays the allowance to the employer for that time; if your employer pays only the difference between your salary and the allowance, Kela pays you. Give the employers' names and payroll phone numbers. Then say whether you receive or have applied for benefits from other countries, with the country, institution, benefit and amount.

9 8. Information affecting the amount of the allowance

The allowance is normally based on 12 months of income. It can instead be based on the last three calendar months if that income times four is at least 20% higher and, during the reference period, you did one of the listed things — finished a degree, did military or non-military service, stayed home with a child under 3 or an adopted child, cared for a sick child under 16, or moved to Finland without Finnish health insurance. Also say whether you receive an informal or family caregiver fee.

10 9. Enclosures, 10. Additional information and 11. Signature

Tick the enclosures (wage certificates, SV 75, SV 94, adoption documents, others). Use section 10 for further periods and anything else, with the section number. Sign with the place and date and print your name.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Missing the maternity grant deadline — it must be applied for no later than 2 months before the expected due date.
• The child's other parent ticking pregnancy allowance, which only the birthing parent can apply for.
• Applying for parental allowance for days you work or are on paid annual holiday; there is no entitlement for those days.
• Not telling Kela your employer pays you during the leave, which decides whether Kela pays you or the employer.
• Choosing the three-month income basis without ticking which reason applies.
• Forgetting the certificate of pregnancy (SV 75) or form SV 94 for adoptions.
• Claiming days at the same time as the other parent without giving the dates.

After you fill it out

Check the PDF and sign section 11 with your printed name underneath (FileIt fills in the name). Sign on paper, or use FileIt's optional e-signature before uploading.

Send the application and enclosures by post to Kela, PL 10, 00056 KELA, or file them online at www.kela.fi/english, as printed on the form. FileIt doesn't submit it for you.

Your copy stays in the FileIt vault with the baby's other documents. Tell Kela if you start receiving a benefit from abroad for the same time, and apply separately for child benefit with form LL 1e.

Kela SV 15e - parental benefits application: frequently asked questions

Official sources

• Blank form (PDF), published by Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kansaneläkelaitos / Kela): https://www.kela.fi/benefit-forms/SV15e.pdf
• Official instructions and guidance: https://www.kela.fi/on-parental-leave
• Edition shown on this page: SV 15e 01.26 (checked 2026-09-26).

FileIt is not affiliated with or endorsed by Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kansaneläkelaitos / Kela) or any government. This page explains the form in general terms and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Always read the official instructions, and check that you are using the edition the recipient accepts. Page last reviewed 2026-09-26.

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