Adoption and family benefits

Adoptive parents are eligible for largely the same family benefits as biological parents, including parental allowance and child care benefits, with the difference that adoptive parents are not eligible for maternity allowance, but they are entitled to extended parental allowance.

In addition, if you adopt a child from abroad, you can claim an adoption grant from Kela to cover the adoption expenses.

When is an adoptive parent eligible for benefits from Kela?

In order to qualify for Kela benefits, the adoptive parent must be a resident of Finland.

With regard to international adoptions, to qualify for the adoption grant, maternity grant, parental allowance and paternity allowance, it is also required that the adoption has been carried out through an international adoption agency and the Finnish Board of Inter-Country Adoption Affairs has authorised the adoption. The Finnish Board of Inter-Country Adoption Affairs acts under Valvira. In Finland, international adoption services are provided by Interpedia, Save the Children, and the Social Services Department of the City of Helsinki.

You are not eligible for adoption grant, maternity grant, paternity allowance or parental allowance if you handled the international adoption independently. However, if you have adopted a child independently, you may be eligible for child benefit and child home care allowance.

A parent adopting from Finland is eligible for Kela benefits. Finnish adoptions are handled by the municipal social welfare office.

Updated 06/07/13