Commuting and relocation allowance
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Commuting and relocation allowance (liikkuvuusavustus) compensates for the costs you have to pay if you accept a job or a placement in training that is a prerequisite for finding a job in a place that is far away from where you live. You can also get the allowance if you have to move because of a job. Commuting and relocation allowances are paid by Kela and the unemployment funds.
Can I get commuting and relocation allowance?
You can get commuting and relocation allowance if you sign an employment contract and accept an offer for one of the following types of job that lasts at least 2 months:
- full-time work with a two-way commute of at least 3 hours a day
- part-time work with a two-way commute of at least 2 hours a day.
The duration of your commute is calculated based on the fastest means of transport available for you.
If you have access to a car when your employment or training begins and it takes you less time to commute by car than by public transport, Kela will calculate the duration of your commute based on the time it would take you to commute by car. However, this does not mean that you have to buy a car.
If you use public transport, Kela also takes the time you may have to spend switching from one form of public transport to another into account when calculating the duration of your commute.
For example, time you spend taking your children to their day care on your way to work or training is not taken into account as part of your commute.
You receive the allowance for days of work and days of paid annual leave or sick leave. Commuting and relocation allowance can also be paid for jobs outside Finland.
You can get commuting and relocation allowance if you were paid any of the following unemployment benefits before your employment began: general social security benefit or earnings-related unemployment allowance. You can also get commuting and relocation allowance if you were not paid unemployment benefits for example due to a mandatory waiting period (karenssi) or a qualifying period (odotusaika).
You can get commuting and relocation allowance if you move closer to your place of work because of a job that lasts for at least 2 months. To qualify for the benefit, your commute before your move must be at least 3 hours per day for full-time work and at least 2 hours per day for part-time work.
How much is the commuting and relocation allowance?
The amount of commuting and relocation allowance is the same as the basic amount of the general social security benefit. You do not have to complete a waiting period (omavastuuaika) to qualify for the allowance.
You must pay taxes on the commuting and relocation allowance.
You can get commuting and relocation allowance for a maximum of 5 days per week. Commuting and relocation allowance is paid
- for 30 days if you accept a job that lasts for at least 2 months
- for 45 days if you accept a job that lasts for at least 3 months
- for 60 days if you accept a job that lasts for at least 4 months.
However, at most, you can get the allowance only up until your employment relationship ends.
If you work part time, you can be paid wages or salary, adjusted unemployment benefit and commuting and relocation allowance at the same time.
The commuting and relocation allowance is paid to your bank account every 4 weeks. Payment is made at the end of each 4-week period. The first payment period is 2 weeks. You can see the payment days in the decision notice you get on your commuting and relocation allowance.
How to apply for commuting and relocation allowance
Apply for commuting and relocation allowance with the joint application form for commuting and relocation allowance (tyj.fi, PDF in Finnish) used by both Kela and the unemployment funds.
To make sure that the form functions properly, you need to use the latest version of Adobe Reader. It is available as a free download on the Adobe website (get.adobe.com).
If you are a member of an unemployment fund, apply to the fund for commuting and relocation allowance. Look up your unemployment fund’s contact information (tyj.fi).
If you are not a member of an unemployment fund, apply for commuting and relocation allowance from Kela
- Start by saving the blank form joint application form for commuting and relocation allowance (tyj.fi) on your own device. The form is used by both Kela and unemployment funds. Do not fill in the form directly in the browser because some of the information may not be saved that way.
- Open the form with Adobe Reader and fill it in.
- After you have filled in the form, save it in PDF format. You do not have to sign the form.
- Send the application in the OmaKela e-service (available in Finnish and Swedish) under Tee hakemus tai ilmoita muutoksista (Submit an application or report changes).
- Send supporting documents in OmaKela by selecting Lähetä liite (Send a supporting document). Take photographs of the documents you are sending if they are not in a digital format. The application form tells you what supporting documents you need to send.
Go to OmaKela to see if Kela has made a decision on your application. You will also see how much you will get and when your benefit will be paid. If supporting documents are missing from your application, you will get a reminder about them in OmaKela.
In OmaKela, you can also consent to Kela sending you messages. This will help make your application process and other contacts with Kela quicker.
If you cannot use OmaKela, mail your application to Kela. Fill in the form and print it out. Remember to sign the form. Send the form together with any supporting documents to Kela, PL 10, 00056 KELA.
Claim commuting and relocation allowance within 3 months of the date from which you wish to receive it.
The decision notice is only in Finnish or Swedish. If you need help with something, you can call one of our English language customer service numbers.