Interpreter service for travel abroad

When can you get interpreter service for travel abroad?

You can get interpreter service for travel abroad if the trip is related to your studies, your work or leisure activities. Leisure activities can be for instance holiday trips or trips to visit friends or relatives.

You can apply for interpreter service for travel abroad if you already have the right to interpreter service for the disabled. Apply for interpreter service well in advance of your trip. The application is at the same time also a booking for interpreter service, so you do not need to separately book an interpreter.

In order for us to be able to arrange interpreter service for travel abroad, we need to know in which type of situations you need interpreter service. Interpreter service is arranged for different situations where you need to communicate with others, for instance guided excursions.

When do you not have to apply for interpreter service for travel abroad?

You do not separately have to apply for the right to interpreter service for travel abroad if you

• travel to a neighbouring country for one day and you do not stay overnight in the country of destination
• go on a cruise of less than 24 hours (for instance mini cruises, day cruises).

You also need not apply for the right to interpreter service during travel abroad if you are only going to use remote interpreting on your trip. More information about remote interpreting.

How long can you get interpreter service?

You can be granted interpreter service for trips lasting up to two weeks. If your trip lasts longer, you can only get interpreter service if you need it for work, study or some other valid reason.

Using interpreter service during foreign travel counts against the number of hours of interpretation available to you. Read more about how many hours of interpreter service you can get.

You can suggest an interpreter from your own region

An interpreter who works in your region is forwarded for your trip abroad.

You can suggest a certain interpreter for your trip. If this interpreter is not available and you have an interpreter list, we will try to find an interpreter from your list. If you do not have an interpreter list, we will try to find an interpreter from the other interpreters in your region.

Read more about the interpreter list.

Find out more about the service providers in your area.

How to apply for the right to interpreter service and book an interpreter for travel abroad

1. Complete the application form Vammaisen henkilön tulkkauspalvelu ulkomaanmatkalle TU 3 (in Finnish, PDF). The application is at the same time a booking for interpreter service.

   • Save the blank form to your device. 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.
   • Save the completed application to your device. Note that the application must be in PDF format.
2. Use the same application form to provide the following necessary information:

   • country of destination and purpose of the trip (leisure, studies or work)
   • date of departure and date of return
   • start and end times for interpretation
   • start and end locations for interpretation
   • the situations in which you will need interpretation (for example your travel itinerary)
   • the number of hours of interpretation you will need on your trip
   • your preferred interpreter
   • whether the interpreter must know some spoken foreign language
   • flight details, if known.
3. Send your application in the OmaKela e-service (available in Finnish and Swedish):

   • Log in to OmaKela and select Tee hakemus (Submit an application).
   • Select Vammaisten tulkkauspalvelu (Interpreting services for the disabled) and then select the benefit.
   • If you submit your application in OmaKela, you do not need to sign it.
   • If you have supporting documents, send them via OmaKela after you have submitted your application. If they are paper documents, you can photograph them. You need to submit the following supporting document:
     • If your trip abroad lasts more than two weeks, enclose for instance a seminar programme, study plan or other document showing why you need interpretation for more than two weeks.
4. Visit OmaKela to see if Kela has made a decision on your application. The name of the interpreter will be sent to you separately.

You can also apply for the right to interpreter service for travel abroad and book an interpreter via the remote service in Finnish sign language. You must book an appointment to submit your application.

Book an appointment in the remote service (available in Finnish and Swedish)

Book an appointment in another way

If you cannot use OmaKela, mail your application to Kela. Save the form to your device and fill it in after saving it. Print out the completed form and send it and any supporting documents to Kela, PL 10, 00056 KELA.

Things to remember when you apply for interpreter service for travel abroad

• Consider beforehand in what kind of situations you will need interpreter service.
• Estimate how many hours of interpreter service you will need. However, you do not have to state the exact times. You can agree on them in more detail with the interpreter at the destination.
• Your application may take longer to review if it is missing relevant information. We may ask for more information if we need it.
• Check that you have enough hours of interpreter service left and, when needed, apply for additional hours of interpreter service. Read more about how many hours of interpreting service you can get.

Notify Kela of changes and file additional information

Tell the Centre for Interpreting Services for the Disabled as soon as possible if your travel plans change. The changes may for instance affect whether your preferred interpreter is available.

Update your booking for interpreter service as soon as you have the specified details for your trip. However, you must send the exact details no later than one week before your departure.

You can notify Kela of changes and send additional information in OmaKela. If you cannot use OmaKela, you can use the remote service (available in Finnish and Swedish).

You can notify Kela of changes and send additional information also in other ways.