First steps

If you have been active on the domestic labour market in at least 25% employment for six consecutive months before the child’s date of birth or the date on which a child enters the home in the case of adoption or permanent foster care you can apply for payments as an employee or a self-employed individual.

When to submit documents:

Applications and other supporting documents should be submitted 6 weeks before the child’s estimated date of delivery or 6 weeks before the starting date of the maternity/paternity leave.

Notifications of maternity/paternity leave arrangement should be submitted to employers at least 8 weeks before the child’s estimated date of delivery or 8 weeks before the starting date of the maternity/paternity leave.

We recommend using the electronic forms on the website when applying for payments. If you are unable to do so, documents can also be submitted at the nearest Vinnumálastofnun office, sent by regular mail to Fæðingarorlofssjóður, Strandgata 1, 530 Hvammstangi or by email to faedingarorlof@vmst.is

Necessary documents:

Application for payments from the Maternity/Paternity Leave Fund (electronic form on website)

Notification of maternity/paternity leave arrangement (form on website)

Copies of your last two payslips

Certificate of the estimated date of delivery, if applicable. (Obtained from a midwife)

A self-employed individual needs to send a confirmation from Skatturinn (The Directorate of Internal Revenue) that they have submitted a decrease or stoppage to calculated remuneration if applicable (Tax form 5.02)

If you wish to use your personal tax credit at the Maternity/Paternity Leave Fund you need to send a “Claim for personal tax credit” before the 20th day of the month in which you want to use it (electronic form on website)

Additional documents can be attached to electronic applications. After an application has been submitted, additional documents can be submitted electronically through the website.

Processing of applications

The processing of applications usually takes 2-5 weeks at the Maternity/Paternity Leave Fund. When processing begins, you will receive a letter. If all the necessary information has arrived, you will receive a payment plan, or a letter of rights if you are starting your maternity/paternity leave on the child’s date of birth and the child has not yet been born. If additional information is needed, you will receive a letter requesting the missing information.

Please keep in mind

Payments are made retroactively for the preceding month. The month of April is therefore paid at the end of April.

You have the right to take your maternity/paternity leave in a one continuous period.

By making an arrangement with your employer, you are allowed to divide your maternity/paternity leave into several periods or over a longer period of time, with or without a reduced work time ratio.

Maternity/paternity leave needs to be taken for at least two consecutive weeks.

The mother shall be on maternity leave for the first two weeks after the child is born.

You can start your maternity/paternity leave up to one month before the expected date of delivery.

Your right to take maternity/paternity leave expires when 24 months have passed from the child’s date of birth.

If you have been occupied in at least 75% studies for 6 months during the last 12 months before the child’s date of birth or the date on which a child enters the home in the case of adoption or permanent foster care you can apply for a maternity/paternity grant as a full-time student.

If you have not been active on the domestic labour market, or employed in less than 25% of a full-time position for the last 6 months before the child’s date of birth or the date on which a child enters the home in the case of adoption or permanent foster care you can apply for a maternity/paternity grant.

As a ground rule, you need to be a legal resident in Iceland on the child’s date of birth and need to have been a legal resident in Iceland for the last 12 months before that date.

When to submit documents:

Applications and other supporting documents should be submitted 3 weeks before the child’s estimated date of delivery or 3 weeks before the starting date of the maternity/paternity grant.

Notifications of maternity/paternity leave arrangement should be submitted to employers at least 8 weeks before the child’s estimated date of delivery or 8 weeks before the starting date of the maternity/paternity leave if you are active in the labour market.

We recommend using the electronic forms on the website when applying for payments. If you are unable to do so, documents can also be submitted at the nearest Vinnumálastofnun office, sent by regular mail to Fæðingarorlofssjóður, Strandgata 1, 530 Hvammstangi or by email to faedingarorlof@vmst.is

Necessary documents:

Application for a maternity/paternity grant (electronic form on website)

Certificate of the estimated date of delivery, if applicable. (Obtained from a midwife)

Confirmation from an educational institution that you have been registered as a full-time student and have met the requirements regarding academic progress during that period, if applicable.

Notification of maternity/paternity leave arrangement, if applicable. (Form on website)

If you wish to use your personal tax credit at the Maternity/Paternity Leave Fund you need to send a “Claim for personal tax credit” before the 20th day of the month in which you want to use it (electronic form on website)

Processing of applications

The processing of applications usually takes 3 weeks at the Maternity/Paternity Leave Fund.

When processing begins, you will receive a letter. If all the necessary information has arrived, you will receive a payment plan, or a letter of rights if it is unclear whether the child will be born in the month you intend to start receiving your maternity/paternity grant. If additional information is needed, you will receive a letter requesting the missing information.

Please keep in mind:

Payments are made retroactively for the preceding month. The month of April is therefore paid at the end of April.

The maternity/paternity grant needs to be taken in one consecutive period, i.e. generally it cannot be divided into several periods or over a longer period of time.

You can start receiving the maternity/paternity grant in the child’s month of birth.

Your right to a maternity/paternity grant expires when 24 months have passed from the child’s date of birth.