The four-party alliance government led by conservative Kansallinen Kokoomus (National Coalition Party-NCP) has taken an initiative to tighten the home care and private childcare allowances for the women with an immigrant background.
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health prepared a draft proposal to bring amendments to the respective law in this regard and sent out for comments at the end of 2025, said the ministry in a press release on Tuesday.
The deadline for submitting comments is March 3, 2026.
The proposed act is scheduled to enter into force on 1 January 2027.
The proposal is seeking to promote the integration and employment of women with an immigrant background and to implement the so‑called Norwegian model for child home care allowance as per the programme of the present government, said the ministry.
According to the proposal, child home care allowance could be granted only after a minimum of three years’ residence in Finland by the parent or other person who has custody of the child and who primarily looks after the child.
In single-parent families, the requirement for a minimum period of residence would apply to the parent residing with the child.
In practice, the allowance would not be paid if the parent or other person who has custody of the child and who primarily looks after the child has resided in Finland for less than three years after reaching the age of 16.
It is also proposed that in future the allowance would always be paid to the parent or other person who has custody of the child and who primarily looks after them.
In the previous draft, the requirement also applied to any other person who has custody of the child and resides with the child, as well as the spouse or cohabiting partner of the parent or the other custodian.
The amendment would apply to situations where the move to Finland has taken place after the entry into force of the proposed act.
In addition, it is proposed that the definition of care provider in the Act on Child Home Care Allowances and Private Childcare Allowances be amended to reflect the amendments made to the Act on Early Childhood Education and Care.
The government said that the proposal aims to contribute to the faster integration of parents of small children who have recently moved to Finland and to promote children’s learning of Finnish or Swedish and their participation in society.
The objective is that parents of small children who have resided in Finland for less than three years would more often choose for their children to participate in early childhood education and care.
At the same time, this would encourage more parents to enter the labour market and make use of integration services.
Earlier in October 2025, the government prepared the first draft to bring amendments to the Act on Child Home Care Allowances and Private Childcare Allowances.
- Finland
- Tightens
- Childcare allowance
- Immigrants
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
