Parental leave

The Swedish parental leave – the so called föräldrapenning is a generous one. Parental leave is paid out for no less than 480 day (approximately 16 months) for each child.

Parents are – because of gender equality aspects – encouraged to share the leave. That is why 90 days out of the total 480 days are reserved for each parent. Only single custody parents are entitled to take out the 480 days on their own.

Parents generally get 80% of their salary if they have been working legally in Sweden for at least 240 days and paid taxes. This amount counts for the first 390 days. A reduced amount is then paid out for the remaining 90 days.

Note: you are entitled to parental leave even if you don’t meet the requirements (of legal work in Sweden for at least 240 days). In this case you get a reduced leave of 180 SEK/day for a period of 480 days.

More on parental leave

EU citizen and parental leave in Sweden

EU citizens have to right to receive their parental benefit based on their EU salary immediately prior to moving to Sweden. I.e. if you move with a new baby or wish to take your parental leave upon arriving, your EU salary is used. More find out more here (information in Swedish).

More on family benefits for EU citizen

The website Your Europe gathers information provided by the European Commission and tries to explain the often complex regulations and their effects. Worth a visit for all EU citizens that are planning to move or work in another EU country, like Sweden e.g. Read more here (information in most EU languages).

Parental leave if your child is born outside of Sweden

From the 1 of July 2017, children born outside of Sweden, will no longer have full parental leave rights.

• children residing in Sweden from their one-year birthday have the right to maximum 200 days of parental leave.
• children residing in Sweden from their two-year birthday have the right to maximum 100 days of parental leave.
• this also applies to children who became residents in Sweden after July 2010 and that were at the time older than one year and where the parents have not taken out parental leave before July 1 2017.
• this does NOT apply to children who are adopted or will be adopted.

 

 

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