Child benefits

Child benefits in birthyear

In the year 2025, parents are for the first time paid child benefits in the year of the child's birth. The amount paid in the birth year is withdrawn from the child benefits paid in February and May the following year.

Child benefits in the year of birth are paid out automatically to parents. No application is required.

Parents of children who move to Iceland also receive child benefits automatically during the year of the move according to the same rules.

If a child moves to another country the payment will be cancelled during that quarter.

Child benefits in the year of birth

Are income related just as the general child benefits.
The amount paid is divided equally between married couples and cohabiting couples. The status is based on the registration in the National Register in the quarter.
The amount is the same for married couples, cohabiting couples and single parents.

Child benefits in the year of birth are paid out three times over the year:

May 1st - children born in January - March
August 1st - children born April - June (and earlier in the year)
November 1st - children born July - September (and earlier in the year)

The amount of each payment is 12% of the child benefit advance payment for married and co-taxed persons, taking into account the reductions.

The amount paid in the year of birth is deducted from the child benefit that would otherwise be paid on February 1st and May 1st of the following year.

Examples

If a child moves with their parents to Iceland within the year, the parents of the child will receive child benefits from that quarter onwards. Each payment is 12% of the amount that can be expected to be paid in February and May of the following year.

Parents of the child must apply for a child support payment in the first half of the year on the form RSK 3.18 even if they have been paid child benefits automatically in the previous year.

Cannot be turned down

Child benefit in the year of birth of a child paid on May 1st, August 1st and November 1st cannot be cancelled even if it is foreseen that the child benefit will have to be paid back.

Child benefit in the year of birth higher than the estimated advance payment

When the child benefit advance is calculated for February and May of the following year, the child benefit advance in the year of birth is deducted and the balance divided into two payments, on February 1st and May 1st.

If the child benefits in the year of birth have been higher, a debt is incurred that must be paid back in installments on June 1st.

Service provider

Iceland Revenue and Customs