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Maternity and paternity grant for students

Apply for maternity and paternity grant - students

About maternity and paternity grant for students

Parents who are studying full-time may be entitled to a grant.

The right to a grant is 6 months for a parent. Total rights of two parents are therefore 12 months. 6 weeks are transferable.

Both parents can start receiving the grant from the 1st day of the child's birth month, or later.

Conditions

  • Parents must have been studying full-time for at least 6 months in the last twelve months preceding the birth of the child, primary adoption or permanent foster care.

  • Parents must have met requirements for academic progress for that time.

  • Legal domicile in Iceland is necessary.

Amount

Open the payment calculator. The calculator indicates possible payments, not a confirmed amount.

ISK 222,494 is the monthly grant payment to a parent studying full time.

  • The grant is a fixed amount.

  • Payments are subject to income tax.

  • This amount applies to grants for children born on or after 1 January 2024.

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Duration

  • You can start receiving a grant on the first day of the month in which a child is born.

  • The maternity allowance payment period may be divided into more than one period, but each period may not be shorter than 2 weeks.

  • If a parent has been working in the last two months before the birth of a child, the grant may be taken at a reduced rate in consultation with the employer.

Studying and working

It could be better for a parent who has worked in at least 25% work percentage while studying, during the last 6 months before the birth of a child, to apply for payments as a parent on the labour market.

Parents are encouraged to seek advice from the Leave Fund, email: faedingarorlofssjodur@vmst.is

Compensation for loss of income

Parents may be allowed to receive compensation for loss of income from an employer. This applies only if the parent has worked in a paid job in a minimum of 25% work percentage each month in while studying, during the 6 months preceding the birth of the child.

The employer may compensate for the difference between the grant amount and the average total wages in the last 2 months before the month of birth.

If the amount of payments exceeds this average, the risk is that the parent will receive grant payments that are too high. Parents are encouraged to contact the Leave Fund to know what the amount that should not be exceeded. Please contact:

faedingarorlofssjodur@vmst.is

Apply for maternity and paternity grant - students