Digital application for parental leave is growing

At the beginning of 2022 digital parental leave applications were introduced. The application was accessible to applicants in those in the work market as well as self-employed. Now a maternity/paternity grant has been added to the application, allowing students and parties outside the labor market to begin digital applications. In addition, those receiving unemployment benefits now have the opportunity to apply. More than 60% of maternity/paternity leave applicants choose to apply through the digital application. This proportion is expected to increase as those who can access the digital process grows.

A digital application means the applicant does not have to collect any papers or signatures and send them to the Parental Leave Fund. The process is fully automatic. The applicant applies on Ísland.is, and the application itself gathers information needed from Heilsuveru, the National Registry, and the Icelandic Tax Agency. The application guides the applicant through a user-friendly interface where the prospective parent answers questions about when to start maternity leave and how to request it.

Once a mother has completed an application, the application is sent automatically to the spouse and, from there, to the employers if applicable. Finally, the application is submitted directly to the Parental Leave Fund's work system, and expectant parents can follow the status of the application on My sites in Ísland.is and in the Ísland.is app.

A digital application for maternity/paternity leave is a collaboration project between Digital Iceland and the Directorate of Labour. The Maternity/Paternity Leave Fund, which falls under the Directorate of Labour, provides the service for expecting parents.

Further information on parental leave on Ísland.is.