Pregnancy, children and parental leave

During pregnancy: the barnmorskemottagning

Antenatal care is at the barnmorskemottagning (often shortened to MVC), the midwife clinic. The visits are free and there are about 6–10 in total.

You choose the clinic yourself and contact it as soon as you know you are pregnant. You can usually find it on 1177.se or just phone.

For how healthcare works in general (1177, vårdcentral, registration), see the guide Healthcare.

After the birth: the BVC

The BVC (barnavårdscentral, child health centre) follows your child's development from birth through förskoleklass. It is free. In the first year there are at least 13 visits.

The vaccinations in the child vaccination programme are free and voluntary. They protect against 12 diseases and start at 6 weeks of age.

Parental leave: your right to stay home

Leave is governed by the Parental Leave Act (föräldraledighetslagen, 1995

). It is not the same thing as the benefit: leave is the right to be away from work, föräldrapenning is the money you may receive during the leave.

• Full leave until the child is 18 months old, even without föräldrapenning.
• Reduced working hours by a quarter (25 %) until the child is 8 (or has finished the first school year).
• From 1 July 2028 the limit moves to the end of the second school year.

Föräldrapenning: the numbers

Föräldrapenning is paid by Försäkringskassan. For registration and general rules, see the guide Försäkringskassan.

Total days	480 per child between the two parents (660 for twins)
At the income-related level	390 days, 250 to 1,259 kr per day
At the minimum level	90 days, 180 kr per day
Requirement for the income-related level	income qualifying for sickness benefit (SGI) of at least 7,083 kr a month for at least 240 days before the expected birth; otherwise you receive 250 kr per day

Reserved days, double days and transferring days

• 90 reserved days for each parent, at sickness-benefit level, cannot be transferred.
• Double days (dubbeldagar): days when both parents are at home together. There are 60 per child, up to the child's 15th month.
• Transferring days: since 1 July 2024 you can transfer days to someone else insured in Sweden, for example a grandparent. The limit is 45 days per parent with joint custody and 90 with sole custody. Reserved days cannot be transferred.

VAB: when your child is sick

VAB (vård av barn) is the benefit for staying home with a sick child under 12.

• Up to 120 days a year per child, shared between the parents.
• The benefit is a little less than 80 percent of your income (SGI), with a ceiling.
• Apply within 30 days of the first day you were home: through the e-service, the app or a paper form.

Pregnancy benefit (graviditetspenning)

Graviditetspenning is for people whose job is physically heavy or hazardous and who cannot be moved to other tasks. It is about 80 percent of your pay, at most 944 kr per day, from at most 60 days before the birth up to the 11th day before.

Child allowance (barnbidrag)

Barnbidrag is 1,250 kr a month per child, paid automatically if you live in Sweden with your children, generally until age 16. Details, the large-family supplement and how it is split between two parents are in the guide Försäkringskassan.

Key numbers

What	Number
Antenatal visits	about 6–10, free
BVC visits in the first year	at least 13, free
Vaccinations	12 diseases, from 6 weeks, free and voluntary
Full leave	until the child is 18 months
Reduced hours	25 % until the child is 8
Föräldrapenning	480 days (660 for twins)
Reserved days	90 per parent
Double days	60, up to 15 months
Transferring days	45 (joint custody) / 90 (sole custody)
VAB	120 days/year per child, under 12
Graviditetspenning	about 80 %, max 944 kr/day

The qualification rule from 1 January 2027

Children born in Sweden: citizenship

A child is Swedish from birth if a parent is a Swedish citizen, wherever the child is born. Place of birth alone does not decide it. The full picture is in the guide Swedish citizenship.

If you are an Italian citizen

If a parent is Italian, the birth must be transcribed in Italy through the Embassy, and for that the parent must first be registered with AIRE. Whether a child born in Sweden is also entitled to Italian citizenship depends on Italian rules: ask the Embassy. See the guide AIRE and the consulate.

Read next

• Preschool and school: Preschool and school.
• Care and costs: Healthcare.
• Benefits and registration: Försäkringskassan.

Common mistakes

• Waiting to contact the barnmorskemottagning. Call as soon as you know you are pregnant.
• Mixing up leave and benefit. Leave is the right to stay home, föräldrapenning is the money.
• Thinking the 90 reserved days can be transferred. They cannot.
• Forgetting the 30-day limit for VAB.
• Assuming the 2027 rule hits those already here. If you settled before 1 January 2027 the old rules apply, but check your own situation.
• Not registering the birth in Italy if you are an Italian citizen: AIRE comes first.
• Treating Stockholm's fees as if they applied everywhere. Healthcare fees depend on the region.