If you are considering giving birth abroad, there are many practical things to consider: where do I start, how much will it cost and what documents do I need? We have put together a list of the most important questions and their answers about giving birth abroad.

Can I give birth abroad?

Yes, you can. You can travel to EU and EEA countries, Switzerland, the UK and Northern Ireland to access local health services, including services for pregnancy monitoring and childbirth. You will receive treatment on the same terms as local residents.

• You will be responsible for the treatment costs yourself first.
• You can apply to Kela for reimbursement afterwards, in accordance with the Finnish compensation level.
• You cannot use the European Health Insurance Card because this is a case of planned treatment.
• You can apply to Kela for prior authorisation, which acts as a payment commitment.

How do I prepare for childbirth abroad?

When you plan to give birth abroad, you usually have some time to prepare. Find out at least the following:

• Travel insurance does not usually cover planned births, but it can cover sudden situations that happen during your trip. Check with your insurance company to see what pregnancy-related expenses are covered by their policies.
• Airline restrictions: if you are travelling by air, find out the airline’s rules on pregnancy and travel. Many companies have restrictions for the late stages of pregnancy.
• Treatment practices in the country of destination: availability of services and treatment practices varies from country to country. For more information, visit the country-specific pages on EU-healthcare.fi

What do I need to do if I want to give birth abroad?

If you decide to go abroad to give birth, find a place to have the baby first and then make practical arrangements with the staff there.

Contact the place of treatment directly to check:

• content of the treatment
• practices in the maternity ward
• prices and payment methods
• necessary documents
• whether the place of treatment accepts prior authorisation, if you have been granted one.

You can ask for more information from the Cross-border Healthcare Contact Point of your country of destination.

Check your medical records too.

• Provide the necessary documents for the foreign place of treatment.
• Check with the place of treatment which language the documents should be in, have them translated and pay for the translation.
• When you return, ask to take all your treatment documents with you to ensure a smooth follow-up in Finland.

Pay for the treatment and apply for reimbursement from Kela.

You can claim reimbursement for treatment if you travel to give birth in an EU or EEA country, Switzerland, the United Kingdom or Northern Ireland.

• Apply for reimbursement within six months of the treatment
• You can ask Kela to determine in advance whether you are eligible for reimbursement and what the amount of reimbursement will be. Remember to ask for prior information notice well before seeking treatment.
• You can LAO apply to Kela for prior authorisation (form S2) which acts as a payment commitment. If the authorisation is granted, your wellbeing services county will pay for the treatment, and you will only pay the local client fee. You can claim reimbursement from Kela retrospectively for trips and residence.

What if the birth takes place outside the EU?

If you travel to give birth outside the EU, you will pay all costs yourself. It is not possible to get reimbursement from Kela.

Where can I ask for advice?

If you have questions about giving birth abroad:

• The Contact Point for Cross-border Healthcare can advise you on general questions and direct you forward if necessary.
• Kela’s Centre for International Affairs advises in personal situations.

Do you need answers to these questions:

• Can I give birth in any EU country? Yes. You can plan and then travel to give birth in another EU country but you will have to pay for the treatment yourself first. Afterwards, you can apply for reimbursement from Kela. You can also apply for prior authorisation.
• Where can I find information about prior authorisation? Prior authorisation is applied from Kela. Your wellbeing services county and Kela’s Centre for International Affairs can advise you on personal issues related to applying for prior authorisation.

Be prepared – plan your trip early

Organising your birth abroad will go smoothly if you are well prepared:

• find a place of treatment
• check your insurance and any travel restrictions
• take care of your documents
• determine in advance any reimbursement

If you have any questions, the Contact Point for Cross-Border Health Care will help you.