Leaves and days off

All workdays, weekends, holidays and leaves with the exception of HSL-leave are counted as days carrying out the service. If you’re unlawfully absent from work, that day will not be counted.

Types of leave:

Personal leave (HL-leave) – 18 days   

The personal leave days are to be held somewhat evenly over the duration of the non-military service. The wishes of the serviceman are to be taken into consideration when granting personal leave. No reason is required.

Leave for personal reasons (HSL-leave) – up to 180 days

The non-military location can grant up to 180 days of leave for pressing personal reasons,  for example financial issues. Essentially this freezes the non-military service, as these leave days are not counted as part of the service, and no daily allowance is paid out. If more than 14 consecutive days of leave is granted KELA will automatically be notified, and conscripts social assistance will be revoked.

Leave for exceptional performance (KL-leave) – up to 20 days

Those servicemen that have shown exceptional performance and dedication can, at the behest of the service location, be granted leave for exceptional performance.

Paternity leave – 12 days

In case a child is born to the serviceman during the non-military service 12 days of paternity leave are granted. The paternity leave is counted as part of the non-military service, and the daily allowance is paid. On top of this, it’s possible for the serviceman to apply for extra monetary support from KELA.

Sick leave

The service location grants sick leave provided a medical certificate by a doctor or nurse is presented. In case the serviceman is ill for over two weeks, be it consecutively or as a result of multiple shorter sick leaves, the service location may order him to be re-examined by a doctor to determine whether he is still fit for service. If the serviceman falls ill during some other type of leave, leave for personal reasons (HSL) notwithstanding, the sick leave takes priority and he can use his leave day(s) at another point in time.

All time outside of the 36-40h/week of work is free time for the serviceman, to be spent as he pleases.

Non-military servicemen are entitled during their non-military service for paid for leaves within Finland without limit.

Those servicemen from other Nordic countries are entitled for four paid for leaves to their home municipality in their home country, additionally they are entitled for paid for leaves within Finland without limit with the same grounds as those living in Finland.

Those servicemen living elsewhere in Europe are entitled for three paid for leaves to their home municipality abroad, additionally they are entitled for paid for leaves within Finland without limit with the same grounds as those living in Finland.

Those servicemen living outside Europe are entitled for two paid for leaves to their home municipality abroad, additionally they are entitled for paid for leaves within Finland without limit with the same grounds as those living in Finland.

Living outside of Finland means being marked as Finnish absentee population. Permanent residence abroad must be proven with sufficient statements (for example: residence certificate, consulate certificate, population extract, work permit certificate etc.)

If you might be in Finland for at least a year the magistrate’s directions would count it as a temporary migration, but with the primary reason of coming to Finland to complete your conscription and are not intending to stay permanently. If you enroll to permanently live in Finland, you will lose your rights for paid for leaves to your previous country of origin.

The service location is to pay for the trips for those servicemen living abroad, after which the service location can receive reimbursement from the non-military service center.

The paid for leaves must be done considering the circumstances in the way that is cheapest for the government.

A paid for leave can only be given if the serviceman’s free time or holiday surpasses 24h in length.