Worthwhile to apply for school transport subsidy in OmaKela before school starts – apply online to speed up the process

Students in upper secondary education can receive school transport subsidy from Kela. Upper secondary education includes students of upper secondary schools and institutes of vocational education, for example. School transport subsidy can be granted if you have a long commute to school and you need school transport at least 10 days per month.

Students can use the school transport subsidy calculator (in Finnish or Swedish) to find out if they are eligible for the subsidy and what the amount would be.

You must submit a separate application for school transport subsidy for each academic year. It is a good idea to submit your application before school starts so that you can buy Kela-subsidised travel tickets when you need them.

If your commute to school changes in any way during the academic year, you must report the changes in OmaKela.

For many young people, school transport subsidy is the first Kela benefit that they apply for themselves

It is easy to apply for school transport subsidy in the OmaKela e-service. Students can apply for the school transport subsidy themselves in OmaKela if they have online banking codes or a mobile certificate. Online banking codes are available from the bank where the student is a customer and a mobile certificate is available from the student’s mobile operator. The student will also need these means of identification when using OmaKela later on, for instance in applying for financial aid for students.

Students who use public transport for their commute to school may receive the right to purchase a ticket with school transport subsidy immediately upon sending an application. In such a case, the student can immediately buy subsidised tickets, for instance from a ticket vendor’s online store.

If there is no public transport or school transport available, school transport subsidy may be granted for the use of the student’s car. In that case, Kela must process the application before granting the subsidy.

Information on the right to purchase subsidised tickets, the status of the application and the amount of school transport subsidy is available in OmaKela. Once Kela has processed the application, the student will receive a separate decision through OmaKela. The decision will also be sent by post unless the student has chosen to give up paper mail. Students can give up paper documents in OmaKela at the same time as they submit their application for school transport subsidy.

Young people can practise making an application together with their guardian

If a student is under the age of 18 and cannot apply for school transport subsidy themselves in OmaKela, the student’s guardian can apply for the subsidy on behalf of the student. This is also a good opportunity to show a young student how to use OmaKela. Even if the guardian applies for the subsidy on the student’s behalf, the right to purchase tickets will still be granted to the student.

It is still also possible to apply for school transport subsidy on form KM 1e. However, if you apply using the form, the student will not receive the right to purchase subsidised tickets until Kela has processed the application.

Additional information for customers

• How to apply for school transport subsidy
• Report changes in your travel to school
• Kela on Instagram