The electronic application to municipal daycares and family daycare is filled out in the eVaka system. You can apply for the service voucher with the same application.

When should a place be applied for?

You can apply for a place in Early Childhood Education all year round. However, the application needs to be made at least four months before a place is needed. If a guardian suddenly is employed or receives a study place, an urgent placement time of two weeks is applied.

Choice of place in Early Childhood Education

You can apply for a place at a municipal daycare or a family daycare for your child. Alternatively, you can apply for the service voucher for a private daycare, family daycare, or group family daycare.

A benefit for private care is applied for through Kela.

Are you applying for a transfer to another Early Childhood Education unit?

If you are planning on applying for a transfer for your child to another Early Childhood Education unit as of August 2026, you can already apply now. Transfer applications for next August are being processed as of March.

Apply for a place through the eVaka system

A place in Early Childhood Education is applied for primarily through the e-service, eVaka.

When we arrange for a place, we try to take into account the wishes expressed by the guardians, but we cannot guarantee that a place fulfills the wishes, even though the application was sent in well in advance.

The Early Childhood Education Service Guidance sends out the decisions on placements and granted service vouchers primarily about one month before the need for a place begins.

You can make changes to your submitted e-application or contact the Service Guidance. If needed, the Service Guidance reaches out to the guardian during the processing phase.

Contact information for Early Childhood Education Service Guidance

The Early Childhood Education Service Guidance helps with application matters  in both municipal and private early childhood education services.