How to apply for the right to interpreter service and book an interpreter for travel abroad

1. Complete and print out the form Vammaisen henkilön tulkkauspalvelu ulkomaanmatkalle TU 3 (PDF, in Finnish). The application is at the same time a booking of an interpreter.
2. If your trip abroad lasts more than two weeks, enclose a seminar programme, study plan or other document showing why you need interpretation for more than two weeks.

3. Use the same application form to provide the following necessary information:

   • country of destination and purpose of the trip (leisure/studies/work)

     duration of your trip and your departure and arrival dates

     start and end times for interpretation

     place where the interpretation assignment starts and ends

     detailed information about your trip, such as flight details

     the situations in which you will need interpretation (for example your travel itinerary)

     the number of hours of interpretation you will need on your trip

     your preferred interpreter

     whether the interpreter must know some spoken foreign language.

4. Send your application online:

   • Save the completed claim form on your device. Note that the claim must be in PDF format.
   • Log in to OmaKela. Select Tee hakemus.
   • Select Vammaisten tulkkauspalvelu and choose the benefit you are applying for.
   • Select the claim on your device and press Lähetä.
   • When you send your claim online you don’t need to sign it.
   • If you have supporting documents, send them via OmaKela after you have submitted your claim. If they are paper documents, you can photograph or scan them.
5. You can also send the application and supporting documents by mail to Kela, PL 10, 00056 KELA.

You must know beforehand in what type of situations you will need interpreter service during foreign travel so that interpreter service can be arranged. Estimate the duration of the need of interpreter service in hours. You do not have to state the exact times. You can agree on them in more detail with the interpreter at the destination.  The Centre for Interpreting Services for the Disabled will arrange interpretation based on the information you provide.

Kela needs detailed information about your trip in order to grant and arrange interpretation for you. Your application may take longer to review if it is missing relevant information. We will contact you, if we need additional information. When you file your application, check that you have enough hours of interpreter service left.

You will receive a decision letter explaining how the service will be arranged

Once your application has been reviewed, Kela will send you a decision on your right to interpreter service during travel abroad. The booking of an interpreter is processed together with the application. The decision will also describe how the service will be arranged.

Kela will tell you who your interpreter will be.

Tell the Centre for Interpreting Services for the Disabled as soon as possible if your travel plans change. This may affect the availability of interpreters or the travel costs.

Specifying the need of interpreter service closer to the trip

You can describe your need of interpretation in greater detail as your travel plans solidify. Notify us of the new, specified details on your need of interpreter service at least 1 week before the start of the trip. Your interpreter will also need to have advance information about the assignment and how long it will last in order to prepare for the trip.

Using interpreter service during foreign travel counts against the number of hours of interpretation available to you.

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