In simple terms
Maternity capital (материнский капитал, маткапитал) is money from the state for families with children. It is not handed over in cash: the family receives a certificate, and the Social Fund of Russia (СФР, SFR) transfers the money where the family decides — for example to a bank towards a mortgage or to a kindergarten. The certificate is issued automatically after the child's birth is registered at the civil registry office (ЗАГС, ZAGS) and appears in your account on Gosuslugi (Госуслуги).
Maternity capital can be received once. The right belongs to a mother who is a Russian citizen, and in some cases to the father or the child. The programme runs until the end of 2030.
Amount in 2026
| Situation | Amount from 1 February 2026 |
|---|---|
| First child born in 2020 or later | 728,921.90 ₽ |
| Second child born in 2020 or later, if capital was already received for the first | top-up of 234,321.27 ₽ |
| Second child born in 2020 or later, if capital was not received before | 963,243.17 ₽ |
| Second child born in 2007–2019 | 728,921.90 ₽ |
The unspent balance is indexed for inflation every year on 1 February: in 2026 by 5.6%. Maternity capital is not subject to personal income tax (НДФЛ, NDFL).
What it can be spent on
- Housing: a down payment and repayment of a mortgage, buying a flat or house, building a house, reconstruction.
- Children's education: kindergarten, school with paid services, college, university, a dormitory.
- The mother's funded pension.
- A monthly payment from maternity capital — for low-income families (now largely replaced by the unified benefit).
- Goods and services for children with disabilities.
Most uses become available when the child who gave the right to the capital turns 3. A mortgage, kindergarten and some other purposes can be paid for straight away.
Example
The first child was born in 2021, and the family received a certificate for them. The money was not spent, and by February 2026 the balance had grown to 728,921.90 ₽. In 2026 a second child is born, and the SFR adds 234,321.27 ₽. Total on the certificate: 728,921.90 + 234,321.27 = 963,243.17 ₽.
The family takes a mortgage for a flat costing 6,000,000 ₽ and puts the maternity capital towards the down payment. They still need some of their own money if the bank requires a 20% down payment: 6,000,000 × 20% = 1,200,000 ₽; 1,200,000 − 963,243.17 = 236,756.83 ₽. You can estimate the loan payment in the mortgage calculator.
Common mistakes
- Not allocating shares to the children. If maternity capital went to housing, the parents must register shared ownership for themselves and all the children. Without this the transaction can later be challenged.
- Believing in cash-out schemes. It is not legal to receive maternity capital in cash (except the monthly payment). Sham transactions carry criminal liability.
- Buying unfit housing. The SFR may not approve a dilapidated or too decayed house.
- Not checking the balance. It can be seen in your SFR personal account on Gosuslugi.
In Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus
Russia
From 1 February 2026: 728,921.90 ₽ for the first child and 963,243.17 ₽ for the second if maternity capital was not received for the first; if a second child is born after the first, a top-up of 234,321.27 ₽ is paid. The programme has been extended to 2030, and the certificate is issued automatically.
Belarus
In Belarus it is family capital (семейный капитал) on the birth of a third and further child: 35,505 Br in 2026, indexed every year. The money is held on a deposit and used mainly for housing, education and treatment.
Sources: SFR: the amount of maternity capital («размер материнского капитала»), Social Fund of Russia («Социальный фонд России»)