How long is parental leave in Estonia?

In Estonia, parental leave is available to parents, step-parents, adoptive parents, and guardians. They can take up to 435 paid days of parental leave until their child turns 3 years old. Only one parent is permitted to take this type of leave at any given time. Fathers are eligible to take parental leave only after the child is at least 70 days old.

Additionally, parents are entitled to paid childcare leave each year as follows:

• 3 working days if they have two or fewer children under 14 years of age,
• 6 working days if they have at least three children under 14 years of age.

The benefit for paid childcare leave is provided by Estonia's social security system.

Furthermore, mothers or fathers raising a child up to 14 years of age are entitled to up to 10 days of unpaid childcare leave per year.

How is parental leave payment calculated in Estonia?

In Estonia, parental leave payment is made through the social security system.

How is maternity leave payment calculated in Estonia?

In Estonia, maternity leave payment is calculated based on the child’s estimated date of birth. The process involves the following steps:

• The basis for calculating the maternity benefit is the period of entitlement, which covers 9 months preceding the expected date of birth.
• The reference period includes the 12 months of taxable income (for social tax) prior to these 9 months. The sum of this taxable income is used to determine a monthly benefit rate.
• To find the mother’s daily parental benefit rate, the monthly rate is divided by 30.

The amount of the maternity benefit varies depending on the number of days in the calendar month. Therefore, the monthly maternity benefit amount is not consistent and changes based on the length of each month.

For example, if a mother’s due date is July 1, 2024:

• The reference period for calculating the maternity benefit would be from October 2022 to September 2023 (12 months).
• The period from October 2023 to June 2024 (9 months) is excluded from the calculation for the maternity benefit.

In cases where the mother has no income subject to social tax during the 12 months of the reference period, the maternity benefit is determined at the rate of the parental benefit. For 2024, this rate is EUR 725 per month, resulting in a daily rate of EUR 24.16. If the mother's income is equal to or less than the minimum wage during the reference period, the maternity benefit is paid at the minimum wage rate, which is EUR 820 per month, equating to a daily rate of EUR 27.33.

It is important to note that the maternity benefit has no maximum rate.

What is the process for applying for maternity leave in Estonia?

In Estonia, the process for applying for maternity leave involves several specific steps for both the expectant mother and the employer:

Steps for the Expectant Mother (Employee):

• Register the pregnancy with a gynecologist to obtain an estimated due date (arvestuslik sünnitähtaeg).
• Approximately 80 days before the estimated due date, the expectant mother receives a maternity benefit offer from the Social Insurance Board (SKA) via their self-service portal (sotsiaalkindlustusamet.ee).
• Log in to the SKA self-service portal to accept the benefit offer and select the start date of the maternity leave, which can begin up to 70 days before the due date.
• Inform the employer at least 30 days in advance of the chosen start date for the leave.
• Coordinate with the employer on the leave dates and any necessary work responsibilities that need to be transferred.
• Once the maternity benefit begins, the employee will receive monthly payments from the Social Insurance Board.

The employee is required to inform the employer between 70 and 30 calendar days in advance of taking maternity leave, except where both parties agree otherwise or circumstances make such notice unreasonable.

How long is the paternity leave in Estonia?

A father in Estonia can take up to 30 working days of paternity leave. This leave can be taken before the expected date of their child's birth or until the child reaches the age of 3.

What are the eligibility rules for paternity leave in Estonia?

The paternity benefit in Estonia is granted and paid after the child’s birth is registered in the population register. The eligibility rules for paternity leave are as follows:

• All employed fathers are eligible for paternity leave, including those with temporary employment agreements.
• Self-employed or unemployed fathers are not eligible.
• Same-sex partners are not eligible to use this leave.

How is paternity leave payment calculated in Estonia?

The paternity benefit in Estonia is calculated based on the child's actual date of birth. The steps to calculate the benefit are as follows:

• The nine full calendar months preceding the child’s birth are subtracted to account for the average length of pregnancy, regardless of whether the child was born premature, full-term, or post-term.
• The amount of the benefit is then determined based on the income subject to social tax over the preceding 12 calendar months, which constitutes the reference period.
• From the income of the reference period, the monthly benefit rate is calculated and then divided by 30 to find the daily parental benefit rate.

The benefit amount depends on the social tax paid on the earned income. If no income subject to social tax was earned during the reference period, the paternity benefit is determined at the minimum rate, which in 2023 is EUR 654 per month, with a daily rate of EUR 21.80.

The year in which the child is born is crucial for calculating the benefit, as the minimum rate of the father’s parental benefit depends on the calendar year of birth.

The Social Insurance Board pays the paternity benefit monthly, similar to the parental benefit. The payment is made on the 8th of the following month. If the 8th falls on a weekend or national holiday, the benefit is paid on the last working day preceding it. For instance, if the 8th is a Sunday, the benefit will be paid on the 6th, which is a Friday.

What is the process for applying for parental leave in Estonia?

In Estonia, the process for applying for parental leave involves several steps after the birth of the child and the registration of the birth in the population register:

• Notification from the Social Insurance Board: The Social Insurance Board sends parents information about the family benefits they are entitled to. This information becomes available in the self-service portal of the Social Insurance Board.

• Decision Making by Parents: Parents must decide who will receive which benefits and are given the option to notify if they do not wish to use the days of shared parental benefit consecutively.

For further details and to manage these benefits, parents should use the self-service portal provided by the Social Insurance Board.