Parental Leave and Benefits in Estonia (Vanemahüvitis)

Parental benefits are paid by the Social Insurance Board (Sotsiaalkindlustusamet) under the Family Benefits Act. Per child, a family gets up to 605 calendar days of benefit until the child turns three: the mother's, the father's and the shared parental benefit. The benefit replaces income, based on your income subject to social tax in a 12-month period ending nine months before the birth. In 2026 it is at least €886 a month with no such income, or €946 (the minimum wage, since 1 April 2026) if your income was at or below the minimum wage, and at most €3,806.10 a month (€4,038.10 from 2027). Amounts are gross and taxed, paid on the 8th for the previous month. The benefits are residence-based; offers appear in the Board's self-service portal.

Mother's benefit and maternity leave (ema vanemahüvitis, emapuhkus)

• Employed mother: up to 100 calendar days, from 70 days before the expected birth date; the offer arrives 80 days before it. Starting 31–69 days before adds the unused days (up to 39) to the shared benefit. Starting 30 days or less before loses them.
• Mother without a job: 30 days from the birth; the shared benefit is then 515 days.
• No work under an employment contract meanwhile. Tell your employer at least 30 days ahead.

Father's benefit and paternity leave (isa vanemahüvitis, isapuhkus)

30 calendar days for the father, or the other parent who is not the mother, working or not. Use them from 30 days before the due date until the child turns three, in one block or as separate days; the employer may refuse parts shorter than seven days. The days cannot be transferred, and a father must use or waive them before he can receive the shared benefit.

Shared parental benefit and parental leave (jagatav vanemahüvitis, vanemapuhkus)

• 475 days (up to 514 if the mother started maternity leave later), or 515 if the mother was not employed. Usable from the child's 31st day until age three, in one block or day by day.
• Parents decide who receives it and can switch from the next month. You may work and earn meanwhile.
• Both parents can receive benefits at the same time for at most 60 days in total; taking the shared benefit together shortens it.
• An employee can take parental leave until the child turns three, with 30 days' notice; the benefit replaces the pay. The recipient has state health and pension insurance.

Child leave (lapsepuhkus)

Each employed parent gets 10 working days of paid child leave per child, until the end of the year the child turns 14, at most 30 calendar days a year. In 2026 it pays €45.05–€63.44 a day, but not on days you receive parental benefit.

Common pitfalls for newcomers

• Start maternity leave at least 31 days before the due date, or the family loses benefit days.
• A father's 30 days expire when the child turns three.
• Self-employed mothers and those on service contracts get no automatic offer: contact the Board.
• On a temporary residence permit, benefits stop when it expires; apply again after extension.

Official guidance: Maternity benefit, Paternity benefit, Shared parental benefit, Child leave, Benefit rates, Employment Contracts Act (Estonian)