Estonian employees only ‐ additional child leave - codemagic-ci-cd/company-handbook GitHub Wiki

Reviewed by: Martin Remmelgas 12 Dec 2025

Estonian employees are entitled to additional childcare leave in addition to Maternity/Paternity leave. https://www.riigiteataja.ee/akt/123122024006

💡The idea of child leave is that you will forego a significant part of your salary to benefit from additional vacation days that are allowed to you by the government.

More or less similar to unpaid leave (forego significant parts of your salary)

(according to Estonia law- for employment contract employees)

Child leave is a state-guaranteed opportunity to spend more time with children.

Child leave is granted to both employed parents separately and on a per-child basis: each parent will be entitled to a total of 10 days of parental leave per each child aged 14 and under.

Child leave can be planned no earlier than 2 month in advance. The leave compensation will be paid out on the 8th date of the following month, after the leave.

You can plan child leave only for your actual working days.

Compensation amount depends on the amount of social tax paid in the reference period. State has determined that the minimum amount is 42,36 euros per day (in force since 01.01.2025) and the maximum amount is 87,75 euros per day (in force since 01.01.2025). Compensation is taxable with income tax, and payout is on the 8th of a given month for the previous period.

How to apply for child leave days?

Child leave should be planned similar to any other leave in our company handbook - https://github.com/codemagic-ci-cd/company-handbook/wiki/Paid-time-off-and-sick-leave

Child leave can be planned in [the self-service portal of the Social Insurance Board](https://iseteenindus.sotsiaalkindlustusamet.ee/dashboard/portal/login?url=%2Fdashboard%2Fportal) under „My allowances and services“.

When is it possible to start planning child leave?

Leave can be planned up to two months in advance. Leave cannot be planned retrospectively – the earliest the leave can be used is the day on which it is planned. This means that the earliest the employee can take their leave is on the same day they the planned it. For instance, this would apply when a parent wishes to take their leave on 2 May and they submit an application for it in our self-service portal on the same date.

A parent cannot use more than 30 calendar days of child leave in a calendar year, even if they may be entitled to receive more than 30 days of child leave.

What is the amount of child leave benefit and how is it calculated?

Child leave benefit is linked to parental benefit. The amount of child leave benefit is 50% of the 12-month average income subject to social tax calculated from three calendar months preceding the date of taking child leave (i.e., three months will be counted back from taking the leave and the preceding 12 months will be taken into account for the calculation of the benefit). The income received during this period is added together, on the basis of which the daily rate is calculated. In the case of child leave, the income received is divided by 30 and 50% of the resulting sum will make up the amount of child leave.

Example of calculation: Mati’s average income subject to social tax is 2000 euros gross per month. He wants to use one day of child leave. His daily rate is calculated as follows:

1. 2000 euros gross / 30 days = 66.66 euros per day
2. 50% of the daily rate is taken, so the child leave daily rate for Mati is 33.33 euros per day.

Since in 2025 the minimum daily rate for child leave is 42.36 euros and this is higher than the amount calculated for Mati (33.33 euros), he will receive compensation at the minimum rate allowed by law, i.e., 42.36 euros gross.

If your average income subject to social tax is less than or equal to 2541.60 euros gross per month, you will receive child leave pay at the minimum rate – 42.36 euros gross per day.

The maximum rate of child leave pay is linked to the maximum rate of parental benefit. In 2025, the maximum daily rate of child leave is  87,75 euros (5265,09/30 calendar days)