All About Employee Leave & PTO in Estonia
Learn what you need to know about leave requirements in Estonia and how Justworks EOR can help you streamline hiring.
How an EOR Can Help with Employee Leave & PTO
Considering expanding your team in Estonia? It’s important to understand the local guidelines around paid time off and employee leave. With Justworks’ global employer of record(EOR) solution, staying compliant is simple. We’ll support you in building leave policies that align with Estonian labor laws and cultural norms around time off. From navigating legal requirements to streamlining HR processes, Justworks makes hiring in Estonia easier every step of the way.
Employee Leave & PTO Expectations in Estonia
In Estonia, employees are entitled to paid annual vacation as well as 12 public holidays off per year. They can also receive paid sick leave, parental leave (including maternity, paternity, and extended parental leave), and other types of leave like study or care leave.
Vacation Leave
Employees receive 28 days of paid annual leave, excluding holidays. Employers must set a holiday schedule by March 31. Employees with at least six months of service in their first year earn leave proportionally. Leave may be split by mutual agreement, with one part being at least 14 consecutive days. Unused leave carries over but expires at the end of the following calendar year. Payment for unused leave is only granted upon termination.
Sick Leave
In Estonia, employees can receive up to 182 consecutive calendar days of paid sick leave per year for an illness (this increases to 240 days for tuberculosis cases). The sick leave payment is 70% of the employee's salary from the previous year. The employer is responsible for payment from the second through the fifth day of leave. Starting in July, employers will pay from the fourth through the eighth day. From the ninth day onward, the Health Insurance Fund will cover the payments.
Maternity Leave
Mothers get 140 calendar days (20 weeks) of pregnancy and maternity leave, paid by the state (Health Insurance Fund) at a rate of 100%. The benefit is extended only to insured women working prior to maternity leave.
Paternity Leave
Fathers are entitled to 30 calendar days of paid paternity leave which can be taken in one or multiple parts from 30 days before the expected due date until the child turns three. The leave is paid by the Social Security Board at 100% of the father's average wage, capped at three times Estonia’s average gross monthly salary.
Parental Leave
Parents in Estonia can take up to 36 months of unpaid parental leave within the first six years of a child’s life to provide care. This leave can be split between both parents, but the total combined leave can’t exceed 36 months. Parents or guardians may take leave simultaneously, and during this time leave can spread across five separate periods. For employees raising a child with a disability, the same 36-month leave is available until the child turns 18. Employees must notify their employer at least 21 days before the planned start date of the leave.
Childbirth Allowance
Estonia provides a one-time payment of €320 for a single birth. In the case of triplets or more, the allowance is increased to €1,000 per child.
Other Types of Leave
Other Types of Common Leave in Estonia include:
Childcare Leave (Paid at Minimum Wage):
Six working days per year if raising at least one child under three
Three working days per year if raising up to two children under 14
Six working days per year if raising three or more children under 14
Leave is granted in the year the child turns three or 14, regardless of birth date timing
Additional Unpaid Childcare Leave:
Up to 10 working days per year for a parent of a child under 14
Up to 10 working days per year for a parent of a disabled child under 18
Additional Paid Leave for Parents of a Disabled Child:
One paid day off per month until the child turns 18 (paid at minimum wage)
Study Leave:
Up to 30 calendar days per year.
20 calendar days are paid at the employee’s average wage (per the Adult Education Act
Public Holidays in Estonia
Employees in Estonia are entitled to 12 paid public holidays off per year:
New Year’s Day – January 1
Independence Day – February 24
Good Friday – (date varies)
Easter Sunday – (date varies)
May Day – May 1
Pentecost – (date varies)
Victory Day – June 23
Midsummer Day – June 24
Day of Restoration of Independence – August 20
Christmas Eve – December 24
Christmas Day – December 25
Boxing Day – December 26
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