In Estonia, employees are entitled to 28 calendar days (four weeks) of paid annual leave per year under the Employment Contracts Act (Töölepingu seadus). The leave year is a calendar year.

Statutory entitlement

28 calendar days (4 weeks) of paid annual leave per year.

Eligibility

All employees are entitled to annual leave. Leave accrues from the start of employment.

Employer obligations

  • Grant 28 calendar days of paid annual leave per year.
  • Pay the employee's average earnings during annual leave.
  • Pay for unused annual leave on termination of employment.

Employee rights

  • Right to 28 calendar days of annual leave.
  • Right to be paid at average earnings during annual leave.
  • Right to paid leave payout on termination.

Common pitfalls

  • Not paying for unused leave on termination — this is a statutory requirement.

How annual leave accrues

Annual leave accrues from the start of employment at the rate of 2.33 calendar days per month (28 days / 12 months).

Frequently asked questions

Can annual leave be carried forward?

Unused annual leave can be carried forward by mutual agreement.

Sources

This page is provided for general guidance and does not constitute legal advice. Always check the cited primary source for current law before making employment decisions.