Childcare leave

According to the Labour Code of the Republic of Lithuania, adoptive parents are entitled to:

• Parental leave (Article133(2))

Adoptive parents are granted 30 calendar days of uninterrupted parental leave within three months from the date of entry into force of the decision on the adoption (or, in the case of an emergency, within three months from the date on which the decision is enforced). In the case of adoptions of two or more children, this leave is granted within six months from the date of entry into force of the court’s decision on the adoption (or, in the case of an emergency, within six months from the date on which the decision is enforced). This leave is not granted in the case of the adoption of a spouse's child or where the adoptive parent has already been granted parental leave for the same child. During this leave, the benefit provided for in the Law on Sickness and Maternity Social Insurance of the Republic of Lithuania is paid.

• Childcare leave (Article 134)

According to the family's choice, the parent or adoptive parent is granted childcare leave until the child reaches the age of three. The leave can be taken all at once or in parts. Adoptive parents entitled to this leave may take it interchangeably.

Within one month from the date of entry into force of the decision on the adoption (or, in the case of urgent enforcement, within one month from the date on which the decision is enforced), the adoptive mother or adoptive father, at the choice of the family, shall be granted, unless the spouse’s child has been adopted, or the adoptive mother/father has already been granted a leave for the care of the same child of twenty-four months. Parents can choose which form of leave they want. Adoptive parents entitled to this leave may take it interchangeably.

IMPORTANT! Adoptive parents wishing to take parental leave must apply to “SODRA” within one month from the date of entry into force of the court’s decision on the adoption (in the case of urgent enforcement, within one month from the beginning of the enforcement of the decision).

Those who do not apply for this right within one month will not be granted childcare leave (and will consequently lose their right to childcare benefit). Once parental leave has been granted to the company or the adoptive parent, adoptive parents can apply for childcare benefit later.