Leave in Lithuania

Holiday Leave in Lithuania

Employees working 5 days a week are entitled to 20 working days off, and employees working 6 days a week are entitled to 24 working days off. After six months of employment, the employee has a right to use the full number of annual leave days.

Employees in the following categories are entitled to 25 working days off (30 days if they work 6 days a week):

• Underage employees
• Single parents raising a child younger than 14 (or 18 if disabled)
• Disabled employees

Employees whose work involves greater nervous, emotional, or mental tension and occupational risk, as well as those who have specific working conditions, get up to 41 working days off (those working 5 days a week) or up to 50 working days off (those working 6 days a week). A list of such occupations is approved by the government.

After ten years of continuous employment, employees are entitled to three more working days off. Every five years of employment thereafter provide employees with one additional working day off.

At least one portion of annual leave should be taken as 10 working days (14 for those working 6 days a week). Employees taking annual leave should be paid no later than on the last working day before the beginning of leave unless agreed otherwise.

Time off can be carried forward to the next year, but it cannot be exchanged for remuneration. Also, annual leave cannot be accrued for more than three years.

Public holidays

There are 14 national holidays in Lithuania. On the eve of national holidays, the working hours are reduced by one hour. If an employee works during a national holiday, they are entitled to double pay or an extra time added to annual holidays. Holidays falling on the weekend are not moved to the next working day.

• A paid day off on the day of the Public Holiday
• A paid day off, offered within a month of the Public Holiday
• An additional day of annual leave
• An extra days' pay

Lithuania Public Holiday Calendar 2024

Other Types of Leave in Lithuania

Sick leave

Employees are entitled to paid sick leave in Lithuania. Employers are responsible for the payment for the first two days of illness, at a rate not lower than 62.06% of the employee’s average wage. Often companies pay the employee’s full salary. From the third day onward, the social security authorities (SODRA) take over and pay 62.06% of the employee’s average salary, currently capped at €89,01 daily. The paid sick leave duration depends on why the employee requires sick leave (e.g., whether it is a trauma, disease, tissue or organ donation, taking care of a sick family member, etc.).

If the employee is taking time off to care for a sick family member or child, the sick pay by SODRA is increased to 65.94% of the employee’s salary and starts from the first day. If the employee takes sick leave due to an organ or tissue donation, SODRA pays 77.58% of the employee’s salary.

Employees must have made social security contributions for at least 3 months in the previous 12 months, or 6 months in the previous 24 months to be entitled to the sick pay by SODRA.

Maternity leave

Employees are entitled to 18 weeks (126 days) of paid maternity leave by SODRA, paid at a rate of 77.58% of the employee’s average salary (€240 minimum) after one year of employment. Maternity leave is to be taken 70 days before the birth of the child and for 56 days after. Maternity leave is increased by 14 days in case of multiple or complicated childbirths. The maternity leave allowance is paid all at once for the entire 18 weeks of leave.

Employees are protected from being terminated without cause until their child turns three years of old.

Paternity leave

Fathers are entitled to 30 days of paid paternity leave following the birth of a child, which must be used before the child turns one year old. The leave can be taken all to once or split in two parts. SODRA pays the paternity leave at 77.58% of the employee’s average salary (currently, €240 minimum and €2,336.56 maximum). Fathers of adoptive children are entitled to paternity leave, which should be taken within three months after the court decides to allow the adoption.

To receive the paternity leave allowance, employees must have made social security contributions for at least 12 out of the 24 months preceding paternity leave. In addition, a partner not giving birth in a same-sex couple is not eligible to this leave.

Parental leave

Parents, adoptive parents, grandparents, and guardians are entitled to parental leave until the child turns three years of age, which can be shared between parents. This is the only leave adoptive parents get, as the social security legislation does not envisage separate adoption leave. 

Parental leave kicks in at the end of maternity leave, continues until the child turns one, and is paid at 77.58% of the employee’s salary. As of 2023, two of the months of parental leave are non-transferable between parents. Parental leave can also be extended until the child turns two, at a pay rate of 54.31% for the first year and 31.02% for the second year. The third year is unpaid leave. Parental leave is paid by SODRA. The partner of the birth mother in a same-sex couple is not eligible for parental leave. In the case of adoption, the maximum duration of parental leave is two years.

Additional time off

Employees are entitled to additional paid time off monthly in the following situations (days off are not accrued monthly):

• Raising a disabled child under the age of 18: one day
• Raising two children under the age of 12: one day
• Raising three or more children under the age of 12: two days

Bereavement leave

Upon the death of a family member, employees in Lithuania are entitled to five calendar days of unpaid leave.

Education leave

Employees pursuing a formal education are entitled to time off to study, according to each situation, as follows:

• Preparing for and taking regular exams: 3 calendar days for each exam
• Preparing for and doing tests: 2 calendar days for each test
• Laboratory work and consultation: number of days as prescribed for in training plans and schedules
• Writing of a thesis or doctoral dissertation or an art project completion and defence: 30 calendar days
• Preparing and taking final exams: 6 calendar days for each exam

Employees pursuing a non-formal education are entitled to study leave of five days per year.

After five years of employment, employees are entitled to up to ten days of education leave per year for formal and non-formal education (in case, it is related to employee’s profession).

Creative leave

Employees are entitled to up to 12 months of creative leave to pursue creative or scientific endeavours. Remuneration (if any) and other provisions are up to the employment parties to decide.

Unpaid leave

Employees are entitled to unpaid time off in the following circumstances:

• Getting married: 3 calendar days
• Attending a funeral of a family member: 5 calendar days
• Caring for a sick family member: as long as stipulated by the doctor
• Upon request and consent of the employer: 1 or more days
• Raising a child under the age of 14: 14 calendar days
• Raising a disabled child under the age of 18 or being a disabled worker or a worker taking care of a person who is in need of constant care: 30 calendar days
• During a woman’s maternity leave or parental leave, upon request of the father (or in case parental leave is taken by the father, upon request of the mother): up to three months