Guidelines for granting paternity leave

What is it?

This is a 30-calendar-day leave granted exclusively to employees (fathers) after the birth of a child.

When is this leave granted?

This leave is granted at any time from the birth of a child until the child turns 1 year old.

Can this leave be split?

Yes, this leave can be split, however, no more than into two parts, but the total period of paternity leave of both parts cannot exceed 30 calendar days, as this is the maximum possible period available for this leave.

How to take this leave?

Paternity leave can only be used when an application is filled out and submitted to the Employer.

Am I entitled to any benefits?

Yes, you are entitled to the benefit, if you have accumulated at least 6-month qualifying period for paternity social insurance over the past 24 months. If you have not accumulated this period, you are not entitled to this benefit.

How much is this benefit?

A benefit amounting to 77.58 percent of your compensated earnings is paid during paternity leave. This amount is calculated based on your insured income. If you have decided to split your paternity leave into two parts with a break between them, then the title to the second part of the paternity benefit would be recalculated based on your compensated earnings.

IMPORTANT: your insured income is the income from which social insurance contributions are calculated. Therefore, it includes your salary, however, it does not include your daily allowances. If you did not work, took an unpaid leave, or were sick during the assessment period, the average insured income decreases, thus the benefits decrease accordingly.

Are any taxes deducted from this benefit?

Yes, personal income tax (15 percent) and compulsory health insurance premium (6 percent) are deducted from the calculated amount of the benefit. The amount would be transferred to your specified bank account after deducting these taxes.

Who pays the benefit?

The benefit is paid by Sodra.

How to receive the benefit?

It is necessary to fill out an application at Sodra in order to receive the benefit.

What is the term set for filing an application to Sodra?

No later than 12 months after the end of the paternity leave, or if you have split the leave: after the end of each part of the paternity leave. How to fill out an application for the benefit?

IF YOU ARE ABROAD

Method 1: online, by logging into your personal Sodra account for a resident and selecting the application for pregnancy and maternity benefit as well as the period of pregnancy and maternity leave, GPS2.

Method 2: by mail, by filling out and signing the application form physically (the application form is attached). Any application sent by mail must be accompanied by a copy of your identity document certified by a notary of any country attached to the application.

IMPORTANT: in the event that the copy of your identity document is issued abroad, this document must be certified with an Apostille certificate or legalised, except for documents issued in: Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, or Moldova2.

IF YOU ARE IN LITHUANIA

Method 1: online, by logging into your personal Sodra account for a resident and selecting the application for pregnancy and maternity benefit as well as the period of pregnancy and maternity leave, GPS2.

Method 2: by mail, by filling out and signing the application form physically (the application form is attached). Any application sent by mail must be accompanied by a copy of your identity document certified by a notary of any country attached to the application.

IMPORTANT: in the event that the copy of your identity document is issued abroad, this document must be certified with an Apostille certificate or legalised, except for documents issued in: Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, or Moldova. If the copy of the document is certified by a Lithuanian notary, the document does not need to be additionally certified with an Apostille or legalised.

Method 3: in person by coming to any Sodra department. You must register for an appointment here in advance. An employee would fill out the application for you and submit it to you for signing.

What documents should you have with you?

1. A document confirming the identity of the person (passport, personal identity card, residence permit in Lithuania).
2. Details of the account to which the benefit would be transferred.
3. If the child was born outside of Lithuania: the child’s birth certificate. If the details provided in the child’s birth certificate are insufficient to grant the benefit, a document confirming the registration of the child’s birth is required. These documents must also be certified with an Apostille certificate or legalised, as well as translated into Lithuanian and certified by a person authorised to certify translations from one language to another, except for documents issued in: Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, or Moldova.

What additional documents may be required?

1. A transcript of the order on granting the leave, if the Employer has not submitted this data to Sodra yet. You can obtain this information from the Employer or from a Sodra employee.
2. The Employer’s certificate on the calculated insured income, if you are paid additional employment-related benefits during the leave period. The Employer can submit this certificate by logging into their personal Sodra account to the insured, where the recommended certificate form is provided.

Would the benefit be reduced if I went on a paternity leave but continued to work?

Yes, any salary received during a paternity leave would reduce the benefit or stop it altogether, if the salary received equals to or exceeds the amount of the benefit received.

When will I receive the money?

The decision on the granting of the benefit is made no later than within 10 business days following the receipt of the application with all necessary documents and data by Sodra. The benefit is transferred to the account specified in the application within 5 business days following the end of the paternity leave.

(1) Documents are certified with an Apostille certificate when they are intended for use in countries that have joined the 1961 Hague Convention, and they are legalised when they are intended for use in countries that are not party to this Convention. The list countries that have joined the 1961 Hague Convention of is available on the official website of the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH): https://www.hcch.net/. There, select Section “Apostille Convention” and view the list of “Contracting Parties”. There you need to select the “Apostille Convention” section and view the list of “Contracting Parties”.