Maternity and parental benefits in Croatia for employed and self-employed parents are 100 percent of the average salary from the last six months. Maternity and paternity leave have no upper limit, while parental leave pays at most 3,001.79 euros a month. Unemployed parents and parents outside the labour system receive 503.24 euros a month, and every newborn also brings a one-off allowance of 618.02 euros.
This guide is for future parents planning their leave who want to know how much money they will get and when. All amounts are based on the budget base of 441.44 euros, which has not changed since Croatia adopted the euro. The base for 2027 is set by the budget execution act, which has not been passed yet, and no amendments to the benefits law have been announced. If the base stays the same, maternity and parental benefits in 2027 will match today's amounts.
Quick Overview: Maternity and Parental Benefits 2027
| # | Right | Duration | Benefit (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Compulsory maternity leave | 98 days (28 before and 70 after birth) | 100% of the base, no cap |
| 2 | Additional maternity leave | from day 71 until the child is 6 months old | 100% of the base, no cap |
| 3 | Parental leave | 8 months (4+4), 30 months for twins and a third+ child | 100%, at most 3,001.79 EUR |
| 4 | Paternity leave | 20 working days, 30 for twins | 100% of the base, no cap |
| 5 | Unemployed and outside the labour system | until the child turns 1 (3 for twins and a third+ child) | 503.24 EUR a month |
| 6 | Minimum benefit for employees | full time | 701.89 EUR |
| 7 | One-off allowance | once, apply within 6 months | 618.02 EUR |
1. Compulsory Maternity Leave: 98 Days the Mother Must Take
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Maternity leave starts 28 days before the expected birth, or 45 days before on the gynaecologist's recommendation. Under the Act on Maternity and Parental Benefits, the compulsory part lasts 98 days in one block: 28 days before birth and 70 days after. The mother cannot transfer this part to the father or shorten it. If the baby arrives early, compulsory leave still runs until the child is 70 days old, and for a premature baby (before week 37) additional leave is extended by the number of days the baby was born early.
Maternity leave does not require a decision, and maternity and parental benefits for the mother start on the first day of leave. It begins on the gynaecologist's report of temporary incapacity for work, and HZZO, the Croatian Health Insurance Fund, pays the benefit from its own funds. The benefit is 100 percent of the benefit base, meaning the average salary paid in the six months before leave starts. There is no cap, so a mother earning 2,500 euros receives 2,500 euros.
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Start | 28 days before birth, 45 on medical advice |
| Compulsory part | 98 days in one block |
| Transfer to father | not possible |
| Benefit | 100% of the base, no cap |
| Minimum | 701.89 EUR (full time) |
| Who pays | HZZO |
Pros: full salary with no upper limit and no waiting for a decision
Cons: the compulsory part must be taken in one block, and low pay in the last six months lowers the benefit
Our opinion: If you are planning a pregnancy, watch the last six months before leave. Overtime and allowances included in your salary raise the base, while unpaid leave in that period lowers it.
2. Additional Maternity Leave and the Insurance Period Condition
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After day 70, additional maternity leave begins and lasts until the child is six months old. It pays the same as the compulsory part, 100 percent of the base with no cap. Unlike the compulsory part, the mother can transfer it to the father in full or in part with a written statement, with his consent. For a premature baby, additional leave is extended by the number of days the child was born before week 37.
The full benefit goes to a parent who was insured for six months without a break, or nine months with breaks in the last two years, before leave starts. These are the rules under the current law. The old law required 12 and 18 months, so many websites still quote the old conditions. A parent who does not meet the condition still keeps the right but receives 701.89 euros a month, which is 159 percent of the budget base.
| Situation | Monthly benefit |
|---|---|
| Salary 1,200 EUR, condition met | 1,200 EUR |
| Salary 3,400 EUR, condition met | 3,400 EUR (no cap) |
| Salary 650 EUR, condition met | 701.89 EUR (minimum) |
| Condition not met | 701.89 EUR |
| Half-time work after month 6 | 100% of the base, until the child is 9 months old |
Pros: the insurance condition is milder than under the old law, and the father can take part of the leave
Cons: anyone who started work too late gets only 701.89 euros, regardless of the new salary
Our opinion: New employees should check the dates. Six months of continuous insurance count up to the day leave starts, so a few weeks can mean full pay instead of 701.89 euros.
3. Parental Leave: Duration and the Benefit Cap
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Parental leave starts when the child is six months old and can be used until the child turns eight. For the first and second child it lasts eight months in total, four per parent. For twins, a third and every further child it lasts 30 months, 15 per parent. Each parent has two months that cannot be transferred, so if only one parent takes leave, it lasts six or 28 months. Leave can be taken at once or at most twice a year in parts of at least 30 days.
This is where the cap appears for the first time. In the first six months (one parent) or eight months (both parents) the benefit is 100 percent of the base, but at most 3,001.79 euros and at least 701.89 euros. For a first or second child this covers the whole leave. For twins and a third child, the rest of the leave pays a flat 803.42 euros a month. The money comes from the state budget and HZZO pays it out.
| Child | Total duration | If only one parent uses it | Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| First and second | 8 months (4+4) | 6 months | 100%, 701.89 to 3,001.79 EUR |
| Twins, third and further | 30 months (15+15) | 28 months | first 6 or 8 months 100%, then 803.42 EUR |
| Half-time work | double duration | double duration | 971.17 EUR (first 6 or 8 months) |
Pros: a high cap of 3,001.79 euros and flexible use until the child turns eight
Cons: for a third child the benefit drops to 803.42 euros after the first months, and parental leave that does not follow maternity leave needs 30 days' written notice to the employer
Our opinion: If the father uses his two non-transferable months, the family gets eight paid months instead of six. If he doesn't, those two months are simply lost.
4. Paternity Leave: 20 Working Days on Full Pay
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Since 1 March 2025, fathers are entitled to 20 working days of paternity leave for one child, or 30 working days for twins, triplets and more. The leave is taken in one block at any time before the child is six months old. The father has this right regardless of whether the mother works, and the leave cannot be transferred. If he doesn't use it, it is lost.
Like other maternity and parental benefits for employees, paternity pay is 100 percent of the base with no cap, with the same insurance condition as for the mother. HZZO pays it from the state budget. The father must notify the employer in writing at least 15 days before the expected birth or the start of leave. The employer does not give consent and cannot postpone paternity leave.
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Duration | 20 working days, 30 for twins and more |
| When | before the child is 6 months old, in one block |
| Benefit | 100% of the base, no cap |
| Notice to employer | in writing, 15 days ahead |
| Employer consent | not required |
Pros: full pay with no cap, and the employer can neither refuse nor postpone the leave
Cons: it must be taken in one block and expires when the child is six months old
Our opinion: Twenty working days are four weeks. They are most useful right after the birth or when the mother returns to work, so plan the leave around that.
5. Unemployed Parents and Parents Outside the Labour System
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Unemployed parents do not receive maternity and parental benefits as salary compensation, but a maternity and parental exemption from work instead. It is 503.24 euros a month, or 114 percent of the budget base, and it also counts towards the pension record. The maternity exemption runs from birth until the child is six months old, and the parental exemption until the child turns one, or three for twins, a third and every further child.
The conditions are Croatian citizenship or permanent residence, three years of continuous residence in Croatia and health insurance. The parent must have been registered with the Croatian Employment Service for nine months without a break or 12 months with breaks in the last two years. Students, pensioners and other parents outside the labour system receive the same amount as maternity and parental care for the child, but they need five years of residence. The deadlines are strict: an application within 30 days of birth gives the right from the date of birth, one filed by day 120 gives the right from the filing date, and after that the right is lost.
| Group | Amount | Key condition |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployed (HZZ register) | 503.24 EUR | 3 years of residence, 9 or 12 months registered |
| Outside the labour system (students, pensioners) | 503.24 EUR | 5 years of residence |
| Farmers not liable for income or profit tax | 503.24 EUR | insured on that basis |
| One-off allowance (everyone) | 618.02 EUR | apply within 6 months of birth |
| Application deadline | 30 days | the right is lost after 120 days |
Pros: parents without a job are covered too, and the exemption counts towards the pension record
Cons: 503.24 euros is less than the minimum wage, and missing the 120-day deadline means losing the whole right
Our opinion: For unemployed parents the biggest risk is not the amount but the deadline. Prepare the application before the birth and file it in the first 30 days, or you lose money for every day of delay.
6. Self-Employed Parents, Farmers and Half-Time Work
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Craftspeople, freelancers, holders and members of family farms insured on that basis, and farmers who pay income or profit tax have the same rights as employees. Their base is not calculated from a salary but from the contribution base in the last six months, minus contributions and tax. A self-employed parent who wants to change how they use the leave must tell HZZO 30 days in advance.
Farmers not liable for income or profit tax and parents with only other income receive the 503.24 euro exemption, like unemployed parents. All employed and self-employed parents can use additional maternity leave and parental leave as half-time work. A parent of a child with developmental disabilities, with a report from the Institute for Expert Assessment, has leave to care for the child until the age of eight at 803.42 euros a month. Adoptive parents have six months of adoption leave at 100 percent of the base.
| Situation | Amount |
|---|---|
| Self-employed, base from contributions | 100%, as for employees |
| Parental leave as half-time work | 971.17 EUR |
| Increased care for a child, half-time | 701.89 EUR |
| Care for a child with disabilities (full leave) | 803.42 EUR |
| Adoption leave | 100% of the base, 6 months |
Pros: craftspeople and freelancers have the same rights as employees, with the same cap
Cons: paying contributions on the lowest base means a low benefit, whatever your real income
Our opinion: Self-employed people planning a child should check their contribution base with their accountant. Maternity and parental benefits depend directly on it, and a low base in the six months before leave means a low benefit.
7. How and When to Apply to HZZO
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Maternity and parental support is handled by HZZO, at the regional office for the parent's place of residence. Maternity leave starts on the gynaecologist's report. For other rights, the application must be filed at least 15 days before use begins. It can be filed in person, by post or electronically with a qualified electronic signature, such as an eID card or a FINA certificate. HZZO publishes the forms for each right on its application forms page.
For parental leave that does not follow maternity leave directly, the employer must be notified in writing 30 days ahead. The employer gives written consent within eight days, and if it doesn't, HZZO grants the right with a 30-day delay. At the registry office, when the child is registered, only the one-off allowance and the child's health insurance are applied for; everything else goes directly to HZZO. Changes, such as a new job, must be reported to HZZO within eight days.
| Right | Where | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Maternity leave | gynaecologist, then HZZO | gynaecologist's report |
| Paternity leave | employer and HZZO | notice 15 days before |
| Parental leave | employer and HZZO | notice 30 days before, application 15 days before |
| Exemption (unemployed) | HZZO | within 30 days of birth (120 at the latest) |
| One-off allowance | registry office or HZZO | within 6 months of birth |
| Reporting changes | HZZO | 8 days |
Pros: most rights start with one application, and the one-off allowance can be sorted at the registry office
Cons: electronic filing needs a qualified signature, and parental leave in parts needs 30 days' notice to the employer
Our opinion: Maternity and parental benefits are most often delayed by missed notices, not by HZZO. Make a calendar in advance: the due date, 15 days for paternity leave notice and 30 days for parental leave are enough to avoid late payments.
Conclusion: Maternity and Parental Benefits in 2027
| If you are | What to do |
|---|---|
| An employed mother | check your insurance period (6 or 9 months) and salaries in the last six months |
| A father | notify your employer about paternity leave 15 days before the expected birth |
| A couple sharing parental leave | each parent should use their two non-transferable months |
| An unemployed parent | apply to HZZO within 30 days of the birth |
| Self-employed | check your contribution base before leave |
| Every parent | claim the 618.02 euro one-off allowance at the registry office |
Maternity and parental benefits in 2027 will most likely stay at current levels, because the budget base of 441.44 euros has not changed since 2023. For employees, the salary in the last six months before leave matters most; for unemployed parents, it's the 30-day deadline. Once your child is older, see how much child benefit in Croatia is and what applies to first grade enrolment, and compare with our guide to the minimum wage in Croatia 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is maternity pay in Croatia in 2027?
Employed and self-employed mothers receive 100 percent of their average salary from the last six months, with no upper limit but at least 701.89 euros. A mother without six months of continuous or nine months of interrupted insurance gets 701.89 euros. Unemployed mothers receive 503.24 euros a month.
What is the maximum parental leave benefit?
In the first six months (one parent) or eight months (both parents), the benefit is 100 percent of the base, but at most 3,001.79 euros a month. For twins, a third and every further child, the rest of the leave pays 803.42 euros a month.
How long is paternity leave?
Fathers get 20 working days for one child and 30 for twins or more. The leave is taken in one block before the child is six months old, at 100 percent of salary with no cap. The employer must be notified in writing 15 days before the expected birth.
Can both parents take parental leave?
Yes. For a first and second child, leave lasts eight months in total; for twins and a third child, 30 months. Each parent has two months that cannot be transferred. Leave can be used until the child turns eight, at once or at most twice a year.
Where do you apply for maternity and parental support?
At the HZZO regional office for your place of residence, in person, by post or electronically with a qualified signature, at least 15 days before the right starts. Unemployed parents apply within 30 days of the birth. The 618.02 euro one-off allowance can also be claimed at the registry office.
How We Researched
We took the data from the Act on Maternity and Parental Benefits (NN 152/22 and 34/25) on zakon.hr, from the websites of HZZO and the Ministry of Demography and Immigration, and from the 2026 Budget Execution Act. Birth statistics come from a Croatian Bureau of Statistics release, and benefit spending from the HZZO report for 2025. According to the Bureau, 32,479 children were born alive in Croatia in 2025, and HZZO paid 242.5 million euros in maternity leave benefits, 24.5 percent more than a year earlier. Information is current as of 16 October 2026. This guide is not legal advice; HZZO decides on your entitlement.
Sources and References
- Act on Maternity and Parental Benefits (NN 152/22, 34/25)
- HZZO - maternity and parental support
- HZZO - application and entitlement deadlines
- HZZO - application forms
- HZZO - applications through registry offices
- Ministry of Demography and Immigration - maternity and parental support
- 2026 State Budget Execution Act
- Croatian Bureau of Statistics - natural population change in 2025
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- Child Benefit in Croatia 2027: Eligibility, Amounts and How to Apply
- Minimum Wage in Croatia 2027: Gross, Net and What Changes
- Top 7 Tax Refund Tips for Croatia 2026
- First Grade Enrolment in Croatia 2027
- Student Contract in Croatia 2027
Cover photo: Anna Shvets, Pexels