Estonia's Ministry of Finance has sent for coordination draft legislative amendments to make saving in the funded pension second pillar more flexible, including cutting the waiting period to rejoin after leaving from 10 years to five and removing the requirement to withdraw all accumulated assets when taking money out before retirement age. Under the proposal, people who left after participation became voluntary in September 2021, as well as those who exited in 2022, would be able to rejoin in 2027; the ministry notes that whether contributions could restart from January 2027 or from May 2027 will depend on the legislative timetable, with a January start requiring adoption before Midsummer Day. Rejoining would mean saving continues until retirement (including cases of reduced work capacity), with the option to raise wage-based contributions to 4% or 6%. Early withdrawals would become optional in size, but a partial withdrawal would pause new contributions for five years, and the remaining assets could stay invested; the package also adds a rule that any change reducing the 4% social tax payment to the second pillar must have at least a five-year gap between adoption and entry into force. The bill is planned to enter into force on 1 July 2027, while partial withdrawals would be available from 2028 due to required IT developments.
Ministry of Finance (Estonia) 2026-01-26
Estonia's Ministry of Finance circulates draft amendments to cut second pillar re-entry wait to five years and permit partial early withdrawals
Estonia's Ministry of Finance proposes legislative amendments to increase flexibility in the funded pension second pillar, including reducing the rejoining waiting period from 10 years to five and allowing partial withdrawals before retirement age. The bill, aiming to enter into force on 1 July 2027, also proposes options to raise wage-based contributions and stipulates a five-year gap for changes reducing the 4% social tax payment to the second pillar.