170 Childcare Institutions Face Expiring Permits
The Social Insurance Board urges families with children needing high-level care to check early whether their provider has a valid permit from September 1, 2026.
The Social Insurance Board (SIB) is calling on families raising children with high care and support needs to check in advance with their childcare provider whether the institution holds a valid operating permit as of September 1, 2026.
“We want to avoid a situation where a family only finds out in early autumn that the institution their child attended can no longer continue. There is still time to arrange all necessary documents. We ask parents to check early whether the permit issue has been resolved,” said Kersti Kask, head of the supervision department.
Since September 1, 2025, the former childcare service has been split into two parts. Regular childcare became part of the preschool education system. The service for children requiring more care, supervision, or support remained as a social service.
Children up to age 18 can use it, and an officially established disability is not a mandatory condition. The need and scope of the service are determined by the local government together with parents and the service provider.
By December 1, 2025, service providers had to notify whether they planned to continue providing childcare for children with high care needs. Many did so in time.
However, organizations that did not report their decision can continue operating under their current license only until August 31, 2026. After that, a new permit will be required, and applications can be submitted until July 10.
170 institutions have not yet reported their future plans. Therefore, it is still unknown whether they intend to continue, have already ceased operations, or did not receive the notification due to incorrect contact information.
What can parents do?
Check with the institution your child attends whether it has a valid operating permit from September 1, 2026, or whether the process to obtain a new one has begun.
If you do not get a clear answer, contact a social protection or child protection specialist in your local government. The municipality will help find a solution so that the necessary support for the child is not interrupted.
