Before the due date

Fathers or co-mothers are not entitled to parental benefits before the baby is due.

After childbirth (children born on 1 January 2021 or later)

After the birth of the child, parents are entitled to stay at home with the child for up to 52 weeks altogether. They can claim parental allowance for 52 of those weeks. Of those weeks, 14 are reserved for the mother, 4 for the father (or co-mother after 1 January 2022) and the remaining 34 weeks the parents can divide between them.

The weeks that the parents can share, can only be used after the first 14 weeks following birth and can only be used by one parent at the time. However, there is nothing that prevents the parent, who is not on leave, from taking a holiday at the same time.

The parental allowance must be claimed within 52 weeks of childbirth

Before the due date

Fathers or co-mothers are not entitled to parental benefits before the baby is due.

After childbirth (children born on 1 January 2021 or later)

After childbirth, parents are entitled to stay at home for up to 56 weeks altogether. Parents of multiple newborns (e.g. twins) can claim parental allowance for 56 of those weeks. Of those weeks, 14 are reserved for the mother, 4 for the father (or co-mother after 1 January 2022) and the remaining 38 weeks the parents can divide between them.

The weeks that the parents can share, can only be used after the first 14 weeks following birth and can only be used by one parent at the time. However, there is nothing that prevents the parent, who is not on leave, from taking a holiday at the same time.

The parental allowance must be claimed within 56 weeks of childbirth

Children born on 1 January 2021 or later

Parents of premature babies are eligible to parental leave and pay for 60 weeks altogether. Of those weeks, 14 are reserved for the mother, 4 for the father (or co-mother after 1 January 2022) and the remaining 42 weeks they can divide between them.

The 42 weeks that the parents can share, can only be used after the first 14 weeks following birth and can only be used by one parent at the time. However, there is nothing that prevents the parent, who is not on leave, from taking a holiday at the same time.

The parental allowance must be claimed within 60 weeks of childbirth.

If your baby is stillborn, you are still entitled to your paternity rights, on the condition that a doctor has registered the childbirth.

However, only the mother can claim the weeks following the 14th week after childbirth. If the baby dies in these weeks, your paternity leave will end if you have already spent the four weeks reserved for the father or co-mother.

If the mother of the child dies, or a doctor's certificate confirms that she is too ill to care for the child, the father or co-mother is entitled to the 14 weeks otherwise reserved for the mother.

Before placement

Adoptive parents are entitled to parental benefits for up to four weeks prior to the date of placement (when the child starts living with them), on the condition that they travel abroad to bring the child back with them.

After placement

Adoptive parents are entitled to parental leave for 56 weeks altogether, after the date of placement. They are entitled to parental allowance for 52 of those weeks. Four of these weeks can be taken by both parents simultaneously.

The parental allowance must be claimed within 56 weeks of the date of placement.

As a single parent, you are entitled to all the parental leave and pay yourself, including the weeks otherwise reserved for the mother, if she has not spent them. In regard to parental leave, you are considered to be alone with the child, if the mother is absent.