Paternity leave & paperwork
Paternity leave, maternity leave, registering the birth and your baby's health insurance: rules by country, a to-do list and a leave request letter.
Rules: Türkiye
Last checked: September 27, 2026
For information only, not legal advice. Rules can change; confirm with official sources and your employer.
Paternity leave: 10 days
- Private sector: 10 days of paid leave when your wife gives birth (Labour Law 4857, Additional Article 2). Law 7578 (Official Gazette, 1 May 2026) raised it from 5 to 10 days.
- Civil servants: 10 days of paternity leave on request (Law 657, Article 104/B).
- Leave starts with the birth. Notify your employer with the birth document; agreeing on dates in advance helps.
- Your collective agreement or company policy may give more. Ask HR.
Mother's maternity leave: 24 weeks
- 8 weeks before and 16 weeks after birth, 24 weeks in total (since 1 May 2026). 2 extra weeks before birth for multiples.
- With a doctor's approval she can work until 2 weeks before birth; those weeks move to after the birth.
- After postnatal leave: half-time unpaid leave of 60 days for the first birth, 120 for the second, 180 for later ones (+30 days for multiples).
- She may also take up to 6 months of unpaid leave after the 24 weeks (26 for multiples).
How to plan
- Put the 10 days right after the birth and add annual leave to cover the first 2-3 weeks together.
- Tell your employer the due date 1-2 months ahead and write a handover. Babies can come early.
- Part-time right: until the child starts primary school, one parent can request part-time work (Law 4857, Art. 13), with at least 1 month's written notice. Not available if the other parent does not work.
- Civil servants can request half-time work after paternity leave until the child starts school (Law 657, Add. Art. 43).
- When her 16 weeks end: half-time, unpaid leave or part-time? Decide together, early.
Paperwork after the birth
- Civil registration: the birth must be reported within 30 days (Law 5490, Art. 15). Some hospitals register the birth and apply for the ID card before discharge (e-Tescil); the name must be chosen and both parents must be Turkish citizens.
- Otherwise go to any civil registry office (Nüfus Müdürlüğü) with the birth report and your ID. You can book on e-Devlet.
- The ID card is printed and mailed to your declared address.
- Health cover: children under 18 are covered as dependants of either parent. Even without parental cover, Turkish citizen children are covered by general health insurance (Law 5510, Art. 60). Check SGK eligibility on e-Devlet after registration.
Payments (2026 amounts, as of 27 Sep 2026)
- New Birth Support (Ministry of Family and Social Services): one-off 5,000 TL for the 1st child, 1,500 TL monthly for the 2nd, 5,000 TL monthly for the 3rd and later (until age 5). For children born on or after 1 January 2025.
- The mother normally applies (e-Devlet or the provincial directorate / social service centre). The father applies only if the mother is a foreign national, has died or lacks custody. For the 1st child, apply within 12 months.
- SGK breastfeeding allowance 2026: 1,621 TL, one-off. Paid to you if your wife is uninsured and you paid at least 120 days of short-term insurance premiums in the year before the birth. No petition needed; paid automatically.
To do
Leave request to your employer
Fill in the brackets, copy it, then email or print it.
[Company name] To the Human Resources Department My wife [Her full name] gave birth on [dd.mm.yyyy]. Under Additional Article 2 of Labour Law No. 4857, I would like to take 10 days of paid paternity leave from [start date] to [end date]. Kind regards, [Date] Name: [Your full name] Employee no. / Department: [ ] Signature: Attachment: Birth report / birth certificate
Employers in Turkey usually expect the request in Turkish. Civil servants cite "Law 657, Article 104/B".
Official sources
Rules: United States
Last checked: September 27, 2026
Rules vary by country. Check official sources in your country and with your employer.
United States: key facts
Key facts (federal)
- FMLA: up to 12 workweeks of unpaid, job-protected leave to care for a newborn within one year of birth.
- You qualify if you have worked for the employer at least 12 months and 1,250 hours, at a site with 50+ employees within 75 miles.
- There is no federal paid paternity leave. Some states and many employers offer paid leave; check your state program and HR.
- Job-based health plans offer a special enrollment window after a birth, usually short. Ask HR right after the birth to add the baby.
Steps that help anywhere
Talk to your employer
- Ask HR about your paternity or parental leave: how long, and whether it is paid.
- Share the due date early and ask which documents they need.
- Plan to add annual leave so you can spend the first weeks together.
Register the birth
- The deadline to register a birth can be short; find out whether the hospital does it or you must go.
- Note the applications needed for documents such as an ID or passport.
Baby's health insurance
- Ask how soon you must add the baby to your or your partner's health insurance.
- Look up government support such as birth or child benefits and their deadlines.
To do
Official sources
Rules: Germany
Last checked: September 27, 2026
Rules vary by country. Check official sources in your country and with your employer.
Germany: key facts
Key facts
- Parental leave (Elternzeit): up to 3 years per parent. Notify your employer in writing at least 7 weeks before.
- Parental allowance (Elterngeld): usually 65% of net income, from 300 to 1,800 euros a month. If both parents claim, up to 14 months together (2 partner months).
- The birth is registered at the Standesamt, often by the hospital. Register the baby with your health insurer.
Steps that help anywhere
Talk to your employer
- Ask HR about your paternity or parental leave: how long, and whether it is paid.
- Share the due date early and ask which documents they need.
- Plan to add annual leave so you can spend the first weeks together.
Register the birth
- The deadline to register a birth can be short; find out whether the hospital does it or you must go.
- Note the applications needed for documents such as an ID or passport.
Baby's health insurance
- Ask how soon you must add the baby to your or your partner's health insurance.
- Look up government support such as birth or child benefits and their deadlines.
To do
Official sources
Rules: France
Last checked: September 27, 2026
Rules vary by country. Check official sources in your country and with your employer.
France: key facts
Key facts
- 3 working days of birth leave, then 25 calendar days of paternity leave (32 for multiples), 4 of which must be taken right after.
- Since 1 July 2026: additional birth leave of 1 or 2 months per parent (children born from 1 January 2026), starting within 9 months. Tell your employer at least 1 month ahead.
- Declare the birth at the town hall within 5 days of delivery.
Steps that help anywhere
Talk to your employer
- Ask HR about your paternity or parental leave: how long, and whether it is paid.
- Share the due date early and ask which documents they need.
- Plan to add annual leave so you can spend the first weeks together.
Register the birth
- The deadline to register a birth can be short; find out whether the hospital does it or you must go.
- Note the applications needed for documents such as an ID or passport.
Baby's health insurance
- Ask how soon you must add the baby to your or your partner's health insurance.
- Look up government support such as birth or child benefits and their deadlines.
To do
Official sources
Rules: Spain
Last checked: September 27, 2026
Rules vary by country. Check official sources in your country and with your employer.
Spain: key facts
Key facts
- Birth leave: 19 weeks per parent (Royal Decree-law 9/2025). 17 weeks in the first 12 months, the first 6 mandatory right after birth.
- The 2 additional weeks can be used until the child turns 8; request them from the INSS.
- Apply for the benefit through Social Security; birth registration at the Civil Registry is usually started by the hospital.
Steps that help anywhere
Talk to your employer
- Ask HR about your paternity or parental leave: how long, and whether it is paid.
- Share the due date early and ask which documents they need.
- Plan to add annual leave so you can spend the first weeks together.
Register the birth
- The deadline to register a birth can be short; find out whether the hospital does it or you must go.
- Note the applications needed for documents such as an ID or passport.
Baby's health insurance
- Ask how soon you must add the baby to your or your partner's health insurance.
- Look up government support such as birth or child benefits and their deadlines.
To do
Official sources
Rules: Portugal
Last checked: September 27, 2026
Rules vary by country. Check official sources in your country and with your employer.
Portugal: key facts
Key facts
- Father's exclusive parental leave: 28 mandatory days, 7 of them consecutive right after the birth. Plus 7 optional days while the mother is on leave.
- Paid at 100% of reference pay. Apply through Segurança Social Direta.
- The birth can be registered at the maternity hospital (Nascer Cidadão).
Steps that help anywhere
Talk to your employer
- Ask HR about your paternity or parental leave: how long, and whether it is paid.
- Share the due date early and ask which documents they need.
- Plan to add annual leave so you can spend the first weeks together.
Register the birth
- The deadline to register a birth can be short; find out whether the hospital does it or you must go.
- Note the applications needed for documents such as an ID or passport.
Baby's health insurance
- Ask how soon you must add the baby to your or your partner's health insurance.
- Look up government support such as birth or child benefits and their deadlines.
To do
Official sources
Rules: Brazil
Last checked: September 27, 2026
Rules vary by country. Check official sources in your country and with your employer.
Brazil: key facts
Key facts
- In 2026 paternity leave is 5 days (20 days at Empresa Cidadã companies).
- Law 15.371/2026: leave rises to 10 days in 2027, 15 in 2028 and 20 in 2029, with paternity pay from INSS. Under the new law, give your employer 30 days' notice.
- Register the baby at the civil registry office (cartório); the first birth certificate is free.
Steps that help anywhere
Talk to your employer
- Ask HR about your paternity or parental leave: how long, and whether it is paid.
- Share the due date early and ask which documents they need.
- Plan to add annual leave so you can spend the first weeks together.
Register the birth
- The deadline to register a birth can be short; find out whether the hospital does it or you must go.
- Note the applications needed for documents such as an ID or passport.
Baby's health insurance
- Ask how soon you must add the baby to your or your partner's health insurance.
- Look up government support such as birth or child benefits and their deadlines.
To do
Official sources
Rules: Italy
Last checked: September 27, 2026
Rules vary by country. Check official sources in your country and with your employer.
Italy: key facts
Key facts
- Mandatory paternity leave: 10 working days (20 for multiple births), usable from 2 months before to 5 months after the birth. Paid at 100% by INPS.
- Maternity leave: 5 months in total before and after the birth, paid at 80% by INPS.
- Parental leave follows the mandatory leave and is partly paid. Check the current length and rates with INPS and your employer.
- The birth must be registered within 3 days at the hospital or within 10 days at the town hall (Comune).
Steps that help anywhere
Talk to your employer
- Ask HR about your paternity or parental leave: how long, and whether it is paid.
- Share the due date early and ask which documents they need.
- Plan to add annual leave so you can spend the first weeks together.
Register the birth
- The deadline to register a birth can be short; find out whether the hospital does it or you must go.
- Note the applications needed for documents such as an ID or passport.
Baby's health insurance
- Ask how soon you must add the baby to your or your partner's health insurance.
- Look up government support such as birth or child benefits and their deadlines.
To do
Official sources
Rules: Saudi Arabia
Last checked: September 27, 2026
Rules vary by country. Check official sources in your country and with your employer.
Saudi Arabia: key facts
Key facts
- Labor Law (Article 113): a worker gets 3 days of leave when his child is born. Agree the dates with your employer ahead of time.
- Maternity leave (Article 151): 12 weeks on full pay, 6 of them mandatory after the birth; the other 6 can be spread out starting up to 4 weeks before the due date, and extended by 1 unpaid month.
- These are private-sector rules; government employees fall under civil service rules. Check with your employer.
Steps that help anywhere
Talk to your employer
- Ask HR about your paternity or parental leave: how long, and whether it is paid.
- Share the due date early and ask which documents they need.
- Plan to add annual leave so you can spend the first weeks together.
Register the birth
- The deadline to register a birth can be short; find out whether the hospital does it or you must go.
- Note the applications needed for documents such as an ID or passport.
Baby's health insurance
- Ask how soon you must add the baby to your or your partner's health insurance.
- Look up government support such as birth or child benefits and their deadlines.
To do
Official sources
Rules: United Arab Emirates
Last checked: September 27, 2026
Rules vary by country. Check official sources in your country and with your employer.
United Arab Emirates: key facts
Key facts
- Private sector (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021): 5 working days of paid parental leave for the father and the mother, in one block or split, within 6 months of the birth.
- Maternity leave: 60 days, 45 on full pay and 15 on half pay, which can start up to 30 days before the due date. With pregnancy or birth complications, she can take 45 more unpaid days.
- Government employees have different rules. Request your leave from your employer early.
Steps that help anywhere
Talk to your employer
- Ask HR about your paternity or parental leave: how long, and whether it is paid.
- Share the due date early and ask which documents they need.
- Plan to add annual leave so you can spend the first weeks together.
Register the birth
- The deadline to register a birth can be short; find out whether the hospital does it or you must go.
- Note the applications needed for documents such as an ID or passport.
Baby's health insurance
- Ask how soon you must add the baby to your or your partner's health insurance.
- Look up government support such as birth or child benefits and their deadlines.
To do
Official sources
Rules: Egypt
Last checked: September 27, 2026
Rules vary by country. Check official sources in your country and with your employer.
Egypt: key facts
Key facts
- Labour Law No. 14 of 2025 (in force since 1 September 2025): a worker gets 1 day of paid emergency leave on the day his child is born, up to 3 times over his whole career.
- Maternity leave: 4 months paid, covering before and after the birth, with at least 45 days after it, up to 3 times over her career.
- At workplaces with 50 or more workers, the mother can take up to 2 years of unpaid childcare leave. Plan extra days from your annual leave with your employer.
Steps that help anywhere
Talk to your employer
- Ask HR about your paternity or parental leave: how long, and whether it is paid.
- Share the due date early and ask which documents they need.
- Plan to add annual leave so you can spend the first weeks together.
Register the birth
- The deadline to register a birth can be short; find out whether the hospital does it or you must go.
- Note the applications needed for documents such as an ID or passport.
Baby's health insurance
- Ask how soon you must add the baby to your or your partner's health insurance.
- Look up government support such as birth or child benefits and their deadlines.
To do
Official sources
General guide
Last checked: September 27, 2026
Rules vary by country. Check official sources in your country and with your employer.
Steps that help anywhere
Talk to your employer
- Ask HR about your paternity or parental leave: how long, and whether it is paid.
- Share the due date early and ask which documents they need.
- Plan to add annual leave so you can spend the first weeks together.
Register the birth
- The deadline to register a birth can be short; find out whether the hospital does it or you must go.
- Note the applications needed for documents such as an ID or passport.
Baby's health insurance
- Ask how soon you must add the baby to your or your partner's health insurance.
- Look up government support such as birth or child benefits and their deadlines.