Can I take parental leave in Austria?
Yes — as a parent you have a right to leave (Karenz). Leave can be taken up to the child's 2nd birthday. If only one parent takes leave, it ends at the latest in the child's 22nd month (about 2 months are reserved for the other parent); if both alternate, it can run to the 2nd birthday. Each block must last at least 2 months. There is strong dismissal protection until 4 weeks after the leave ends. The notice deadlines matter. Child-care benefit is about €15,016 for one parent, or about €18,760 if both share. In short: yes, with dismissal protection, but keep to the notice deadlines.
📋 The rules
- Leave up to the child's 2nd birthday
- Only one parent: max. to the 22nd month
- Each leave block at least 2 months
- Dismissal protection until 4 weeks after leave ends
- Child-care benefit about €15,016 (one parent)
🔓 Exceptions
- Children born before 1 Nov 2023: older rule (always to 2nd birthday)
- Income-linked benefit: higher but shorter
- Parental part-time is a separate right with its own protection
⚠️ Penalties & fines
There's no administrative fine — this is protective labour law: a dismissal during the protection period is generally void. Missing a notice deadline can shorten or jeopardise your entitlement. Key figures: leave to the 2nd birthday (with the 22-month rule if only one parent), child-care benefit about €15,016 (one parent) or €18,760 (both, of which about €3,744 is reserved for the second parent). Beware a myth: "leave and child-care benefit are the same and last the same time" is false — leave is the employment-law time off, child-care benefit is the separate family benefit with its own duration models. Tip: plan both together and keep to the notice deadlines exactly.
📎 Official sources
- Ministry of Social Affairs · parental leave →
- Chamber of Labour · leave notice deadlines →
- oesterreich.gv.at · parental leave →
❓ Frequently asked
How long can I take leave for?
Leave can be taken up to the child's 2nd birthday. If only one parent takes leave, it ends at the latest in the 22nd month of life, because about two months are reserved for the other parent. If both alternate, the leave can run to the second birthday.
Am I protected from dismissal during leave?
Yes. From notifying the leave, strong dismissal protection applies, ending only four weeks after the end of the leave or of parental part-time. A dismissal during this period is generally void.
What notice deadlines must I keep?
If the mother takes leave first, she must tell the employer by the last day of the protection period whether and how long she will be on leave. A father taking leave first must notify within eight weeks of the birth. Missed deadlines can jeopardise the entitlement.
How much child-care benefit do I get?
The flat-rate child-care benefit is about €15,016 in total for one parent. If both parents share, it's about €18,760, of which about €3,744 is reserved for the second parent and non-transferable. There is also an income-linked variant.
Are leave and child-care benefit the same?
No. Leave is the employment-law time off from work, at most up to the second birthday. Child-care benefit is the separate family benefit with its own duration and payment models. The two must be planned together but are not legally identical.
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