Am I allowed to take parental leave in Denmark?
Yes — parents together have about 52 weeks of leave with benefit. The mother has a right to 4 weeks before birth and 2 weeks immediately after. After birth, each parent has 24 weeks with parental-leave benefit. Of the 24 weeks, 11 are earmarked to each parent and cannot be transferred, while the remaining 13 can go to the other. That is the trap: the 52 weeks are not freely shared, and earmarked weeks not used in time simply lapse — they can neither be transferred nor saved. The rules apply to children born from 2 August 2022. The maximum rate is 5,085 kr a week in 2026 — a ceiling, not your salary. Many get full pay for part of the leave, but that comes from a collective agreement, not from the law.
📋 The rules
- Together about 52 weeks of leave with benefit
- The mother: 4 weeks before and 2 weeks after birth
- After birth: 24 weeks for each parent
- 11 weeks are earmarked and cannot be transferred
- Max rate: 5,085 kr a week in 2026
🔓 Exceptions
- Single parents can use or transfer the other parent's earmarked weeks
- The self-employed and students have their own, more flexible rules
- Children born before 2 August 2022 follow the old rules without earmarking
⚠️ Penalties & fines
There is no fine here, but there is a cost. Earmarked weeks not used in time lapse and can neither be transferred to the other parent nor saved for later — up to 11 weeks of benefit can be lost, and at a maximum rate of 5,085 kr a week that is real money. The trap is planning around "we will just split the 52 weeks": the 13 weeks can move between you, the 11 earmarked ones cannot. If you are counting on full pay during the leave, that comes from a collective agreement and not from the law — without one you get only the benefit, up to the rate.
📎 Official sources
❓ Frequently asked
How much parental leave do I get?
Parents together have about 52 weeks of leave with benefit. The mother has a right to 4 weeks before the birth and 2 weeks immediately after, and after the birth each parent has 24 weeks with the benefit.
What is earmarked leave?
11 of each parent's 24 weeks are earmarked and cannot be transferred to the other. The remaining 13 weeks can be transferred, so only part of the leave is yours to share freely — and unused earmarked weeks lapse.
How high is the parental-leave benefit rate?
The maximum rate is 5,085 kr a week in 2026, the same as sickness benefit. It is a ceiling and not your salary — full pay during leave comes from a collective agreement, and without one the rate is all you get.
Do the rules apply to all children?
The earmarking rules apply to children born from 2 August 2022. Children born before that date follow the old rules without earmarking, so the birth date decides how you are able to split the weeks.
What happens if I do not use the earmarked weeks?
They lapse and can neither be transferred to the other parent nor saved for later. Up to 11 weeks of benefit can be lost — single parents, though, can use or transfer the other parent's earmarked weeks.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “how much parental leave denmark”
- “parental leave 24 weeks each”
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- “parental benefit 5085 kr”
- “parental leave born 2022”
- “transfer parental leave”