Can I take paternity leave when my child is born?
Yes: the father is entitled to paid paternity leave when the child is born. Under Law 210/1999, paternity leave is 10 working days, granted in the first 8 weeks after the child's birth. If the father has completed a childcare course and holds the certificate, the duration increases (extra childcare leave), reaching up to 15 days. The allowance for paternity leave is paid from the employer's wage fund and equals the salary for the period — so the leave is fully paid. The employer must approve the paternity leave request, and during the leave is forbidden to end the employment relationship on its own initiative. In short: yes, as a father you're entitled to at least 10 paid days off, with the possibility of reaching 15.
📋 The rules
- 10 working days in the first 8 weeks after the birth
- With a childcare-course certificate: up to 15 days
- Allowance from the wage fund, equal to the salary
- Fully paid leave
- The employer must approve the request
🔓 Exceptions
- Extra days: conditioned on the childcare course
- Request and documents: filed with the employer for approval
- Childcare leave: a separate, longer right
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Paternity leave is the father's right, and the employer must approve it — an unjustified refusal or non-payment of the allowance can be reported to the Labour Inspectorate. During paternity leave, the employer is forbidden to end the father's employment on its own initiative. To exercise your right: file the paternity leave request with the employer, with the child's birth certificate (and the childcare-course certificate, if you want the extra days), in the first 8 weeks after the birth. The leave is fully paid, at salary level. Note the difference from childcare leave, which is a separate, much longer right and can be taken by either parent.
📎 Official sources
❓ Frequently asked
How many paternity leave days do I get?
Paternity leave is 10 working days, granted in the first 8 weeks after the child's birth. If you've completed a childcare course and hold the certificate, the duration rises, reaching up to 15 days off. The leave is fully paid, at your salary level.
Is paternity leave paid?
Yes, fully. The paternity leave allowance is paid from the employer's wage fund and equals the salary for the period. So during the 10 (or up to 15) working days of paternity leave, you receive the same income as when working.
Can the employer refuse my paternity leave?
No. The employer must approve the paternity leave request. Moreover, during paternity leave it's forbidden to end the father's employment on its own initiative. An unjustified refusal or non-payment of the allowance can be reported to the Labour Inspectorate.
How do I get the extra days?
If the father completes a childcare course and obtains the certificate, the paternity leave is extended with additional childcare days, reaching up to 15 days. These days can be requested for each child, provided the course is repeated and a new certificate obtained for each situation.
What's the difference from childcare leave?
Paternity leave is 10 (up to 15) working days, at the child's birth, paid at salary level. Childcare leave is a separate, much longer right (up to 2 years), with an allowance calculated from prior income, and can be taken by either parent.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “paternity leave 10 days 2026”
- “paternity leave paid salary”
- “childcare course leave 15 days”
- “employer duty paternity leave”
- “law 210/1999 paternity leave”
- “father leave child birth”