Does a father get paid leave after the birth?
Yes — two weeks, and you can take them even while the mother is on maternity benefit. A father may take 2 weeks of paternity benefit in the period up to 6 weeks after the birth. The key point is that the two do not cancel out: you are entitled even when the mother is simultaneously drawing maternity benefit or the parental allowance for the same child — this is not a split of one benefit but a separate entitlement of the father. While on paternity leave you receive 75% of your assessment base. For 14 days that comes to a maximum of €1,052.24 from January 2026. This leave is separate from later parental leave and does not reduce it.
📋 The rules
- Paternity: 2 weeks within 6 weeks of the birth
- It applies alongside the mother's maternity or parental benefit
- The rate: 75% of the assessment base
- For 14 days, a maximum of €1,052.24 (from 1 Jan 2026)
- It is a separate entitlement, not a split of the mother's benefit
🔓 Exceptions
- Paternity leave is separate from parental leave and does not reduce it
- The entitlement depends on the father's sickness insurance
- On certain conditions a father can also draw maternity benefit instead of the mother
⚠️ Penalties & fines
There is no penalty here, but there is a forfeited entitlement — and that is a loss you inflict on yourself. Paternity leave must be taken within 6 weeks of the birth; after that the right lapses and does not carry over. The commonest error is assuming that paternity benefit and the mother's maternity benefit are mutually exclusive — they are not. It is a separate entitlement of the father, and the mother can draw maternity benefit or the parental allowance at the same time. The second error: thinking it eats into later parental leave. It does not — they are two separate things. Entitlement does depend on the father's sickness insurance, so check that in advance.
📎 Official sources
- Social Insurance Agency · Paternity benefit →
- Slov-Lex · Social Insurance Act (461/2003) →
- Ministry of Labour · Benefits for parents →
❓ Frequently asked
How much leave does a father get?
Two weeks of paternity benefit, which must be taken within six weeks of the birth. After that period the entitlement lapses and cannot be carried over to a later date.
Can I take it while the mother is on maternity benefit?
Yes. You are entitled to paternity benefit even where the mother is simultaneously drawing maternity benefit or the parental allowance for the same child. It is a separate entitlement, not a split of one benefit.
How much will I get?
Seventy-five per cent of your assessment base. For fourteen days that comes to a maximum of €1,052.24 from January 2026. The benefit is paid by the social insurance agency.
Does it shorten my parental leave?
No. Paternity leave is separate from later parental leave and does not reduce it in any way. They are two distinct entitlements that do not affect each other.
Do I have to be insured?
Yes, entitlement to paternity benefit depends on the father's sickness insurance. Check the conditions in advance, ideally before the birth, so that you do not lose the benefit.
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