The new birth leave will be officially implemented in July, but parents whose children were born on or after January 1, 2026 can still benefit from it. Here’s everything you need to know.
No more poorly compensated and asymmetrical parental leave: each parent will be able to benefit from dedicated time to welcome the child, while being better paid than before. The new birth leave allows both parents to stop working for up to two months each, in addition to the already existing maternity leave, paternity leave, and adoption leave.
New birth leave: when does it start?
The entry into force of the new birth leave will take place at 1er July 2026according to information revealed by Health Insurance. Parents of children born or adopted from this date will have a period of 9 months from the birth of the childto claim this leave. However, parents whose children were born between 1er January and June 30, 2026 will also be able to benefit from it “within a maximum period of 9 months from the 1er July 2026, i.e. until March 31, 2027. This is also valid if the child was born prematurely, before 1er January therefore, but that his date of birth was initially planned in 2026.
How long is the new birth leave?
Each parent will be able to take birth leave of up to two months. “Each parent may take the leave simultaneously or alternately with the other“. In addition, the leave can be split into two one-month periods, but must still be used within a limit of nine months after the birth of the child.
Who can benefit from the new birth leave?
Parents whose children were born on or after January 1, 2026 will be able to benefit from this new birth leave, in addition to maternity leave (16 weeks) and paternity leave (28 days). It is also accessible to all employees whether they are mothers, fathers, or adopters.
How much will be the birth leave?
The remuneration will decrease between the first and second months. So, the compensation will be 70% of the net salary for the first month, then 60% for the second. The idea is to offer more favorable compensation than that of current parental leave, which attracts little due to its low amounts (around 400 euros per month). Health Insurance specifies that birth leave will not be “cannot be combined simultaneously with CAF services additional childcare or parental leave.
Birth leave must be requested from the employer within one monthspecifying the desired duration (if it is equal to two months, the maximum authorized, it will also be necessary to specify whether the leave will be split or not). You will also need to provide proof of birth (birth certificate, medical proof, etc.). Health Insurance or Social Security will pay the compensation, according to the rules and ceilings set by decree. Thus, employers will have to accept this birth leave, in compliance with the legal system, without penalty for employees.
And parental leave?
The new leave does not immediately replace parental leave : the two devices will initially coexist. However, the government is considering longer-term parental leave reforms, but any deletion or reduction will be delicate given the stakes. Concretely, this new leave aims to correct inequality: today, parental leave is widely used by women and little by men. By offering paid leave to each parent, the system encourages them to share more care and presence with the newborn. In addition, the higher amount will make this leave more attractive than current parental leave, which is often insufficient to compensate for a loss of income.
