Your Parental Leave Rights

What's changing

From 6 April 2026, you'll be eligible for Paternity Leave or Unpaid Parental Leave from your very first day in a new job.

Currently:

You need 26 weeks' service for Paternity Leave

You need one year's service for Unpaid Parental Leave

From April 2026:

Both types of leave become "day one" rights. This is the right to give notice from your first day of employment. You can start giving notice from 18 February so that you can take leave from 6 April.

You can also take Paternity Leave and Pay after Shared Parental Leave and Pay (currently you can't).

Special rules for new birth parents wanting to take Paternity Leave

If you become newly qualified for day one Paternity Leave because of these changes and your baby is due between 5 April and 25 July 2026, you'll only need to give 28 days' notice (instead of the usual 15 weeks). For babies due from 26 July 2026 onwards, standard notice periods apply. Notice periods for adopters and parents who already qualified are unchanged. Leave cannot be taken before 6 April.

Important: The rules for Paternity Pay aren't changing – you'll still need to meet existing service and earnings requirements to receive pay during your leave.

What this means for you

Starting a new job no longer means missing out on time with your new child. Whether you're welcoming a baby, adopting, or becoming a parent through surrogacy, you can take leave from day one.

What you can do now

If you're planning to become a parent:

  • Talk to your employer about their parental leave policies.
  • Understand the difference between leave (time off) and pay (financial support).
  • Give notice as early as possible.
  • Standard notice requirements for birth parents are to tell your employer your baby's due date 15 weeks before the Expected Week of Childbirth. You must also tell them 28 days before you want to start the Paternity Leave.

Where to get help

GOV.UK Paternity Leave and Payopens www.gov.uk in a new tab

GOV.UK Parental Leaveopens www.gov.uk in a new tab

For more information see the Paternity and Unpaid Parental Leave factsheetopens assets.publishing.service.gov.uk in a new tab

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