Additional birth leave will be offered from 2026

The new birth leave has been definitively adopted by the Social Security Financing Act (LFSS) for 2026.

This measure comes in the context of a demographic decline in France. It aims at a better reconciliation between family and professional life, as well as greater equality between women and men upon the arrival of a child.

When will additional birth leave be introduced?

Since a deployment period is necessary, this additional leave compensated by the Social Security will be accessible to the parents concerned from july 2026.

Who is eligible?

All parents involved in a planned birth or adoption from 1^er January 2026 will be able to benefit. For births occurring between 1^er January and May 31, 2026, the deadline for taking this leave will be extended until the end of 2026.

This leave is not compulsory and does not require a length of service in the company.

How long for this new leave?

This new leave is in addition to the existing statutory maternity and paternity leave. It can reach 2 months for each parent and be taken alternately or simultaneously (for a single-parent family, it will be 2 months maximum).

What compensation?

The level of compensation for this leave will be indexed to the remuneration of the parent concerned. The amount should be 70% of net salary in the first month and 60% of net salary in the second month.

Application decrees must specify the conditions for granting and compensating this additional birth leave.