Entry into force of supplementary birth leave: what are the practical arrangements?

Supplementary birth leave, created by the Social Security Financing Act for 2026, granted 1 to 2 months of compensated leave for each parent, in addition to existing leave (maternity, paternity and childcare, adoption). It complements them to provide more time for families during the first months of the child's life.

Parents can take it at the same time or alternately, and divide it if they wish in 2 periods of 1 month. It is an individual and personal right, not transferable from one parent to another. Each parent has his or her own right.

Announced in early 2026, this mechanism was clarified by several decrees published on 31 May 2026.

What are the conditions for access to supplementary birth leave?

Supplementary birth leave must be taken within a maximum period of 9 months after the birth or arrival of the child in the home. And it can only start after the expiry of the maternity, paternity and childcare or adoption leave to which the parent is entitled.

It concerns the parents of a child:

• born or adopted on or after 1^er January 2026;
• or whose birth was planned on that date.

Who can benefit from it?

The following persons may be entitled to such leave:

• the private sector employees, subject to meeting the conditions for entitlement to social security daily allowances (activity, length of service, etc.);
• the public officials (falling under the 3 sides of the civil service, including military and medical personnel), subject to fulfilling the statutory conditions applicable in their administration.

Are also concerned self-employed workers (tradesmen, liberal professions...), employees and self-employed persons covered by the agricultural scheme, artist-authors, job seekers, trainees, graduate students in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and maieutics.

How is supplementary birth leave compensated?

Supplementary birth leave is covered by Social Security in the form of daily birth allowances, allowing partial maintenance of income. The compensation rate for employees is:

• 70% of the capped salary* on 1^er months;
• 60% of the capped salary* on 2^e month.

*The salary taken into account is capped at the level of the Social Security ceiling (€4,005 in 2026) and calculated on the basis of the last 3 months of salary preceding the leave.

> Find on the website Ameli all information on daily allowances for supplementary birth leave depending on your status.

What are the steps to be taken?

You must inform your employer at least 1 month before the start date of the leave and specify the date of taking the leave, its duration and, if you wish to split it, the dates of this split. This delay is reported to 15 days if the leave immediately follows paternity and childcare leave or adoption leave.

To make your request, you can:

• send it to your employer by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt;
• hand it to your employer.

One mail template has been developed by the Ministry of Labor to assist you with your application.

Can the allowances for this leave be combined with other aids?

The system strictly limits the possibilities of cumulation with other services.

Supplementary birth leave cannot be stacked :

• with daily allowances paid in respect of the disease or
• with unemployment benefits;
• with the Shared Child-Rearing Benefit (PreParE) for the same period;
• with the complementary free choice of custody mode (CMG) for the child concerned during the period of leave.