Procedure · Family and benefits

Paternity leave in France: 25 days, the compulsory part and the letter to your employer

After the birth, you are entitled to 3 days of birth leave and then 25 days of paternity and childcare leave (32 for a multiple birth), 4 of which are compulsory. Tell your employer a month ahead: here are the deadlines, how to split it, the pay and a letter ready to fill in.

At a glance

Who: An employed father, the mother's spouse or partner, or the non-birth mother in a female couple (joint advance recognition), with no length-of-service or contract-type condition.
When: Tell your employer at least 1 month before the due date and 1 month before each period of leave; take it all within 6 months of the birth.
Where: With your employer (recorded-delivery letter or handed over against a receipt) and your CPAM (or MSA) for the pay.
Cost: Free.
How long: Daily benefit paid every 14 days by the health insurance fund.

Official letter template to request paternity leave (service-public.gouv.fr)

Step by step

Tell your employer a month before the birth. Tell your employer the expected due date at least 1 month ahead, then the start date and length of each period of leave at least 1 month before it. A recorded-delivery letter or one handed over against a receipt serves as proof. If you give this notice, they cannot refuse.
Take the birth leave and the 4 compulsory days. At the birth, you first take the 3 working days (jours ouvrables) of birth leave, then straight after, the first 4 calendar days of paternity leave. This block is compulsory: for example, for a birth on a Sunday, it runs from the Monday to the following Sunday.
Plan the remaining 21 days. The remaining 21 days (28 for a multiple birth) are optional. You can take them in one go or in 2 periods at most, of at least 5 days each, straight after or later, but within 6 months of the birth to be paid. This deadline can be pushed back if the baby is in hospital or if the mother dies.
Send your proof to your fund. Send your CPAM (or MSA) a full copy of the birth certificate or the updated family record book (livret de famille). If you are not the father but live with the mother, add proof of your relationship: marriage certificate extract, Pacs, a certificate of cohabitation less than a year old, or a sworn statement co-signed by the mother.
Receive your daily benefit. During the leave, your contract is suspended and the fund pays daily benefit every 14 days if you meet the conditions: a Social Security number for at least 6 months, 150 hours worked over the previous 3 months (or enough contributions), and stopping all salaried work. The official simulator gives an estimate; your collective agreement may keep your salary.
Consider the additional birth leave. For a child born since 1 January 2026, each parent can add 1 or 2 months of additional birth leave (congé supplémentaire de naissance) after their paternity leave, paid by the fund, to be taken within 9 months of the birth (by 31 March 2027 for a birth between January and June 2026). Tell your employer 1 month ahead (15 days if it directly follows your paternity leave and starts within a month of the birth): they pass the request on to the fund.

Documents to prepare

The expected due date, to tell your employer
Your letter to your employer and proof that it was delivered
A full copy of the birth certificate or the updated family record book
If you are not the father: marriage certificate extract, Pacs, certificate of cohabitation or a sworn statement co-signed by the mother
If you are a jobseeker: the list of leave days taken, to declare to France Travail

Pitfalls to avoid

Telling your employer less than a month ahead: that notice is what stops them refusing your dates.
Letting the 6 months after the birth go by: taking the leave within them is a condition for being paid.
Splitting it into too many pieces: 2 periods at most, of at least 5 days each.
Carrying on working for another employer during the leave: the fund can claim the benefit back.
As a jobseeker, forgetting to declare your leave days to France Travail: you may have to repay overpaid benefit and face a penalty.

Letter template to tell your employer about paternity leave (in French)

[Prénom Nom]
[Adresse]

[Nom de l'entreprise]
[Adresse de l'entreprise]

[Ville], le [date]

Lettre recommandée avec accusé de réception (ou remise en main propre contre décharge)

Objet : congé de naissance et congé de paternité et d'accueil de l'enfant

Madame, Monsieur,

Je vous informe que la naissance de mon enfant est prévue le [date prévue de l'accouchement].

Je prendrai, à compter de la naissance, mon congé de naissance puis la période obligatoire de mon congé de paternité et d'accueil de l'enfant.

Je souhaite prendre la période facultative de ce congé [en une seule fois, du [date de début] au [date de fin]] [ou : en deux périodes, du [date de début] au [date de fin] puis du [date de début] au [date de fin]].

Je vous remercie de bien vouloir prendre note de ces dates.

Je vous prie d'agréer, Madame, Monsieur, l'expression de mes salutations distinguées.

[Signature]

Letter template to tell your employer about paternity leave (in French): replace each part in square brackets, proofread, date and sign. The letter is in French because it goes to a French employer or administration.

Every letter template

What Nego does for you

Write your letter to your employer with your dates
Work out your periods: birth leave, 4 compulsory days, splitting, the 6-month deadline
Check whether you qualify for the daily benefit and prepare the proof for the fund
Explain the additional birth leave and how to follow on with it

Nego follows the checked steps on this page, does the calculations with the site's tools and drafts your letters. It does not replace the administration: the procedure is completed on the official service.

Going further

Gross ↔ net converter Paid holiday Payslip explained

Frequently asked questions

Can my employer refuse my paternity leave?

No, if you gave the required notice (1 month before the due date and 1 month before each period). If they refuse, you can take the matter to the employment tribunal (conseil de prud'hommes), and the employer faces a fine.

The baby arrived earlier than expected: what now?

You can take your leave within the month following the birth, even without the usual month's notice; just let your employer know.

Can I be dismissed during paternity leave?

No, except for gross misconduct or if it is impossible to keep your contract for a reason unrelated to the leave. When you come back, you get your job back or a similar one with at least the same pay; the leave counts towards your length of service.

Who is entitled to it if I am not the father?

The spouse, civil partner (Pacs) or partner living with the mother and, in a female couple who made a joint advance recognition, the mother who did not give birth. Proof of the relationship with the mother is then required.

I am unemployed: am I entitled to paternity leave?

Yes. You stay registered with France Travail during the leave; your unemployment benefit is suspended if you receive daily benefit from the health insurance fund. Declare the number and dates of the days taken to France Travail.

Is paternity pay taxable?

Yes, paternity daily benefit is taxable and is declared with your salary.

Official sources

Rules checked on 27 October 2026 against the sources above. This page explains the procedure; it replaces neither the administration nor legal advice.

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At a glance

Who

An employed father, the mother's spouse or partner, or the non-birth mother in a female couple (joint advance recognition), with no length-of-service or contract-type condition.

When

Tell your employer at least 1 month before the due date and 1 month before each period of leave; take it all within 6 months of the birth.

Where

With your employer (recorded-delivery letter or handed over against a receipt) and your CPAM (or MSA) for the pay.

Cost

Free.

How long

Daily benefit paid every 14 days by the health insurance fund.

Step by step

Tell your employer a month before the birth. Tell your employer the expected due date at least 1 month ahead, then the start date and length of each period of leave at least 1 month before it. A recorded-delivery letter or one handed over against a receipt serves as proof. If you give this notice, they cannot refuse.

Take the birth leave and the 4 compulsory days. At the birth, you first take the 3 working days (jours ouvrables) of birth leave, then straight after, the first 4 calendar days of paternity leave. This block is compulsory: for example, for a birth on a Sunday, it runs from the Monday to the following Sunday.

Plan the remaining 21 days. The remaining 21 days (28 for a multiple birth) are optional. You can take them in one go or in 2 periods at most, of at least 5 days each, straight after or later, but within 6 months of the birth to be paid. This deadline can be pushed back if the baby is in hospital or if the mother dies.

Send your proof to your fund. Send your CPAM (or MSA) a full copy of the birth certificate or the updated family record book (livret de famille). If you are not the father but live with the mother, add proof of your relationship: marriage certificate extract, Pacs, a certificate of cohabitation less than a year old, or a sworn statement co-signed by the mother.

Receive your daily benefit. During the leave, your contract is suspended and the fund pays daily benefit every 14 days if you meet the conditions: a Social Security number for at least 6 months, 150 hours worked over the previous 3 months (or enough contributions), and stopping all salaried work. The official simulator gives an estimate; your collective agreement may keep your salary.

Consider the additional birth leave. For a child born since 1 January 2026, each parent can add 1 or 2 months of additional birth leave (congé supplémentaire de naissance) after their paternity leave, paid by the fund, to be taken within 9 months of the birth (by 31 March 2027 for a birth between January and June 2026). Tell your employer 1 month ahead (15 days if it directly follows your paternity leave and starts within a month of the birth): they pass the request on to the fund.

Documents to prepare

The expected due date, to tell your employer

Your letter to your employer and proof that it was delivered

A full copy of the birth certificate or the updated family record book

If you are not the father: marriage certificate extract, Pacs, certificate of cohabitation or a sworn statement co-signed by the mother

If you are a jobseeker: the list of leave days taken, to declare to France Travail

Pitfalls to avoid

Telling your employer less than a month ahead: that notice is what stops them refusing your dates.

Letting the 6 months after the birth go by: taking the leave within them is a condition for being paid.

Splitting it into too many pieces: 2 periods at most, of at least 5 days each.

Carrying on working for another employer during the leave: the fund can claim the benefit back.

As a jobseeker, forgetting to declare your leave days to France Travail: you may have to repay overpaid benefit and face a penalty.