Paternity Leave in Denmark
Fathers and co-mothers in Denmark get two weeks of leave around the birth, and 11 benefit weeks in total that cannot be transferred.
Last updated: 13 November 2026
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Denmark paternity leave at a glance
Fathers and co-mothers have two weeks of paternity leave in connection with the birth, with state benefits if they meet the conditions.
- Leave length
- 2 weeks.
- When to take it
- Normally the first 2 weeks from the birth date or the next day. Employees can agree with their employer to spread them over the first 10 weeks.
- Pay
- Udbetaling Danmark pays earnings-related benefits up to DKK 5,085 a week before tax in 2026. Salary during leave depends on your employment terms.
- Who qualifies
- Employees must be employed the day before or first day of leave, have worked 160 hours in the last 4 full months (40 hours in 3 of them), and be with the child daily.
- Self-employed fathers
- Self-employed fathers can get benefits based on business activity and earnings, with the same weekly maximum.
Parental leave on top of paternity leave
Parents living together each generally get 24 weeks of benefits after the birth. For employees, 11 weeks are non-transferable: the 2 birth weeks plus 9 more.
Good to know
- The two birth-related weeks cannot be transferred.
Legal entitlement vs employer benefits
The rules above are the legal minimum in Denmark. Many employers offer extra paid days or top up statutory pay. Add any employer leave in the calculator above to see your real return-to-work date, and confirm the details with your HR team. To compare pay over the weeks you take off, try the paternity pay calculator.
Other European guides
Official sources
Frequently asked questions
Editorial note: we summarise official government guidance and link to it. Laws change — always confirm your entitlement with your employer or the relevant authority. This page is not legal advice.