Paternity Leave in France
Fathers and partners in France get 3 days of birth leave plus 25 calendar days of paternity leave. Calculate your dates and see how the daily allowance works.
Last updated: 13 November 2026
Your results will appear here
Fill in your details and press calculate to see your leave dates, notice deadlines and pay estimate.
France paternity leave at a glance
A private-sector employee father or qualifying partner gets 3 days of birth leave plus 25 calendar days of paternity leave, including 4 compulsory days straight after the birth leave.
- Leave length
- 25 calendar days of paternity leave plus 3 working days of birth leave. Paternity leave rises to 32 calendar days for multiple births.
- When to take it
- 4 calendar days immediately after the 3-day birth leave. The remaining 21 days within 6 months of the birth, in one block or two blocks of at least 5 days.
- Pay
- Your employer keeps paying you during the 3 days of birth leave. For paternity leave, CPAM/MSA pays daily allowances based on your earnings after a flat 21% deduction, capped at €104.02 a day in 2026. Your employer or collective agreement may top this up.
- Who qualifies
- Employee father, or the mother's spouse or cohabiting partner, with no length-of-service requirement. Daily allowances normally need 6 months of affiliation plus the hours or contributions test.
- Self-employed fathers
- Self-employed fathers can get paternity benefits under separate conditions, including stopping their professional activity.
Parental leave on top of paternity leave
Since 1 July 2026, parents of children born from 1 January 2026 can each take one or two extra months of birth leave: 70% of net reference salary for the first month and 60% for the second, within statutory limits.
Good to know
- Tell your employer at least one month before the expected birth and the dates you plan to take.
- The calculator uses 28 calendar days (3 birth-leave days + 25 paternity days).
Legal entitlement vs employer benefits
The rules above are the legal minimum in France. 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.