To support adoptive parents in caring for their adopted child, adoptive mothers who adopt an infant (younger than 1 year old) are eligible for AL. In addition, adoptive fathers are eligible for Government-Paid Paternity Leave and Shared Parental Leave.
Adoptive mothers who meet the eligibility criteria will be eligible for 12 weeks of paid AL to be taken within 12 months from the child's birth (inclusive of date of birth).
The first four weeks of AL will be paid for by the employer (for the 1st and 2nd child order), and the last 8 weeks by the Government. For the 3rd and subsequent child order, all 12 weeks of leave will be funded by the Government. Reimbursement is capped at $10,000 per 4 weeks, inclusive of CPF contributions
By default, the 12 weeks of paid AL must be taken in one continuous block, starting at any date between (i) the 'formal intent to adopt'. and the (ii) date the adoption order is granted (both dates inclusive). If there is mutual agreement between the employer and the employee, the last 4 weeks of AL can be taken flexibly over a period of 12 months from the child's birth (inclusive of date of birth).
Points to note about Adoption Leave for Mothers
Adoptive mothers are eligible for AL if you meet all the following criteria:
1. Your adopted child is younger than 12 months of age;
2. Your adopted child is a Singapore Citizen at the point of the ‘formal intent to adopt’, or in cases where the adopted child is not a Singapore Citizen, at least 1 of the adoptive parents must be a Singapore Citizen;
3. You have served your employer – or, if you are self-employed, have been engaged in a particular business, trade or profession – for a continuous period of at least 3 months preceding the point of your 'formal intent to adopt';
AND
4. The Adoption Order is granted within 12 months from the point of 'formal intent to adopt' (inclusive of the date of formal intent to adopt), and the adopted child obtains Singapore Citizenship within 6 months after the Adoption Order is passed.
'Formal intent to adopt' is:
- For a Singapore Citizen child: The submission of the application to the Court to start the legal adoption process;
OR
- For a child who is not a Singapore Citizen: The issuance of a document stating that the application for the Dependant's Pass for the adopted child has been approved by the Ministry of Social and Family Development, or the Dependant's Pass itself.