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Made For Families

Adoption Leave for Mothers

Find out about your eligibility, leave duration and payment details for the 12 weeks of paid Adoption Leave available to eligible adoptive mothers caring for their adopted infant.

Last updated on 21 October 2026
Family with children and newborn at home, surrounded by parenting and caregiving icons

To support adoptive parents caring for their adopted infant (younger than one year old), adoptive mothers are eligible for a 12-week paid Adoption Leave. This should be taken within 12 months from your child's date of birth (inclusive of date of birth).

By default, the 12 weeks of paid Adoption Leave must be taken in one continuous block, starting on the Formal Intent to Adopt* date. If there is mutual agreement between the employer and the employee, Adoption Leave can start any date between the (i) Formal Intent to Adopt date, and (ii) date the adoption order is granted (both dates inclusive). The 9th to 12th weeks of Adoption Leave can be taken flexibly over a period of 12 months from your child's date of birth (inclusive of date of birth).

You are eligible for Adoption Leave if you meet all the following criteria:

  1. You apply to adopt a child in accordance with any Singapore law relating to the adoption of children.

  2. Your adopted child is younger than 12 months of age at your Formal Intent to Adopt date.

  3. Your child is a Singapore Citizen and an application to the Court to adopt the child has been made.

    • If the child is not a Singapore Citizen, a Dependant’s Pass has been issued by the Ministry of Social and Family Development in respect of the child; and (where the application to adopt is a sole application) the female employee has been a Singapore citizen since the date on which the Dependant’s Pass is issued; or (where the application to adopt is a joint application) either the female employee or her spouse (who is a joint applicant to the adoption) has been a Singapore Citizen since the date on which the dependant’s pass is issued.

  4. a. If you are an employee, you have worked for your employer for a period of at least three months before your Formal Intent to Adopt date.

b. if you are self-employed, you have been engaged in a particular business, trade, profession or vocation for a continuous period of at least three months preceding your Formal Intent to Adopt date.

Adoption Leave Pay in Singapore by Child Order, Including Caps (CPF Inclusive)

Child Order

Paid By

Cap for Government-paid portion of
Adoption Leave*

 

First and second child order

  • First four weeks paid by employer

  • Last eight weeks paid by Government

  • $10,000 per four weeks

  • Up to a total of $20,000 per child order

Note: The capped amounts are inclusive of CPF contributions. 

Third and subsequent child order

  • Full 12 weeks paid by Government

  • $10,000 per four weeks

  • Up to a total of $30,000 per child order

Note: The capped amounts are inclusive of CPF contributions. 

Adoption Leave reimbursed/granted may be recovered from you if:

a) Your child is not adopted within 12 months from the date of the Formal Intent to Adopt; or

b) Your child is not a Singapore citizen by birth, and does not become a citizen of Singapore within six months from the date the child is adopted.

*Formal Intent to Adopt is:

  • For a Singapore Citizen child: the date on which an application to adopt is made to the Court; or

  • For a child who is not a Singapore Citizen: the date on which a Dependant’s Pass was issued by the Ministry of Social and Family Development in respect of the child or a document indicating the application for the Dependant’s Pass has been approved.

FAQs

1. When can I start taking Adoption Leave for Mothers?

If there is mutual agreement between the employer and the employee, the Adoption Leave can start any date between (i) Formal Intent to Adopt date, and the (ii) date the adoption order is granted (both dates inclusive). 

2. As a self-employed woman, am I entitled to Adoption Leave?

Yes, you are eligible for Adoption Leave if you meet all the criteria. 

3. What leave am I entitled to if I am an adoptive father?

Adoptive fathers are eligible for Government-Paid Paternity Leave and Shared Parental Leave.

4. How is child order determined for Adoption Leave for Mothers?

The child order takes into consideration biological children, adopted-in children (who are below the age of 12 months at the point of Formal Intent to Adopt), and stillbirths or children who have passed away (applies to those whose estimated date of delivery, delivery date, or Formal Intent to Adopt is on or after 1 November 2021). In the case of biological children, multiple births (e.g. twins) are considered as one child order.

Stepchildren, foster children and adopted-out children (children adopted-out before the current child’s estimated date of delivery, delivery date, or Formal Intent to Adopt) are excluded in the computation of child order.