Government-Paid Paternity Leave

If you’re a working father, you can take Government-Paid Paternity Leave (GPPL) to care for your newborn and support your wife as she recovers from childbirth.

For children born or adopted on or after 1 January 2024: Eligible working fathers may take an additional two weeks of GPPL i.e. four weeks in total. The additional two weeks are given on a voluntary basis and subjected to the employer's agreement. Employers who are ready to grant the additional two weeks of leave will be reimbursed by the Government.

Fathers with Singapore Citizen (SC) children are eligible for four weeks of GPPL

Minimum notice period of four weeks: To help employers better anticipate and adjust their manpower arrangements, parents are encouraged to inform their supervisors early if they are expecting a child and discuss their leave plans with supervisors as early as possible. Employees will be required to serve at least four weeks’ notice before taking Government-Paid Maternity Leave (GPML), Adoption Leave, the enhanced GPPL and new Shared Parental Leave. Find out more at go.gov.sg/enhanced-parental-leave-ig (opens in new tab).

By default, GPPL should be taken in a two- or four-week block within 16 weeks from your child's date of birth. If there is a mutual agreement between you and your employer, you can take the paternity leave flexibly, but should do so within 12 months from your child’s date of birth.

Employment protection for fathers on GPPL: It is be unlawful for an employer to dismiss or give a notice of dismissal to a male employee on GPPL. Employers who act in contravention are liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, may face fines or imprisonment. Currently, mothers on GPML are covered under these protections.

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

1. Your child is an SC at birth;

2. You are lawfully married to the child's mother sometime between conception and birth.

• If not, you can be eligible for GPPL if you are legally married to your child’s mother within 12 months from your child’s date of birth. 

• Note: GPPL can only be taken after you are married and within 12 months from your child’s date of birth.

3. a. Employees: You have worked for your employer for a continuous period of at least three months before your child is born.
    b. Self-employed: You have been engaged in a particular business, trade, profession or vocation for a continuous period of at least three months before your child is born, and have lost income because you did not engage in your business, trade or profession during the leave period.

If you are an adoptive father, you are eligible for GPPL if you meet all the following criteria:

1. The child you are adopting is an SC and you have made an application to the Court to adopt him or her.

• If your child is not an SC, a Dependant’s Pass has been issued by the Ministry of Social and Family Development in respect of the child; and either you or your spouse (if she is a joint applicant to the adoption) has been an SC since the date when the pass was issued.

2. a. Employees: You have worked for your employer for at least three continuous months preceding the Formal Intent to Adopt date*.

    b. Self-employed: You have been engaged in a particular business, trade, profession or vocation for a continuous period of at least three continuous months preceding the Formal Intent to Adopt date, and have lost income as a result of not engaging in your business, trade or profession during the leave period.

3. You are not the biological father of the child.

If you are an adoptive father, the Government/employer may recover the whole or any part of the payment for GPPL reimbursed/granted if:

a. Adoption Order for the child is not granted within 12 months from the Formal Intent to Adopt (FIA) date (inclusive of FIA date); or

b. Your child is not an SC by birth and does not become one within six months from the Adoption Order date (inclusive of Adoption Order date).

*Formal Intent to Adopt:

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

• For a child who is not an SC: 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 pass has been approved.

Paternity Leave is paid by the Government. Reimbursement is capped at $2,500 per week i.e., total of up to $10,000 for four weeks, depending on the duration of leave taken. The caps are inclusive of CPF contributions.

Visit the Pro-Family Leave website (opens in new tab) for more details on the application process.

FAQs