Maternity, paternity and shared parental leave in Singapore: how to plan it between you
MOM says for a Singapore citizen child, mothers get 16 weeks of Government-Paid Maternity Leave. It says fathers get 4 weeks of Government-Paid Paternity Leave, and parents share another 10 weeks of Shared Parental Leave for babies born from 1 April 2026. Added up, that is 30 weeks between you.
Checked against official sources on 29 September 2026
The leave at a glance
| Leave | How long | When | Pay cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maternity | 16 weeks | From up to 4 weeks before the birth; the last 8 within 12 months | S$10,000 per 4 weeks (Government-paid weeks) |
| Paternity | 4 weeks | Within 16 weeks of birth, or 12 months if the employer agrees | S$2,500 a week |
| Shared parental | 10 weeks, shared | Within 12 months of birth | S$2,500 a week |
Maternity leave: 16 weeks, the first 8 in one block
MOM says mothers get 16 weeks if the child is a Singapore citizen, starting up to 4 weeks before the birth. The first 8 weeks are taken in one block; the last 8 can be spread over 12 months. Government pays weeks 9 to 16 (all 16 from the third child), up to S$10,000 per 4 weeks. Source: MOM
MOM's notice rule: Give your employer at least 4 weeks' notice. MOM says if the child is not a Singapore citizen, mothers get 12 weeks under the Employment Act.
Paternity leave: 4 weeks, usually within 16 weeks of the birth
MOM says fathers of Singapore citizen children born on or after 1 April 2025 get 4 weeks if married to the mother and employed for 3 months. By default it is taken within 16 weeks of birth, or within 12 months if the employer agrees. Pay is capped at S$2,500 a week. Source: MOM
MOM's notice rule: Give your employer 4 weeks' notice.
Shared Parental Leave: 10 weeks to split between you
MOM says parents of Singapore citizen children born from 1 April 2026 share 10 weeks, taken within 12 months of birth. Fathers must be married to the mother. Pay is capped at S$2,500 a week. Source: MOM
MOM says babies born from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026 get 6 weeks instead. Its notice rule: Agree the split between parents and give 4 weeks' notice.
Childcare leave: 6 days a year for each working parent
MOM says each working parent gets 6 days of childcare leave a year for a Singapore citizen child below 7. The 2026 National Day Rally announced 8 to 12 days a year, but the start date has not been set. Source: MOM
MOM says a parent needs to have worked for the employer for at least 3 months.
A worked example: the first 26 weeks covered between you
This is an illustration, not a recommendation. It uses the rules above for a Singapore citizen child born from 1 April 2026, married parents who both qualify, and weeks counted from the birth. Here the mother starts maternity leave on the day of the birth.
| Weeks after birth | Who | Leave |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1 to 8 | Mother | Maternity leave, first 8 weeks (one block) |
| Weeks 1 to 4 | Father | Paternity leave |
| Weeks 9 to 16 | Mother | Maternity leave, last 8 weeks (taken straight after) |
| Weeks 17 to 20 | Mother | Shared parental leave |
| Weeks 21 to 26 | Father | Shared parental leave |
In this example the mother takes 20 weeks and the father takes 10 weeks. The parents overlap for the first 4 weeks, and one of them is on leave until the end of week 26. Other splits work too: MOM lets the last 8 weeks of maternity leave be spread over 12 months, and the 10 shared weeks be taken any time in the first 12 months.
Deadlines after your baby is born · Infant care costs after subsidies · How and when to register for infant care and childcare · Hiring a helper when you have a baby · Hiring a confinement nanny
Not yet confirmed
These details were not published on the official pages when we checked them on 29 September 2026. We will update this page when they are.
- The start date of the new childcare leave of 8 to 12 days a year has not been announced. Source: population.gov.sg
- We have not checked MOM's full rules for the 12 weeks of maternity leave when the child is not a Singapore citizen. Source: MOM
Sources
- MOM: Maternity leave
- MOM: Paternity leave
- MOM: Shared Parental Leave
- MOM: Childcare leave
- population.gov.sg: Marriage and parenthood measures, National Day Rally 2026
Checked against official sources on 29 September 2026
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