Leave for Dads: Planning Paternity and Shared Parental Leave
Welcoming a baby brings plenty to look forward to and quite a few things to organise. Paternity leave is one way to give yourself time to settle into this new chapter, care for your baby and support your partner.
A little planning before your baby arrives can help you feel more ready. Start by checking your leave entitlement, talking with your partner about what would help at home and arranging a handover at work.
You do not need to plan every detail. The aim is to make space for your family while you find your feet together.
Start with your leave entitlement
Eligible working fathers are entitled to 4 weeks of Government-Paid Paternity Leave (GPPL) if their child’s date of birth or estimated delivery date is on or after 1 April 2025. Eligibility depends on citizenship, marriage and work requirements.
If your employment situation has changed, there may still be support available. Here is a starting point for understanding the two schemes.
Government-Paid Paternity Leave (GPPL)
For biological fathers, the main requirements are:
- Your child is a Singapore Citizen, or becomes one within 12 months of birth.
- You are or were lawfully married to your child’s mother between conception and birth, or marry within 12 months of birth.
- As an employee, you have worked for your employer continuously for at least 3 months immediately before the birth.
- If you are self-employed, you have worked continuously for at least 3 months immediately before the birth and lose income while taking leave.
If citizenship or marriage requirements are met after birth, leave can only begin once those requirements are met. Separate criteria apply to adoptive fathers, so check the official guidance for your circumstances.
Government-Paid Paternity Benefit (GPPB)
If you do not qualify for GPPL because of your employment arrangements, you may qualify for Government-Paid Paternity Benefit, a cash benefit.
For biological fathers, the main requirements include:
- Meeting the child’s citizenship and parents’ marriage requirements.
- Having worked for at least 90 days in total during the 12 months before your child’s birth. These days do not have to be consecutive.
- Not qualifying for GPPL because of your employment circumstances, such as retrenchment or the end of a contract.
The detailed rules depend on your situation. Check the Government-Paid Leave portal rather than assuming you are not eligible.
Make room to get to know your baby
Paternity leave gives you time for the everyday moments of fatherhood: learning to change a nappy, comforting your baby or discovering how they like to be held.
It also gives you and your partner time to learn together. You may both feel unsure at first, and that is okay. You do not have to know everything before you begin.
There is no need to fill your leave with a long list of things to achieve. Caring for your baby, supporting your partner and finding a rhythm together are enough.
Start the conversation at work early
Speaking with your manager early gives everyone more time to prepare. You need to give at least 4 weeks’ notice before taking GPPL, unless your employer agrees to a shorter notice period.
You could begin with:
“Our baby is due around this date, and I’d like to plan my paternity leave. Could we talk through the timing and handover?”
If the dates are still uncertain, share what you know and agree when you will update your manager.
A useful handover can be simple. Include:
- Current projects and upcoming deadlines
- Links to the latest files
- Key contacts and pending decisions
- Who will cover each responsibility
Talk through how any urgent work questions will be handled while you are away. Having someone colleagues can turn to can make it easier for you to focus on home.
Before returning, arrange a short catch-up about what has changed and what needs your attention first.
Plan life at home together
Before your baby arrives, have a conversation with your partner about what support might look like.
You might talk about:
- Meals, groceries and laundry
- Visitors and messages from family and friends
- Baby care routines you would each like to learn
- Help you would welcome from others
- What happens when one or both of you return to work
You could ask, “What would help you feel supported?” and share what you hope to learn or take responsibility for too.
Choose a few things you can look after from start to finish. This might mean keeping nappy supplies ready, arranging meals or learning to settle your baby.
If relatives or other caregivers are helping, there is still room for you to be involved. A simple “I’d love to do bath time today” can help you make that space.
Treat your plan as a starting point. Once your baby arrives, you will have a clearer sense of what each of you needs.
Frequently asked questions
When can I take my paternity leave?
The default arrangement is 4 continuous weeks within 16 weeks after your child’s birth.
With your employer’s agreement, you can take the leave as one block or split it into working days within the first 12 months after birth. All leave must be used before your child turns one.
Some fathers want to be home immediately after birth. Others hope to save some days for when other support ends. Talk with your partner about what would help, then discuss the arrangement with your employer.
How much will I be paid?
During GPPL, your employer pays you and claims Government reimbursement, capped at $2,500 a week, or $10,000 for 4 weeks. Employers are not required to pay above the weekly cap, although they may choose to do so. Ask HR how this applies to your pay before your leave begins.
If you are self-employed, payment is based on income lost during your leave, subject to the scheme’s limits. Check the official claim guidance for the calculation and documents required.
How do I apply?
Start by checking your eligibility on the Government-Paid Leave portal, then speak with HR about your organisation’s application process.
Agree on your leave dates, submit the required declaration and supporting documents, and keep a copy of the confirmed arrangement. If you are self-employed or applying for GPPB, follow the portal’s claim instructions for your circumstances.
What other leave could help our family?
There are other options to consider as you plan care beyond the first few weeks.
Shared Parental Leave (SPL) is a pool shared between eligible parents:
- 6 weeks for children born from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026.
- 10 weeks for children born from 1 April 2026 onwards.
The entitlement can also depend on the estimated delivery date. Leave must be taken within the child’s first 12 months, with timing subject to the scheme’s rules and arrangements with employers.
Unpaid Infant Care Leave provides each eligible parent with 12 days per year for a Singapore Citizen child below two, subject to the employment requirements.
Paid Childcare Leave currently provides each eligible parent of a Singapore Citizen child below seven with 6 days per year, subject to the scheme’s rules.
Leave at a glance
| Leave | Entitlement for eligible parents | When it can be used |
|---|---|---|
| Paternity Leave | 4 weeks for fathers | Default: within 16 weeks of birth; flexible arrangements within 12 months require employer agreement |
| Shared Parental Leave | 10 weeks shared between parents for births from 1 April 2026; 6 weeks for births in the preceding qualifying period | Within 12 months of birth, subject to timing rules |
| Unpaid Infant Care Leave | 12 days per parent per year | For a child below two, subject to the relevant leave period |
| Paid Childcare Leave | 6 days per parent per year | For a child below seven, subject to leave-year rules |
Citizenship, employment and other eligibility conditions apply to each scheme.
Take one small step today
You do not have to work out the whole year at once. Start by checking your entitlement, setting aside time to talk with your partner and opening the conversation at work.
If you would like support preparing for fatherhood, check out Centre for Fathering’sThe Transition to Parenthood.
A little preparation can help you feel more ready to be there— or your baby, your partnerm and the everyday moments that bring you closer.