How Long Is Paternity Leave in the UK?

How many weeks of paternity leave do you get?

For standard Statutory Paternity Leave in England, Scotland and Wales, you can take:

• 1 week, or
• 2 weeks

You do not get additional statutory paternity leave for twins, triplets or another multiple birth. The maximum standard entitlement remains two weeks. Your employer may offer more generous enhanced or contractual paternity leave, so it is worth checking your employment contract or family leave policy as well as your statutory entitlement.

How many days is paternity leave?

Paternity leave is measured in weeks rather than a fixed number of days. A week of paternity leave means the same number of days you would normally work in a week. So if you normally work:

• five days a week, one week of paternity leave covers five working days
• three days a week, one week covers three working days
• two days a week, one week covers two working days

This means two weeks of paternity leave does not necessarily mean ten working days for everyone.

Can you split two weeks of paternity leave?

Yes, in England, Scotland and Wales. You can take your two weeks:

• as one continuous two-week period, or
• as two separate blocks of one week

You cannot divide statutory paternity leave into individual days. For example, you could take one week immediately after your baby is born, return to work, and use your second week later in the year. In Northern Ireland, the rules are different: if you choose to take two weeks, they must currently be taken as two consecutive weeks.

When does paternity leave have to be taken?

In England, Scotland and Wales, paternity leave cannot start before your baby is born. It must normally finish within 52 weeks of the birth. If your baby is born early, the 52-week period can instead run from the baby's original due date. This gives parents considerably more flexibility than having to take both weeks immediately after the birth. Northern Ireland currently has a shorter window. Paternity leave must usually finish within 56 days of the birth. If the baby is born early, it must finish within 56 days of the first day of the week in which the baby was originally due.

Can I take more than two weeks of paternity leave?

For standard statutory paternity leave, two weeks is the maximum. That does not necessarily mean you can only take two weeks away from work after your baby arrives. Depending on your circumstances and eligibility, you might be able to combine paternity leave with:

• additional paternity or family leave offered by your employer
• annual leave
• Shared Parental Leave
• Unpaid Parental Leave
• Neonatal Care Leave, where the qualifying conditions apply

In England, Scotland and Wales, Shared Parental Leave can provide eligible parents with access to a shared pool of up to 50 weeks of leave after the birth parent reduces their maternity leave entitlement. Paternity Leave and Shared Parental Leave can now be taken in either order. So if your aim is to spend significantly more than two weeks away from work, it is worth looking at your overall family leave options rather than paternity leave in isolation.

Who qualifies for paternity leave?

In England, Scotland and Wales, Statutory Paternity Leave became a day-one employment right from 6 April 2026. You must be an employee, give the correct notice and be taking the leave to care for the child. You must also meet the relevant relationship requirements, for example being the baby's father or the spouse or partner of the mother or birth parent. This is an important distinction from Statutory Paternity Pay. Being entitled to paternity leave does not automatically mean you qualify for statutory pay.

Is paternity leave paid?

You may qualify for Statutory Paternity Pay for up to two weeks. For the 2026/27 tax year, Statutory Paternity Pay is the lower of:

• £194.32 per week, or
• 90% of your average weekly earnings.

Unlike paternity leave itself in England, Scotland and Wales, statutory paternity pay is not a day-one entitlement. Among the requirements, you normally need at least 26 weeks' continuous employment by the relevant qualifying week and average earnings of at least £129 a week. Your employer may offer enhanced paternity pay above the statutory amount.

How much notice do I need to give?

For a birth in England, Scotland or Wales, you normally need to tell your employer your baby's due date at least 15 weeks before the baby is expected. You must then give at least 28 days' notice of when you want each period of paternity leave to start. You do not necessarily have to specify the exact date in advance. For example, you can say that you want your leave to begin on the day of the birth or a set period after the birth.

What is the maximum paternity leave in the UK?

For the normal statutory paternity leave entitlement following the birth of a baby, the answer is two weeks. In England, Scotland and Wales, those two weeks can now be taken together or separately, and they can be used during the first year after the birth. Northern Ireland currently operates different rules, including requiring two weeks to be consecutive and generally requiring the leave to be taken within 56 days. There is also a separate Bereaved Partner's Paternity Leave entitlement in Great Britain. In the specific circumstances where a child's mother or primary adopter dies, an eligible father or partner can be entitled to up to 52 weeks of leave. This is a separate statutory right and should not be confused with ordinary paternity leave.

Are the paternity leave rules the same across the UK?

Not quite. In England, Scotland and Wales, two weeks can be taken together or as two separate one-week blocks. In Northern Ireland, two weeks must currently be taken consecutive

Planning more than two weeks off

Two weeks is the statutory paternity leave limit, but it does not have to be the limit of your overall leave plan. Annual leave, employer-enhanced leave, Shared Parental Leave and other family leave entitlements can potentially be used to create a much longer period away from work. Your Family Leave Plan helps you bring your different leave entitlements together, understand what you may qualify for and see how different leave choices could affect your family's pay.