Applying for parental leave and parental allowance: everything you need to know

Parents are entitled to take parental leave after the birth of their child. Both mothers and fathers can take up to 36 months leave for each child. During this period, employees are not entitled to salary payments from their employer. Instead, they could receive parental allowance by the state. It is also possible to work during parental leave; paid employment of up to an average of 32 hours per week is permitted. Our article provides an overview of the legal regulations and contains links to applications and forms.

The most important information at a glance:

• An employee is entitled to parental leave if they live with a child in the same household and are responsible for their care and upbringing. Parental leave lasts for three years for each child.
• Parents do not have to “apply” for parental leave. They just have to notify the employer of their intention to take parental leave in time and in writing.
• The parental leave “application” is binding for the employee. It cannot be unilaterally revoked.
• Parental allowance: A parent, who (1) is resident in Germany, (2) lives with the child in the same household, (3) cares for it, and (4) does not work full-time (less than 32 hours/week in average) is entitled to parental allowance.
• Parental allowance amounts to 67% of the net income received before the birth of the child. The maximum monthly amount is €1,800. Parents with no income prior to the birth are entitled to a minimum amount of €300 per month.
• Applications for parental allowance must be made in writing. In some federal states, this can be done digitally; otherwise, it must be submitted in paper form. The relevant authorities vary from state to state.

Parental leave: who’s entitled to it?

Employees are entitled to parental leave if they live with their child, take care of and raise them:

• Parental leave can be up to three years for each child. Each parent can take the three years independently of the other parent. Parental leave can be taken by one parent or by both parents together.
• Parents are entitled to parental leave until their child turns 3, of which 24 months can be taken between their 3rd birthday and their 8th birthday.
• If the mother takes parental leave immediately after the maternity protection period, this period is deducted from her parental leave.
• Employers and employees may not exclude or restrict the right to parental leave in a contract. (15 BEEG, Federal Parental Allowance and Parental Leave Act).

Parental leave application

In practice, people always refer to an “application” for parental leave. This is not entirely accurate, as parents are legally entitled to parental leave and only have to “notify” the employer in time and in writing. The employer’s consent is not required. For practical reasons this article uses the word “application”.

Deadlines for parental leave

A parent must notify the employer at least seven weeks (for parental leave before the child’s 3rd birthday), and at least 13 weeks (for parental leave between the child’s 3rd and 8th birthday).

This means that if a mother wishes to take parental leave immediately after her maternity leave (eight weeks), she can submit her application after the birth. If the father wishes to take leave immediately after the birth, he must submit his application at least seven weeks before the expected date of birth. The parental leave will begin at the time of the actual birth.

If the parent misses the deadline, the parental leave will only start later. The right to parental leave is not lost.

In exceptional cases, a shorter period may apply in case of urgent reasons (e.g. premature birth or illness). Further, if mothers were unable to request parental leave immediately after the maternity leave, they can apply within one week after the obstacle fell away. However, the mother must not miss the deadline intentionally or negligently (Section 16 BEEG).

Form of notification

From 1 May 2025 onwards, parents will no longer be required to submit their request for parental leave in writing. It will be sufficient to submit it in “text form”, which means that an original letter with a handwritten signature is no longer necessary. “Text form” means less strict requirements:

• The statement must be legible.
• The name of the parent must be stated.
• The notification must be submitted on a durable medium. This can be a paper form, an email or a data carrier (USB stick, etc.).

Contents of the application for parental leave

There is no mandatory application form. However, there are some suggestions for it’s wording. The application must contain the following information:

• Parents must specify the periods during the first two years in which they wish to take leave. This enables the employer to plan effectively.
• Each parent may divide the leave into three periods. The length of each period is not specified. If additional periods are required, the employer must agree.
• Employees must specify the start and end dates of each period.
• Fathers who wish to take parental leave immediately after the birth can specify “from birth”. The expected date of birth must be provided. Parental leave begins with the actual birth.
• Maternity leave is deducted from the mother’s parental leave, if her parental leave begins immediately after the maternity leave. The same applies to annual leave, if it is taken immediately after the maternity leave and immediately before the parental leave.

Note: The parent should request written confirmation of the parental leave application and the requested periods to avoid disputes at a later stage.

Consequences of applying for parental leave

The application for parental leave is binding, which means that the parent cannot unilaterally change its content afterwards. The main obligations of the employment relationship (work and pay) are suspended at the start of the desired periods. This can only be changed by agreement with the employer.

The employer must issue a certificate confirming the parental leave.

If the parent changes employers, a certificate from the previous employer must be submitted to the new employer confirming any parental leave that has already been taken.

Entitlement to parental allowance

Parental allowance can be applied for (1) by anyone who is a resident or a habitual resident in Germany, (2) lives with the child in the same household, (3) takes care of and raises the child, and (4) is not in full-time employment. (§ 1 BEEG)

Amount of parental allowance

There are three types of parental allowance. The “Basic Parental Allowance”, the “Parental Allowance Plus” and the “Partnership Bonus”. Here is an overview:

1. Basic Parental Allowance (Basiselterngeld)

The amount of the Basic Parental Allowance, commonly referred to as “Parental Allowance”, depends on the parents’ net income prior to the birth:

• The allowance equates to 67% of net income (after taxes and social security contributions have been deducted) prior to the birth of the child.
• Only net incomes of up to €2,770 are taken into account. Therefore, the monthly maximum is €1,800.
• A minimum amount of €300 per month applies to parents with no or low incomes before the childbirth, and to parents working part-time before and after the birth.
• Parents are jointly entitled to parental allowance for 12 full months from the date of birth.
• This can be increased to 14 months if one parent’s income in the two months following the birth is lower than their income beforehand (partner months).
• One parent is entitled to a maximum of 12 months of basic parental allowance. The minimum period is two months. (§ 4 BEEG).

2. Parental Allowance Plus (ElterngeldPlus)

Parental Allowance Plus only amounts to 50% of the Basic Parental Allowance. But therefore, the parent receives two months of parental leave instead of one month only. This means:

• If a parent does not work after the birth of a child, they will receive 50% of the Basic Parental Allowance for twice the normal period.
• If the parent works part-time (an average of no more than 32 hours per week/month) after the birth, the total monthly income can be the same as the Basic Parental Allowance.
• Advantages: The parent receiving the Parental Allowance Plus can go on parental leave for double the time. Further, the allowance can be paid until the child is 32 months old.
• However, there are two restrictions: (1) If the mother receives maternity protection payments, she is not eligible for Parental Allowance Plus. (2) After the child’s 14th month of life, Parental Allowance Plus is only available if you take parental leave without interruption. (§ 4 BEEG).

3. Partnership Bonus (Partnerschaftsbonus)

Parents can receive additional months of Parental Allowance Plus through the Partnership Bonus if the following conditions are met:

• On average, both parents work between 24 and 32 hours per week during the specific month.
• They use the Partnership Bonus at the same time.
• They apply for the Partnership Bonus for a minimum of two and a maximum of four months.
• These months must follow one another without interruption. (§ 4b BEEG)

Application for parental allowances

Applications for parental allowances must be made in writing. The prescribed forms must be used. In some federal states, applications can also be submitted digitally. The application must specify which months the allowance is being applied for, and whether it is Basic Parental Allowance, Parental Allowance Plus or Partnership Bonus. (§ 7 BEEG).

Parental allowance is paid retroactively for a maximum of three months from the date of application. For example, if parental allowance is to be paid from birth, the application must be submitted within three months of the birth.

The relevant authorities vary from state to state. Contact details for local advice centres can be found here. Telephone numbers and email addresses can also be found there.

Parents can also find checklists (in German, page 88 etc.) with lists of required documents and paperwork for the application.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)