Paternity Leave Policy - April 2026
In this section
- Introduction
- Scope
- Entitlement to paternity leave (birth)
- Entitlement to paternity leave (adoption)
- Amount of paternity leave you can take
- Timing of paternity leave
- Notice to take paternity leave (birth)
- Notice to take paternity leave (adoption within the UK)
- Notice to take paternity leave (adoption from overseas)
- Late notice
- Changing your paternity leave plans
- Paternity pay
- Further information
- Maternity/Adoption Support Leave (M/ASL)
- Your rights during paternity leave
- Neonatal care leave
- Bereaved partner's paternity leave
- Returning to work after paternity leave
- Time off for antenatal appointments
- Time off to attend adoption appointments
- Data protection
- Additional leave
- Re-instating lost pension because of unpaid paternity leave
- Abuse of the Paternity Leave policy
- Ensuring equality of opportunity
Entitlement to paternity leave (adoption)
You can take paternity leave for the purpose of caring for the adopted child or supporting the child's adopter if:
• you are the spouse, civil partner, or partner of the child's adopter, and have or expect to have the main responsibility (apart from the adopter) for the child's upbringing.
If you are one of a couple jointly adopting a child, only one of you will be entitled to take adoption leave and the other parent may elect to take a period of paternity leave, provided that the relevant qualifying conditions are met.
You are not entitled to take paternity leave if you have taken paid time off to attend an adoption appointment in respect of the same child.
To exercise your right to take paternity leave in an adoption situation, you must comply with the notification procedure set out below.