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 (birth)
You can take paternity leave for the purpose of caring for the child or supporting the child's mother if:
• you are the child's biological father and have or expect to have responsibility for the child's upbringing; or
• you are the spouse, civil partner, or partner of the child's mother and have or expect to have the main responsibility (apart from the mother) for the child's upbringing.
To exercise your right to take paternity leave in a birth situation, you must comply with the notification procedure set out below.