How long is paternity leave in Belgium?

20 days of birth leave, to be taken within 4 months of the birth.

Must I take all 20 days in a row?

No. You can take them together or spread them over the four months.

Who pays after the first three days?

Your health insurance fund pays 82% of capped gross earnings for up to 17 more days.

Can self-employed fathers get paid birth leave?

Yes, under a separate scheme that requires social contributions and a full stop of activity on leave days.

Paternity Leave in Belgium

Fathers and co-parents in Belgium can take 20 days of birth leave within four months. Work out your dates and see how pay works.

Last updated: 13 November 2026

Country / Region

20 days of birth leave within 4 months: 3 days on full salary, then 82% from the health insurance fund.

Source: RIZIV – Geboorteverlof voor werknemers

Employment Type

Leave Calculation Method

Expected Baby Due Date

Planned Leave Start Date (optional)

Defaults to the due date.

Employer-Provided Leave

Work Schedule

Pay Estimate (optional)

Add your salary to see how much you'll be paid during your leave. Leave it empty to calculate dates only.

Gross Salary (€)

Pay Frequency

Government / statutory pay per week (if any)

Pay rules for Belgium aren't built in yet — enter the weekly amount from your country guide or benefits office.

Employer Pays (% of salary)

For How Many Weeks

Your results will appear here

Fill in your details and press calculate to see your leave dates, notice deadlines and pay estimate.

Belgium paternity leave at a glance

Employee fathers and eligible co-parents can take 20 days of birth leave, with full salary for the first 3 days and a capped insurance benefit after that.

Leave length: 20 days of birth leave.
When to take it: Within 4 months of the birth, in one block or as separate days.
Pay: Your employer pays your normal salary for the first 3 days. Your health insurance fund then pays 82% of capped gross earnings for up to 17 more days, with 11.11% tax withheld.
Who qualifies: An employment contract and legal parenthood, or qualifying legal or permanent cohabitation with the mother. Insurance payments also need the qualifying period and coverage conditions.
Self-employed fathers: Self-employed fathers have a separate birth-leave benefit scheme with contribution and activity-stop conditions.

Parental leave on top of paternity leave

Separate parental leave generally gives each employee 4 months full-time (or part-time equivalents) before the child turns 12, with ONEM allowances.

Good to know

The calculator converts 20 working days to 28 calendar days on a Monday–Friday week.

Legal entitlement vs employer benefits

The rules above are the legal minimum in Belgium. Many employers offer extra paid days or top up statutory pay. Add any employer leave in the calculator above to see your real return-to-work date, and confirm the details with your HR team. To compare pay over the weeks you take off, try the paternity pay calculator.

Other European guides

GermanyNo separate paternity leave; up to 3 years Elternzeit France28 days (3 birth + 25 paternity)Spain19 weeks (6 compulsory)Netherlands1 week + up to 5 extra weeks Austria1 month (Papamonat)Switzerland2 weeks (10 working days)Italy10 working days (20 for twins)Portugal28 compulsory + 7 optional days

Official sources

Frequently asked questions

Editorial note: we summarise official government guidance and link to it. Laws change — always confirm your entitlement with your employer or the relevant authority. This page is not legal advice.