Quick answer
From 1 April 2026, a couple can get 30 weeks of government-paid leave: 16 weeks maternity, 4 weeks paternity and 10 weeks shared. Shared leave splits 5 and 5 by default. Change it on LifeSG within 4 weeks of the birth.
The useful number: 30 weeks of paid leave as a couple for babies born or due from 1 April 2026: 16 + 4 + 10.
Your leave in two questions
Loading the official figures…
Who gets this leave?
These figures assume a Singapore citizen child and lawfully married parents. Each parent needs 3 months with their employer before the birth. Births before 1 April 2025 follow the older scheme.
How does the leave add up?
- Government-Paid Maternity Leave
- 16 weeks
- Government-Paid Paternity Leave
- 4 weeks
- Shared Parental Leave, born or due from 1 April 2026
- 10 weeks (5 + 5 by default)
- Shared Parental Leave, born 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026
- 6 weeks (3 + 3 by default)
- Total as a couple from 1 April 2026
- 30 weeks
With the default split, mum has 21 weeks and dad has 9. In the 6-week period, the couple total is 26 weeks.
The later of the birth date and the EDD decides the scheme. A baby due on 20 April 2026 but born on 28 March 2026 keeps the 10 weeks.
Under MOM’s default rules, the father’s paternity leave falls within 16 weeks of the birth and shared leave within 26 weeks. So a parent is home until 26 September 2026. All 30 weeks back to back reach 24 October 2026 only if both employers agree.
How do you plan the split?
- Enter the birth date, and the EDD if baby came early, in the Parental leave planner.
- Decide who takes the shared weeks. Change the split on LifeSG within 4 weeks of the birth.
- Agree dates with each employer, using the Employer conversation template (members only, free to join) (members). Shared leave is taken within 12 months by agreement, otherwise as one block within 26 weeks.
- Plan care for your return with the Weekly care coverage planner, and join waitlists early with the Preschool waitlist timeline planner.
What if baby comes early, or we have twins?
- Born early: maternity leave starts on the birth date (or earlier by agreement with your employer). It is still 16 weeks.
- Twins or triplets: they count as a single delivery, so maternity leave is the same 16 weeks. Parents of twins get the same paternity and shared parental leave as for a single birth.
- Baby in hospital: by agreement with your employer, take the first 8 weeks in one stretch and the last 8 weeks flexibly within 12 months of the birth, for example once baby is home.
- Unpaid infant care leave: 12 days a year for each parent while a Singapore Citizen child is below 2, after 3 months with your employer. With twins it is still 12 days a year.
More on NICU bills, grants and leave: Born early or twins: bills, grants and leave.
What does the planner leave out?
Only government-paid leave; your employer may give more. Other rules apply to the self-employed and to under 3 months’ service. The Government repays employers up to S$2,500 a week. MOM and LifeSG decide eligibility.
Printables for this guide
Employer conversation template
Prepare a flexible work request with a plan for how the work gets done. Covers MOM's rules on formal requests and childcare leave, with a request to fill in.
Weekly care coverage planner
Shade the hours each adult is away and write who has the children each hour. Spot gaps and handovers, then check closures and sick days.
Frequently asked questions
How many weeks of Shared Parental Leave do we get?
10 weeks for babies born or due from 1 April 2026, 5 and 5 by default. Babies born from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026 get 6 weeks.
My baby was born early. Which scheme applies?
The later of the birth date and the EDD decides. MSF says such parents apply through LifeSG after birth registration.
Can dad take more of the shared leave?
Yes. Parents can reallocate the shared weeks on LifeSG within 4 weeks of the birth.
Keep this guide for the next big decision.
Build your own reading list and pick up where you left off with a free RaisingAngels account.
Free account · Tools stay free without an account.
Sources & assumptions
- MOM — Shared parental leave ↗
- MOM — Paternity leave ↗
- MOM — Maternity leave eligibility and entitlement ↗
- MSF — 10 Weeks of Shared Parental Leave From 1 April 2026 ↗
- MOM — Maternity leave in special situations ↗
- MOM — Planning your maternity leave ↗
- MOM — Unpaid infant care leave ↗
Employer schemes, self-employment and births before 1 April 2025 are not modelled.