Elternzeit (Parental Leave) in Germany [2024 Guide]

Parental leave is an amazing opportunity to spend quality time with your new child in Germany. Here’s everything you need to know about it.

Parental Leave Defined

Parental leave (Elternzeit) is unpaid leave from work to look after their babies and young kids which allows parents (both mother and father) to spend enough time with their children at an early age. When parents are on parental leave, they do not work, but they can work for a few hours. Once parental leave ends, they rejoin their office and go back to work.

Parental Leave Entitlement

Parental leave is granted to you when you are:

• Employed by an organization, company, or government agency
• Your child lives with you
• Responsible for your child

Part-time workers, mini-job holders, or under vocational training people are also entitled to parental leave. Parent leave is not granted if you are:

• Self-employed
• Unemployed
• University students

Request a parental leave if your child is: - Biological
- Adopted 
- Foster 
- Grandchildren

Note: Any of the family members can apply for paternal leave, if parents cannot look after the child.

Parental Leave Payment

You will not get your salary during parental leave as it is an unpaid leave from work. Register yourself for parental allowance (Elterngeld) funded by The German federal government and get more than 1800 Euros.

Time and Duration of Parental Leave

The duration of parental leave is up to 36 months per child for both parents. This durations includes the legally allowed maternity leave for mothers during which mother stay home. Father can take parental leave at the time of baby’s birth whereas a mother can begin it after maternity leave. It is not necessary to apply for parental leave by both parents.

Split Parental Leave

You can divide your parental leave in multiple parts as both parents have to avail it within 3 years of child’s birth. If you decide not to avail till 3rd birthday, avail it till child’s 8th birthday.

Procedure to Apply for Parental Leave

Register with the employer in writing (sample letter elternetzeit.de) at but not via call or email. Mentio the start and end date of the parental leave on your letter and request for confirmation in writing to avoid any issues in future.

Note: If you are applying before your child’s 3rd birthday, parental leave will be divided according to the next 2 years (period or binding period - Bindungszeitraum). Once leave is declared, no changes can be made without employer’s consent.

Time to Register for Parental Leave

Here are the rules if your child is born after 1st July 2015:

• Apply before third birthday -  inform the employer at least 7 weeks in advance.
• Apply between the third and eighth birthday of child -  inform employer at least 13 weeks in advance

If your child is born after 1st July 2015, inform the employer at least 7 weeks in advance irrespective of the planned dates.

Work During Parental Leave

You can work part-time for almost 32 hours per week. Parents who already have a part-time job before child’s birth can continue work or can request their employer to reduce the working hours. Parents who have full-time job can request their employer to work part-time. If the employer doesn’t agree, get permission to work part-time for another company. You can ask for the part-time work if you are working with the company for more than six months and the company has more than 15 employees.

Termination / Firing During Parental Leave

Employers cannot fire employees during parental leave according to the German law that provides legal protection against dismissal 8 weeks before the parental leave or if leave is already applied.

Employers can fire in some scenarios if Occupational Health and Safety Inspectorate (Aufsichtbehörde) approves teh termination;

• Company’s insolvency
• Contract violation by employee

If you do not agree with the termination, file a case maximum by three weeks after receiving termination.

Quitting Job During Parental Leave

You can quit your job during parental leave, but serve the notice period according to your employment contract.

Designation After Parental Leave

You are on the same role after parental leave. If position is not available, employers must offer an equivalent designation through which the employee would not earn less than before. If you are looking for new opportunities, send notice to your employer or have a conversation before making any final decision.

Annual Leaves During Parental Leaves

If you are not working during parental leave, 1/12 leave every month will be deducted. If you availed a year as parental leave, your annual leaves are lost. If you take vacation days before parental leave, you can use remaining annual leaves. If you are working part-time during parental leave, no deduction will be made. Remainder annual leaves will be lost.

Final Remarks

Spend quality time with your family and the newborn during parental leave as you have complete freedom to choose the duration of parental leave which is three years (maximum). Split your parental leave according to your preferences and discuss with your employer. These leaves are unpaid, so if you want to get financial support, apply for parental allowance.