Parental Leave Calculator Germany
Enter your child's birth date to get key parental leave dates in Germany: end of maternity protection, 3rd and 8th birthday, 7- and 13-week notice deadlines.
Maximum Parental Leave
36 Months
per parent, until the 8th birthday
Important Dates
Application Deadlines
Allocation
Basis: Federal Parental Allowance and Parental Leave Act (BEEG). Each parent is entitled to up to 36 months of parental leave. Up to 24 months can be taken between the 3rd and 8th birthday. Parental leave must be requested from the employer in text form – an e-mail is sufficient – at least 7 weeks (period up to the 3rd birthday) or 13 weeks (period between the 3rd and 8th birthday) before it starts (§ 16(1) BEEG). The employer may refuse a third period between the 3rd and 8th birthday for urgent operational reasons within 8 weeks. Protection against dismissal applies from the request, at the earliest 8 weeks (leave up to the 3rd birthday) or 14 weeks (between the 3rd and 8th birthday) before the start (§ 18(1) BEEG).
Note: These calculations are for informational purposes only and do not replace professional tax or financial advice. All information without guarantee.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can I take parental leave?
Each parent is entitled to up to 36 months of parental leave per child, taken until the child turns 8. Up to 24 months can be taken between the child's 3rd and 8th birthday. No employer consent is needed, but the employer may refuse a third period falling between the 3rd and 8th birthday for urgent operational reasons within 8 weeks of the request (§ 16(1) BEEG).
Do I have job protection during parental leave?
Yes. Dismissal protection applies from the moment you request parental leave – at the earliest 8 weeks before leave up to the child's 3rd birthday begins, or 14 weeks before leave between the 3rd and 8th birthday begins – and throughout the entire leave period (§ 18(1) BEEG).
Does maternity protection count towards parental leave?
Yes. For the mother, the protection period after the birth counts towards the 36 months of parental leave (§ 15(2) BEEG). The calculator assumes 8 weeks: for a birth on 15.06.2026, maternity protection ends on 10.08.2026, and parental leave before the 3rd birthday runs until 14.06.2029. For premature or multiple births the protection period is extended to 12 weeks – the calculator does not cover this case.
Guide
What is the Parental Leave Calculator Germany?
The parental leave calculator determines the possible periods for parental leave and shows the allocation between both parents.
How does the Parental Leave Calculator Germany work?
Enter the child's date of birth. The calculator shows the three-year parental leave entitlement and the option to take up to 24 months between the child's 3rd and 8th birthdays. The split between partners is planned.
Key Data and Facts
Parental leave: max. 3 years per parent. Up to 24 months between the 3rd and 8th birthday possible. Request in text form (e-mail is sufficient): 7 weeks before the start (leave before the 3rd birthday) or 13 weeks (between the 3rd and 8th birthday).
Step-by-Step Guide
How to plan your parental leave step by step: 1. Enter the child's date of birth: Parental leave can start at the earliest from birth and ends at the latest on the day before the child's 8th birthday. 2. Check your entitlement: Each parent is entitled to up to 3 years of parental leave. It can be split into up to three periods; further periods only with the employer's consent. 3. Plan the periods: Up to 24 months can be taken between the child's 3rd and 8th birthday. The remaining months must fall before the 3rd birthday. 4. Splitting between partners: Both parents can take parental leave at the same time or one after the other. The periods are independent of each other. 5. Observe the deadlines: Parental leave is requested from the employer in text form; an e-mail is sufficient (§ 16(1) BEEG). For parental leave before the 3rd birthday at the latest 7 weeks before it starts, for parental leave between the 3rd and 8th birthday at the latest 13 weeks before it starts. The employer may refuse a third period between the 3rd and 8th birthday for urgent operational reasons within 8 weeks. 6. Protection against dismissal: Begins when the leave is requested, but at the earliest 8 weeks before the start of leave up to the 3rd birthday or 14 weeks before the start of leave between the 3rd and 8th birthday, and lasts until the end of the parental leave (§ 18(1) BEEG).
Calculation Example
Child born on 15.03.2026. Mother: 12 months of parental leave (after maternity protection) until 10.05.2027. Father: 2 months in parallel from 15.03.2026. Remaining 22 months: possible later.
Sources
Official sources
Calculations are based on applicable German laws and official data:
Full methodology at Methodology.
Reviewed by Konstantin Iakovlev · Last updated:
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