France has introduced additional paid parental leave for mothers and fathers as the government seeks to support families and respond to a declining birth rate.
The new rules, effective from July 1, 2026, give each parent extra leave after the birth or adoption of a child, on top of existing maternity, paternity and adoption benefits. Parents can receive 70 percent of net salary during the first month and 60 percent during the second month, according to reports.
The measure is aimed at giving parents more time with newborns, helping families balance work and childcare, and encouraging more equal sharing of early childcare responsibilities.
How the new leave works
Under the policy, each parent has an individual right to one or two months of additional leave. The leave can be taken in one continuous period or split into two separate one-month periods.
Both parents may take the leave at the same time or at different times, depending on their family and work needs.
The benefit applies to parents of children born or adopted from January 1, 2026, according to the reported rules.
France faces a demographic challenge
France has been concerned about falling births in recent years. In 2025, the country recorded more deaths than births for the first time since World War II, with births falling to their lowest level since 1942, according to INSEE figures reported by Le Monde.
President Emmanuel Macron announced plans in 2024 to reform family policy and introduce better-paid parental leave, saying France needed to respond to declining fertility and rising concerns over infertility.
Before the latest change, first-time mothers in France were entitled to about 16 weeks of paid maternity leave, while fathers could take 28 days of paternity leave. The new entitlement adds to those existing protections rather than replacing them.
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