Maternity and paternity leave in Singapore when the baby is not a citizen
The leave rules key off the baby's citizenship, not yours. For most expat couples that means 12 weeks of maternity leave with 8 paid, no statutory paternity leave, and 2 days of childcare leave a year. What your company adds on top is the number to ask about. Checked 22 September 2026.
Tell your employer, and check which maternity leave you get
Your maternity leave depends on the baby's citizenship, not yours. If the baby will be a Singapore citizen you get 16 weeks of Government-Paid Maternity Leave. Checked against profamilyleave.msf.gov.sg on 21 September 2026.
Applies to people who are employed. Paperbump schedules this usually between week 16 and week 18 of the pregnancy. What this step involves · profamilyleave.msf.gov.sg
Paternity leave: four weeks for a citizen child, none by law otherwise
Since 1 April 2025 fathers of a Singapore citizen child get 4 weeks of Government-Paid Paternity Leave, and from April 2026 a further 10 weeks of Shared Parental Leave can be split between the parents. None of this applies when the baby is not a citizen: there is no statutory paternity leave under the Employment Act, so whatever your partner gets is down to the employment contract or the company's policy. Checked against profamilyleave.msf.gov.sg on 22 September 2026.
Applies to people who have a partner going through it with them and are employed. Paperbump schedules this usually between week 20 and week 22 of the pregnancy. What this step involves · profamilyleave.msf.gov.sg
Childcare leave: two days a year for a non-citizen child
Once you are back at work, the Employment Act gives each parent 2 days of paid childcare leave a year while the child is under 7, if you have worked for your employer for at least 3 months. Parents of a Singapore citizen child get 6 days. Checked against mom.gov.sg on 21 September 2026.
Applies to people who are employed. Paperbump schedules this between 2 months and 3 months after the birth. What this step involves · mom.gov.sg
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