Fathers and partners have the right to statutory paternity leave and pay when a baby arrives. This guide explains who qualifies, how much you get, and how to notify your employer.
When you become a new parent — whether your partner has given birth or you are adopting — you have statutory rights to take time off work and receive pay. This guide explains paternity leave and pay for 2025, who qualifies, and how to use your rights.
You can take Statutory Paternity Leave (SPL) if you are an employee and you:
You must also have 26 weeks' continuous service with your employer by the end of the 15th week before the expected week of birth (or, for adoption, by the week you are notified of a match).
You can take either:
Paternity leave cannot be taken as separate, non-consecutive weeks. Both weeks must be taken at the same time.
When can you take it?
If you qualify for Statutory Paternity Leave and earn at least the Lower Earnings Limit (£123/week in 2025/26), you are entitled to Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) for the leave period.
SPP rate (2025/26): £184.03 per week (or 90% of your average weekly earnings if lower)
SPP is paid through your employer's payroll and is subject to income tax and National Insurance.
Many employers offer enhanced paternity pay — full or enhanced pay for some or all of the leave period. Check your employment contract or company handbook.
You must tell your employer:
Your employer can ask for written confirmation (a self-certificate form, SC3) and a copy of the MATB1 certificate if available.
If circumstances change (e.g. the baby arrives early), you must give notice as soon as reasonably practicable.
You can change your intended start date by giving at least 28 days' notice of the new start date (or as soon as reasonably practicable if that is not possible, e.g. because the birth was earlier than expected).
While you are on paternity leave, your employment rights continue:
Paternity leave dismissal or detriment is automatically unfair — there is no minimum service period required to bring such a claim.
If you want more than 2 weeks off, you and your partner may be able to use Shared Parental Leave (ShPL).
SPL allows parents to share up to 50 weeks of leave and 37 weeks of Statutory Shared Parental Pay (at the same rate as SPP) between them, taken in blocks. Your partner must end their maternity leave first to "unlock" the shared leave.
You and your partner can even take leave at the same time, meaning both parents can be at home simultaneously.
If you are the secondary adopter (the adopter's partner), you can take 2 weeks' Ordinary Adoption Leave — with the same eligibility rules as statutory paternity leave. The primary adopter takes Statutory Adoption Leave (equivalent to maternity leave — up to 52 weeks).
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