Leave Entitlement Calculator France 2026

France combines a generous 28-day paternity leave at full pay with a long but poorly paid parental leave, and its annual leave is counted in jours ouvrables rather than working days — a distinction that trips up most cross-border comparisons.

Maternity leave
16 weeks @ 100%
Paternity leave
28 days @ 100%
Parental leave
156 weeks @ 30%
Annual leave
25 days

Maternity leave is 16 weeks at 100% for a first or second child (six weeks prenatal, ten postnatal), rising to 26 weeks from the third child and to 34 weeks for twins. Payment comes from the Sécurité sociale as indemnités journalières, subject to the social-security ceiling.

Congé de paternité et d'accueil de l'enfant is 28 calendar days at 100%, of which the first seven days are mandatory and cannot be waived by the employee or the employer — a compulsory element unique to France among the pilot countries.

Congé parental d'éducation runs up to 156 weeks (three years), but the PreParE allowance replaces only about 30% of a typical salary as a flat monthly benefit, which is why French take-up beyond the first year is low compared with Luxembourg's fully compensated scheme.

Paid annual leave accrues at 2.5 jours ouvrables per month worked, giving 25 working days (30 jours ouvrables) per full year. The reference period runs from 1 June to 31 May, and RTT days from the 35-hour week are additional to this statutory entitlement.

Leave Calculator

Leave Calculator

Simulate maternity, paternity, and parental leave and compare rights in the EU

Leave Simulation

🇫🇷 Rights in France

Maternity

16 weeks (100%)

Paternity

28 days (100%)

Parental

156 weeks (30%)

Annual Leave

25 days

Up to 3 years parental leave.

Maternity Leave
Simulation for France

16

weeks (112 days)

100%

of salary

Normal Monthly Salary:€1,500.00
Monthly During Leave:€1,500.00
Total to Receive:€5,600.00

Sick Leave in France:

50% salary (CPAM)

EU Comparison - Annual Leave
🇪🇪

28

days

🇮🇹

26

days

🇱🇺

26

days

🇵🇱

26

days

🇫🇷

25

days

🇦🇹

25

days

🇸🇪

25

days

🇩🇰

25

days

🇫🇮

25

days

🇲🇹

24

days

🇵🇹

22

days

🇪🇸

22

days

🇩🇪

20

days

🇳🇱

20

days

🇧🇪

20

days

🇮🇪

20

days

🇧🇬

20

days

🇨🇾

20

days

🇨🇿

20

days

🇬🇷

20

days

🇭🇷

20

days

🇭🇺

20

days

🇱🇹

20

days

🇱🇻

20

days

🇷🇴

20

days

🇸🇰

20

days

🇸🇮

20

days

⚠️ Indicative values based on 2026 general legislation. Consult Social Security.

Country guides

Detailed rules and worked examples for each pilot country.

Parental and Annual Leave Rights Across the EU

Maternity Leave EUPaternity LeaveParental LeaveAnnual LeaveCongé de MaternitéElternzeitPaid Holidays EuropeWork-Life BalanceLeave EntitlementsMutterschutz

The European Union guarantees minimum standards for annual leave, maternity leave, paternity leave, and parental leave through directives. However, each member state implements these rights differently, often exceeding the EU minimum. Understanding your leave entitlements is crucial when working or relocating within Europe.

Maternity Leave (Congé de Maternité) in Europe

The EU Pregnant Workers Directive mandates a minimum of 14 weeks maternity leave. Sweden offers 480 days of parental leave shared between parents. France provides 16 weeks of congé de maternité at near-full pay. Germany's Mutterschutz covers 14 weeks (6 before, 8 after birth) at 100% salary. In Portugal, mothers receive 120 days at 100% or 150 days at 80%. Spain grants 16 weeks of permiso de maternidad at 100% of the regulatory base.

Paternity Leave Rights

Paternity leave varies dramatically across EU countries. Spain leads with 16 weeks of permiso de paternidad at 100% pay. France offers 28 days of congé de paternité. Luxembourg provides 10 days of congé de paternité. Germany integrates paternity leave into the Elternzeit system (up to 3 years). Portugal grants 28 mandatory days for fathers. The EU Work-Life Balance Directive ensures a minimum of 10 days across all member states.

Parental Leave (Elternzeit / Congé Parental)

Beyond maternity and paternity leave, parental leave allows parents to care for young children. Germany's Elternzeit provides up to 3 years with Elterngeld (67% of net income, capped at €1,800/month). France offers congé parental d'éducation until the child turns 3. Luxembourg grants 6 months full-time or 12 months part-time congé parental with a fixed allowance. Belgium's ouderschapsverlof provides 4 months per parent.

Annual Leave Entitlements (Paid Holidays)

The EU Working Time Directive guarantees a minimum of 4 weeks (20 working days) paid annual leave. Austria offers 25 days plus 13 public holidays. France provides 25 days of congés payés plus RTT days. Luxembourg grants 26 days minimum. Germany mandates 20 days minimum but most contracts provide 25-30 days (Urlaubstage). Finland offers 25-30 days of vuosiloma. Public holidays (jours fériés, Feiertage) add 8-15 additional days depending on the country.

How Leave Impacts Your Salary and Benefits

During leave periods, compensation varies by country and leave type. Some countries pay 100% of salary during maternity leave while others apply caps or reduced rates. Social security contributions typically continue during leave periods, protecting pension rights and healthcare coverage. Understanding the financial impact of each leave type helps with family planning and career management across EU borders.

Parental & Maternity Leave Calculator — Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about parental and maternity leave across EU countries