Dads JourneyLast updated: October 13, 2026. Figures below were checked against official government sources on this date. Rules change, so confirm with your employer or the linked source before you plan around them.
How much paternity leave you get depends almost entirely on where you work. Some countries give dads a fixed block of paid days, some give a shared pool of weeks, and some give job protection with no pay at all. Here is how paternity leave by country looks in 2026 for five places we could verify with official sources, plus how to ask for it.
Paternity leave by country: quick comparison
| Country | What dads get | Pay | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Up to 12 workweeks of job-protected FMLA leave for birth and bonding, if you and your employer qualify | FMLA leave itself is unpaid | US Department of Labor |
| United Kingdom | Up to 2 weeks of paternity leave, taken together or as two separate weeks | £194.32 a week, or 90% of average weekly earnings if that is lower | GOV.UK |
| Canada (outside Quebec) | Shared EI parental benefits: up to 40 weeks (standard) or 69 weeks (extended) across both parents | 55% of earnings up to $729 a week (standard); 33% up to $437 a week (extended) | Canada.ca |
| Australia | Shared Parental Leave Pay: 26 weeks for children born or adopted from 1 July 2026, with 4 weeks reserved for each parent in a couple | Government-paid; check Services Australia for the current rate | Dept. of Social Services |
| UAE (private sector) | 5 working days of parental leave, usable from the birth up to six months later | Paid | u.ae |
Swipe the table sideways to see more →
We left out countries we could not confirm against a government source. If yours is missing, check your national labour ministry directly.
A few details that trip dads up
United States. FMLA covers private employers with 50 or more employees, plus public agencies and schools. To be eligible you need 12 months with your employer, 1,250 hours in the past year, and a worksite with at least 50 employees within 75 miles. You can use it in the first 12 months after birth, and you generally need to give 30 days' notice. Because the leave is unpaid, many dads line it up with vacation, sick time, or an employer or state paid-leave program. Check your own state and company policy.
United Kingdom. You must be an employee to take paternity leave, and you must give the correct notice: your baby's due date at least 15 weeks before the due week, and 28 days' notice of your leave dates. Pay has extra requirements, including 26 weeks of continuous employment by the qualifying week and minimum earnings. Employers can offer more than the statutory minimum.
Canada. Parents choose standard or extended benefits and cannot switch once payments start. One parent cannot take more than 35 weeks of standard benefits, so if the birth parent takes the maximum, the other parent can apply for up to 5 weeks. On the extended option the equivalent is 8 weeks. Quebec runs its own plan through the Québec Parental Insurance Plan.
Australia. The pool grew to 26 weeks on 1 July 2026. Of that, 4 weeks are reserved for each parent in a couple on a use-it-or-lose-it basis, and couples can take up to 4 weeks at the same time.
UAE. The five days apply to private-sector employees, and both mothers and fathers can apply.
How to ask for paternity leave
The best time to ask is as soon as you are comfortable sharing the news, and always before your legal notice deadline. Read your employee handbook first, then put the request in writing. Here is a template you can adapt:
Subject: Paternity leave request
Hi [Manager's name],
My partner and I are expecting our baby on [due date]. I'd like to request [number] of paternity leave, starting around [start date], under [FMLA / statutory paternity leave / company policy].
I'm happy to put together a handover plan so my work is covered, and I can share it by [date]. Please let me know if HR needs any forms or documentation from me.
Thanks, [Your name]
A few habits help. Keep a copy of the request. Ask HR to confirm your dates and pay in writing. Build in some slack, because babies do not follow due dates. If you want to plan what to actually do with the time, our guide on what to do with the time off covers it, and going back to work is its sequel.
Is it normal that I can't get any paid paternity leave?
Yes, in many places. Paid leave for dads is a legal entitlement in some countries and not in others, and even where it exists it can be short. In the US, for example, federal FMLA leave is job-protected but unpaid. If your entitlement looks thin, ask your employer about company paternity policies, and combine statutory leave with vacation or sick days.
Is it normal that my employer is making it hard to take paternity leave?
It is common, but it should not be. Where leave is a legal right, such as FMLA in the US or statutory paternity leave in the UK, your employer generally cannot deny or discourage it. The US Department of Labor's FMLA fact sheet explicitly lists refusing to authorize leave or discouraging employees from using it as examples of interference. Make your request in writing, keep records, and contact your labour authority or a local advisory service if you hit resistance.
Is it normal that I only qualify for a few days of paternity leave?
Yes. Five working days in the UAE and two weeks in the UK are the statutory minimums, not the recommended amount. Many dads combine them with annual leave to get a longer stretch at home.
How many days of paternity leave can a dad take?
It depends on your country. The statutory entitlements above range from 5 working days in the UAE and 2 weeks in the UK to up to 12 weeks of unpaid FMLA leave in the US and shared pools of weeks in Canada and Australia. Your employer may offer more than the legal minimum.
Can I take paternity leave in separate blocks?
Sometimes. UK paternity leave can be taken as one block of two weeks or as two separate weeks. In the US, taking FMLA bonding leave intermittently requires your employer's agreement. Check the rules where you work.