Father on maternity leave in 2025
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Published
9. July 2025
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In recent years, the number of men receiving maternity benefits has been steadily increasing. A key milestone was the legislative change in 2011, which unified the conditions for fathers and mothers. Previously, fathers could only apply until the child was 8 months old, which in practice often could not be reconciled with the mother's benefit. Now, fathers have the right to start maternity benefits anytime from the 6th completed week until the child's 3rd birthday, if the mother is no longer receiving maternity pay or has waived it in writing.
The financial aspect is clear: while parental allowance in 2025 represents €478.60 (or. €597.30 at an increased rate), maternal creates 75 % of the daily assessment base (DVZ) and at higher incomes it exceeds €2,000 per month. This can replace or even increase the family's income – especially if the mother returns to work with a higher salary.
Be careful with terminology: "maternity leave" according to the Labor Code belongs only to the woman. Although the father receives maternity leave as a sickness insurance benefit, he draws it in the employment relationship parental leave.
Conditions that the father must meet
Health insurance – must be insured on the day of arrival.
270 days of insurance – in the last 24 months.
Child's age – at least 6 weeks.
Parental allowance – neither the mother nor the father may receive it (the mother suspends it before the father takes over).
Mother does not receive maternity leave for the same child (but it can be for others).
Self-employed / voluntary insurance – no arrears over €5 in the last 5 years.
From May 1, 2021, a written agreement to take over a child is no longer required; the insurance company will verify the documents itself.
Maximum maternity leave in 2025
Maternity = 75 % DVZ.
Maximum DVZ (2025): €91.9676.
Daily dose: €68.9757.
Maximum maternity
• 30-day month: €2,069.27.
• 31-day month: €2,135.30.
For the ceiling, it is necessary that the assessment base in the decisive period reaches at least €2,796 per month. If the father has two health insurance policies (e.g. employee + self-employed), the claim is assessed from each insurance separately.
Length of maternity leave
28 weeks – standard case.
31 weeks – single father.
37 weeks – when caring for two or more children at the same time.
The application must be submitted so that the entire period ends before the child's 3rd birthday; otherwise the insurance company will reduce the benefit. If the mother and father "transfer" the benefit, they can together use up to 62 weeks maternal.
Working alongside maternity leave
Father must not to work on the same employment contract, from which the benefit arose. However, he may:
to close new employment relationship or agreement (even with the same employer, if it concerns a different job),
to begin or continue business (SZČO).
Only the new income is paid accident insurance. Sickness and pension contributions are not applicable. Self-employed during maternity leave:
can continue to do business,
does not apply Social Security contributions,
in the health insurance company not subject minimum assessment base – pays according to real profit.
Control – The social insurance company can verify whether the father is actually providing personal, full-time care to the child.
What does it mean for a mother?
After the father starts maternity leave, the mother must suspend parental allowance. He doesn't have to return to work, but he can:
stay at home and continue to care for the child, in terms of health insurance in such a case he/she continues to be insured by the state, as a person who personally and full-time cares for a child under 6 years of age according to Section 11, paragraph 7, letter j) of Act No. 580/2004 Coll. on health insurance.),
log in to labor office and receive if the conditions are met unemployment benefit.