Paternity leave is now 10 days: leave for fathers and adoptive parents

Rules can change; we describe the situation as of the date this article was prepared (October 2026). Being there for the first days of a baby’s life, as a father or partner, matters a lot for both baby and mother. A 2026 change widened this right.

Paternity leave: 10 days

Working fathers whose wife gives birth receive paid paternity leave.

• Employees (Law No. 4857, additional art. 2): raised from 5 days to 10 days by Law No. 7578, effective 1 May 2026.
• Civil servants (Law No. 657, art. 104/B): 10 days of paternity leave on request.

The legal text says “ten days”. It does not clearly state whether these are calendar or working days or between which dates they can be taken, so we do not interpret it here; ask your HR or personnel unit. Transitional details for babies born before the change could not be confirmed from the official text either; ask your institution.

How to apply

You apply to your institution’s personnel unit or your employer with the birth document. Planning before the birth helps: tell your workplace the expected due date early so you are prepared for how the leave will be used.

Extra options after the birth

• Civil servants whose wife gives birth may ask for up to 24 months of unpaid leave from the date of birth (Law No. 657, art. 108/B). No salary is paid in this time.
• If the mother dies at or after birth, the unused post-birth leave is granted to the father.

Adoption leave

For a spouse or the person who adopts a child under 3, 8 weeks of maternity leave are granted from the handover of the child. This right is defined for both employees and civil servants. Employees may also take up to 6 months of unpaid leave after this period if they wish. Ask your institution about how half-time work rights apply to adopters.

Foster care leave

Under the arrangement introduced by Law No. 7578, an employee who becomes a foster parent may request 10 days of unpaid leave after the child is handed over. Ten days of leave are also provided for civil servants who become foster parents. For pay and details, check your institution’s practice.

Points that are often confused

Old information may still circulate: the idea that paternity leave for employees is 5 days no longer applies; it is 10 days. For civil servants it is also 10 days, but the two groups’ rights rest on different legal provisions. Paternity leave and unpaid leave are also different things: paternity leave is paid, while no salary is paid during unpaid leave. Because the official text does not say whether the days are calendar or working days, you need to clarify this at your own workplace. Adoption and foster care leave are separate provisions, each with its own duration and documents.

What you can do

1. Keep the birth document or the adoption/handover document ready.
2. Make leave requests in writing and keep proof of approval.
3. Find out between which dates paternity leave can be used and plan around hospital discharge and the first days.
4. Besides this leave, consider other options such as annual leave for supporting the household in the first weeks.
5. Talk through the baby-care routine together; agree in advance how you will share night wakings, feeds and diaper changes.

Where to check current rules

• mevzuat.gov.tr: Law No. 4857 (additional art. 2, art. 74) and Law No. 657 (arts. 104, 108)
• Official Gazette: Law No. 7578
• Your workplace HR or personnel unit
• For public employees, your institution’s current notices

This article is for general information; your institution’s current practice is what counts for your case.