A short summary of leave, allowances and benefits in Türkiye. Maternity leave is 24 weeks in total (Law No. 7578). Each item shows its official source and the date it was last checked.
Last checked:
Leave
Maternity leave – civil servants
Last checked:
Who can benefit
Female civil servants covered by Law No. 657.
What you get
24 weeks of paid leave in total: 8 weeks before and 16 weeks after birth (2 extra weeks before birth for multiples). With a doctor’s report you may work up to 2 weeks before birth; that time is added after birth. Extended from 16 to 24 weeks by Law No. 7578 (in force since 1 May 2026).
How to apply
Apply in writing to your institution’s HR unit with a medical report showing your due date. Ask HR which system and documents your institution uses.
Steps
Ask your doctor for a report showing your due date (and fitness to work, if you want to keep working until near birth).
Submit your leave request with the report to your HR unit.
After birth, give HR the birth documents and confirm the post-birth leave dates.
24 weeks in total: 8 weeks before and 16 weeks after birth (2 extra weeks before for multiples). With a doctor’s approval you may work until 2 weeks before birth; that time is added afterwards. Extended from 16 to 24 weeks by Law No. 7578 (since 1 May 2026). During leave income is covered by SGK maternity pay if you qualify.
How to apply
Give your employer the medical report showing your due date and notify HR. Maternity pay is handled via SGK.
Steps
Get a report from your doctor with the due date and leave start.
Give the report to your employer/HR and confirm the dates in writing.
After birth provide the birth documents to your employer; follow the SGK steps under maternity pay.
Breastfeeding mothers: civil servants (Law 657) and employees (Law 4857).
What you get
Civil servants: 3 hours/day for the first 6 months after maternity leave, then 1.5 hours/day for the next 6 months. Employees: 1.5 hours/day in total for a child under 1 year. You choose when to use it; it counts as working time for employees. Not combined with the post-birth half-time work option.
How to apply
Tell your employer/institution you will use it and choose the hours yourself. Ask HR about any report required before returning to work.
Women civil servants and civil servants whose spouse gave birth (Law 657 art. 108/B); female employees (Law 4857 art. 74).
What you get
Civil servants: up to 24 months of unpaid leave on request after maternity leave (for spouses from the birth date). Employees: up to 6 months of unpaid leave on request after maternity leave. No salary is paid; ask HR/SGK about social security effects.
How to apply
Apply in writing before maternity leave ends. For civil servants the administration has no discretion on birth-related unpaid leave.
Male civil servants (Law 657) and male employees (Law 4857) whose spouse gives birth.
What you get
10 days of paid paternity leave for civil servants. For employees, leave at spouse’s birth was raised from 5 to 10 days by Law No. 7578 (since 1 May 2026).
How to apply
Apply to HR or your employer with the birth documents; ask HR about the exact period within which it must be used.
Pregnant employees, for the duration of pregnancy.
What you get
Pregnant employees get paid leave for periodic check-ups throughout pregnancy (Regulation art. 11). No pay deduction. The regulation does not state a number of hours.
How to apply
Give your employer the appointment or doctor’s note and ask HR about the process.
Insured women (SGK 4/a employees and 4/b self-employed) who meet the conditions. Civil servants keep their salary from their institution instead.
What you get
For 8 weeks before and 16 weeks after birth (2 extra before for multiples) SGK pays a daily allowance based on earnings (half of daily earnings as inpatient, two thirds as outpatient rate, per Law 5510 art. 18). You need at least 90 days of short-term premiums in the year before birth and must not work during leave. Women registered as company partners are excluded. Some SGK pages may still show the older 8+8 weeks.
How to apply
For 4/a employees the employer reports non-work to SGK and payment is made via a bank branch. 4/b insured declare non-work via e-Devlet. Register your mobile number on e-Devlet for SMS notice.
Steps
Get a rest report from your doctor and have it passed to your employer/SGK.
If you are 4/b, declare non-work via the relevant SGK service on e-Devlet (turkiye.gov.tr).
Optionally register your mobile number in the SGK mobile number service.
Track payment via the SGK “İş Göremezlik Ödeme” inquiry on e-Devlet.
Insured women and insured men whose uninsured spouse gives birth (4/a and 4/b). Civil servants get theirs via their own institution.
What you get
One-off payment per child at the rate valid on the birth date: 1,621 TL for 2026 according to SGK. Requires a live birth and at least 120 days of short-term premiums in the year before birth (4/b: also no debts). Claim within 5 years.
How to apply
According to SGK no petition is needed; payment is made automatically based on the allowance report in the system. If nothing arrives, contact SGK.
Women civil servants (Law 657) and employees (Law 4857) after maternity leave, if the child is alive; adoptive parents under conditions.
What you get
Work half of your normal hours. Civil servants: 2/4/6 months for the 1st/2nd/later births (+1 month for multiples; 12 months for a disabled child). Employees: 60/120/180 days (+30 days for multiples; 360 days for a disabled child). No breastfeeding break during this time.
How to apply
Notify your institution/employer in writing before maternity leave ends; the working hours are set by the institution/employer.
Birth grant (Ministry of Family and Social Services)
Last checked:
Who can benefit
For children born alive on or after 1 Jan 2025: at least one parent must be a Turkish citizen; parent and child must reside in Türkiye. No marriage requirement.
What you get
Per the Ministry FAQ: 1st child one-off 5,000 TL; 2nd child 1,500 TL monthly until age 5; 3rd and later children 5,000 TL monthly until age 5. Tax-free. Amounts may be updated.
How to apply
Apply per child on e-Devlet (or with help from the provincial directorate/social service centre). 1st child: within 12 months; later children: within 60 months. Monthly payments start from the application month; no back payments.
Steps
Log in to turkiye.gov.tr.
Open the “Ministry of Family and Social Services / Birth Grant Application” service.
Select the child, check payment details and declarations, then submit.
Track the result in the same service; reasons are shown if rejected.
Legislation can change; check the official source for the current rules. This page is not legal advice; ask your employer, the social security institution (SGK) or the relevant authority about your personal situation.
You can also find this in the “My rights” section of the app.
