Having a child: Parental leave and allowance in Portugal
When a baby is born, the mother and father have the right to take time off work to care for their newborn child. This period is called parental leave (also known as ‘initial parental leave’).
During initial parental leave, parents are entitled to receive parental allowance, paid for by Social Security, to compensate for the loss of income from work. The amount of the allowance to be received depends on the number of days of parental leave that the parents decide to take.
In the case of same-sex couples or if the mother or father are not the biological parents, they are also entitled to parental leave and allowance.
Right to parental leave and allowance
Parents have the right to parental leave and can decide which days they wish to take, subject to the rules. An employee does not require any form of authorisation from their employer (company or other) to start taking parental leave.
After the birth, you must inform your employer within seven calendar days (including weekends and public holidays) of the days you will be taking as parental leave. This communication must be made in writing – on paper or by email – and must be accompanied by medical proof of childbirth. Please ask your employer how to proceed.
During parental leave, you are entitled to receive the parental allowance.
You have six months after the baby is born to apply to Social Security for this allowance. You can start your parental leave without having applied for the allowance. This means that when you go on leave, you don’t have to apply for the allowance immediately. When you apply for the allowance, you are entitled to receive payment for the days you have already taken.
This page provides information on the following:
When a baby is born, the parents have the right to take time off work to care for their newborn child. This period is called parental leave (also known as ‘initial parental leave’).
Initial parental leave can last for 120 or 150 consecutive days (including public holidays and weekends).
Parents choose between taking 120 days (about four months) or 150 days (about five months) of leave. The only difference is the amount of parental allowance received. If you choose 120 days, you will receive 100% of the allowance amount. If you choose 150 days, without shared parental leave, you will receive 80% of the allowance amount. With shared parental leave, you receive 83% or 90% if both parents share the leave, according to the applicable rules.
The allowance is paid individually, with the amount depending on each parent’s income from work.
Find out more about the parental allowance
Initial parental leave, whether 120 or 150 days, comprises the following:
- A mandatory period of 42 days to be taken by the mother immediately following the birth.
- A mandatory period of 28 days to be taken by the father, the first 7 of which must be taken immediately after the birth. The father is entitled, if he wishes, to an additional 7 optional days, in addition to the 28 mandatory days. The father’s 28 + 7 days must be taken during the mother’s mandatory 42 days.
- The remaining days up to 120 or 150 can be divided between the father and mother, or taken by just one of them, according to their preference.
The mother’s 42 days and the father’s 28 + 7 days must always be taken in the first 42 days after the birth, and are not added together towards the total of 120 or 150 days.
Additional days
The father may be entitled to an additional 30 days (to add to his 120 or 150 days), but only if the father and the mother share the remainder of the leave between them after the mother’s mandatory 42 days. Each of them must be on parental leave alone for a period of at least 30 consecutive days, or two staggered periods of 15 days.
In some cases, the parents may be entitled to more days of leave, such as for premature births, the birth of twins, or in the event of a postpartum hospital stay.
Maternity leave is usually 42 days. However, it may be extended to 72 days in the following situations:
- Before birth – up to 30 days, which are optional. The mother can choose to take this leave if she wishes, without being advised to do so by a doctor. These 30 days or fewer count towards the total of 120 or 150 days.
- After birth – 42 days (6 weeks) are mandatory and taken consecutively immediately after the birth.
The remaining days of parental leave, up to 120 or 150 days, can be taken by one of the parents or divided between both. If they are divided, the parents are, subject to certain conditions, entitled to take an additional 30 days of shared parental leave.
Paternity leave is usually 28 days. However, it may be extended to 35 days in the following situations:
- 28 mandatory days
Of these 28 days, the first 7 are consecutive and must be taken immediately after the baby is born. The remaining 21 days must be taken during the 42 days (six weeks) of the mother’s parental leave, and in groupings of at least 7 consecutive days.
- 7 optional days
The father, if he wishes, has the right to an additional 7 days, to be taken consecutively or not, which are added to the 28. These extra 7 days must be taken during the mother’s mandatory 42 days of leave.
Once the mother’s 42 mandatory days come to an end, the remaining days of parental leave, up to 120 or 150 days, can be taken by one of the parents or divided between both. If they are divided the parents or divided between both. If they are divided, the parents are, subject to certain conditions, entitled to take an additional 30 days of shared parental leave.
After the mother’s 42 days of mandatory leave, the remainder of the full 120 or 150 days can be divided between the parents as they wish, or taken entirely by only the mother or only the father.
Parental leave is considered shared parental leave if, during these remaining days, the mother and father each separately take at least one period of 30 consecutive days or two periods of 15 consecutive days (they cannot take them at the same time).
Thus, another 30 days are added to the 120 or 150 days of the initial period.
I.e.:
- 120 + 30 = 150 days in total
- 150 + 30 = 180 days in total
Example: Bárbara and Tiago (120 + 30 days)
New parents Bárbara and Tiago opted for an initial 120-day parental leave, with shared leave, so that they could benefit from the extra 30 days.
They chose to divide up their days as follows:
Bárbara stayed at home for the first 42 days after giving birth, fulfilling the mandatory period. During this time, Tiago also stayed at home for 28 days, completing his mandatory period. After Bárbara had taken her mandatory 42 days, she wanted to stay at home for another 78 days, looking after the baby on her own.
After these 120 days (42 + 78 taken by Bárbara), Tiago spent an extra 30 days at home on his own with the baby, completing the 150 days to which the couple were entitled for shared parental leave.
Example: Joana and Luís (120 + 30 days)
New parents Joana and Luís opted for an initial 120-day parental leave, with shared leave, so that they could benefit from the extra 30 days.
They chose to divide up their days as follows:
Joana stayed at home for the first 42 days after giving birth, fulfilling the mandatory period. During this time, Luís also stayed at home for 35 days, completing his mandatory period, plus 7 optional days. After taking the mandatory 42 days for the mother, Joana wanted to stay with her baby for another 48 days.
After those 90 days (42 + 48 taken by Joana), it was Luís’s turn to take his paternity leave with the baby. He took 30 consecutive days of paternity leave, thus completing the 120 days that the couple were initially entitled to.
Since they were able to benefit from 30 extra days, they chose to divide their remaining time with Joana staying at home for the next 15 days and Luís staying at home for the final 15, completing the 150 days to which they were entitled in full.
Example: Sofia and Márcio (150 + 30 days)
New parents Sofia and Márcio opted for an initial 150-day parental leave, with shared leave, so that they could benefit from the extra 30 days.
They chose to divide up their days as follows:
Sofia stayed at home for the first 42 days after giving birth, fulfilling the mandatory period. During this time, Márcio also stayed at home for 28 days, completing his mandatory period. After taking the mandatory 42 days for the mother, Sofia wanted to stay at home with her baby for another 78 days.
After those 120 days (42 + 78 taken by Sofia), it was Márcio’s turn to take his paternity leave with the baby. He took 30 consecutive days of paternity leave, thus completing the 150 days that the couple were initially entitled to.
As they were able to benefit from 30 extra days, they opted to divide up their remaining time with Sofia staying at home for the next 15 days and Márcio staying at home for the final 15, completing the 180 days to which they were entitled in full.
Extended parental leave can be taken immediately after the initial parental leave ends, or at any time up until the child turns six years old.
Extended parental leave can last for up to three months, and each parent has the right to take the full three months if they wish.
The leave may be taken by both parents, or taken by only the father or only the mother. It can be taken alternately or at the same time.
While you are on extended parental leave, you are entitled to receive the extended parental allowance.
The extended parental allowance may be granted in the following ways:
- Extended parental allowance: leave of up to three months taken by each parent.
- Extended part-time parental allowance: leave of three months taken by each parent, alongside part-time work. In this case, it is mandatory for both parents to take part-time leave.
- Extended staggered parental allowance: leave with pay for a period equivalent to three months, for each parent, which may stagger full-time leave with part-time leave (alongside part-time work). Leave periods are counted according to their use, with total periods being counted as full days and half-day periods as half a day.
The amount of the allowance depends on how the leave is used:
- Extended parental leave – Social Security pays an allowance equal to 30% of the reference salary, for a period of up to three months for each parent. However, if both parents each take the full extended parental leave (three months), the allowance amount increases to 40% of the reference salary.
- Supplementary part-time leave – Social Security pays an allowance of 20% of the reference salary if parents combine the paid leave with part-time work. For this to happen, it is compulsory for both parents to each take a three-month period of leave. However, if the parents interrupt up to three periods of leave (i.e. alternate between full-time leave and part-time leave at least twice), the amount of the allowance rises to 30% of the reference salary.
Find out more about how to apply for the extended parental allowance.
Further information on the conditions of accessing the extended parental allowance can be found in the Social Security Practical guide on the extended parental allowance.
People who adopt children are also entitled to take leave and receive the corresponding allowance.
Find out more about adoption leave and allowance at Having a child: adopting children and young people in Portugal.
If a pregnancy ends in miscarriage and no leave for miscarriage exists, the employee is entitled to absence for pregnancy loss for up to three consecutive days. The father may also take this leave.
As soon as possible, the mother and father must present to the employer a medical certificate or a statement from the hospital or health centre proving the loss of the pregnancy.
To be eligible for the parental allowance, you must fulfil the following requirements:
- You must be taking parental leave.
- At the start of your period of leave, you must have worked, with registered payslips, for at least six months, either consecutively or intermittently.
- If you are self-employed or covered by the voluntary Social Security scheme, your Social Security contributions must be up to date.
The percentage of the allowance varies depending on how much leave the parents wish to take (120 or 150 days). The allowance is paid individually, with the amount depending on each parent’s income from work.
The initial parental allowance may be paid in addition to part-time work after 120 days of leave.
Find out how to apply for the parental allowance.
How much is the parental allowance?
Regardless of the choice made regarding the number of days of leave, in the mandatory period of 28 + 7 days for the father, the paternity allowance is always paid at 100% of the reference remuneration.
The amount depends on how many days of leave the parents choose. Therefore:
- If they choose 120 days, they will receive 100% of their reference remuneration for a total of 120 days.
- If they choose 150 days, they will receive 80% of their reference remuneration for a total of 150 days.
However, if the parents choose shared parental leave, adding 30 days to the normal leave period, the allowance is as follows:
- If they choose 150 days (120 + 30), they will receive 100% of their reference remuneration for a total of 150 days.
- If they choose 180 days (150 + 30), they will receive 83% of their reference remuneration for a total of 180 days.
- If they choose 180 days (150 + 30), but the father takes 60 consecutive days or two periods of 30 consecutive days, without counting the father’s mandatory period, they will receive 90% of their reference remuneration for a total of 180 days.
What is reference remuneration?
Reference remuneration the average of the gross remuneration registered with Social Security in the first six months of the eight months prior to going on parental leave. In other words, it is the average of your gross income (without deductions) in those six months, but with the value determined per day, not per month. This income may be in the form of salary, pension, benefits, etc.
Reference remuneration is determined using the following formula: R/180 – i.e. the average gross income divided by 180 days.
Nb: holiday, Christmas and other bonuses are not included in reference remuneration.
How is the amount of the allowance calculated?
Exemple: Ana (120 days of leave, fixed salary)
Ana has a gross income of EUR 1 350. On 7 April 2025, she began her 120-day period of parental leave, as chosen by Ana and her husband. The following calculations determine the amount she will receive:
- Her gross salary received between August 2024 and January 2025 are added together.
- The total is divided by 180. The result is the reference remuneration.
- The percentage associated with the selected parental leave must be applied to this value. In this case, since Ana has chosen 120 days, the percentage is 100%.
Ana’s parental allowance is EUR 45 per day (8 100 ÷ 180 x 100). Ana is entitled to receive EUR 45 per day for a total of 120 days, which is the duration of the leave she has chosen.
Ana’s husband must apply the same calculations to his income.
NB: mandatory paternity leave (28 + 7 days) is always paid at 100%.
Exemple: Susana (150 days of leave, self-employed)
Susana works as a self-employed freelancer. Her gross income varies almost every month. Susana and her partner plan to start their 150 days of parental leave on 7 April 2025. The following calculations determine the amount she will receive:
- Her gross salary received between August 2024 and January 2025 are added together.
- The total is divided by 180. The result is the reference remuneration.
- The percentage associated with the selected parental leave must be applied to this value. In this case, since Susana has chosen 150 days of shared parental leave, the percentage is 83%.
The allowance amount cannot be less than EUR 13.93 per day. (80% of 1/30 of the Social Support Index (IAS) amount; in 2025, the IAS is EUR 522.50).
Susana’s partner must apply the same calculations to his income.
NB: mandatory paternity leave (28 + 7 days) is always paid at 100%.
Exemple: Marco (180 days of leave (150+30) fixed salary)
Marco has a gross income of EUR 1 400. On 7 April 2025, he began his 150-day period of parental leave, as chosen by Marco and his partner. The following calculations determine the amount she will receive:
- His gross salary received between August 2024 and January 2025 are added together.
- The total is divided by 180. The result is the reference remuneration.
- The percentage associated with the selected parental leave must be applied to this value. In this case, as Marco and his partner have chosen 150 days of parental leave and Marco will be taking 60 consecutive days, not counting his mandatory paternity leave, the percentage is 90%.
Marco’s parental allowance during his 60-day leave is EUR 42 per day (8 400 ÷ 180 x 90).
Marco’s partner must apply the same calculations to her income, again at 90%.
NB: mandatory paternity leave (28 + 7 days) is always paid at 100%.
The initial parental leave allowance for one parent in the event of the indisposition of the other parent is paid to either the mother or the father if the other parent cannot take their initial parental leave due to:
- medically certified physical or mental incapacity, for as long as this incapacity continues; or
- death.
In the event of the mother’s death, the allowance is only paid if the baby is born alive.
Find out how to apply for the initial parental leave allowance for a parent due to the indisposition of the other parent.
If one of the parents is under 16 years old, working grandparents living with the baby are entitled to a period of leave of up to 30 consecutive days after the birth.
If the newborn lives with the grandparents, either of them can take time off work and benefit from this allowance. However, both cannot take leave from work at the same time. One of the grandparents may take the full 30 days, or they can divide up the days between them as they wish.
The grandchild care allowance corresponds to 100% of the reference remuneration.
Find out how to apply for the grandchild care allowance.
For more information, vistit the Social Security website.
Information updated on 27 May 2025