Eligibility for birth and adoption
A Singaporean child and three continuous employment months before birth are required; self-employed parents need three continuous work months and lost income. All mothers can qualify; fathers must satisfy the lawful-marriage condition between conception/birth or within 12 months after birth inclusive. Adoption requires formal intent from 1 April 2025, a child under 12 months then, the citizenship condition (for a foreign child at least one adoptive parent must be Singaporean), and three continuous service/work months before formal intent, with lost income for self-employment. If leave criteria are unmet, check the SPL Benefit scheme.
Shared pool and payment
SPL is a pool shared by parents, not that many weeks for each parent. Employers pay each allocated period and claim government reimbursement up to S$2,500 per allocated week. Use the applicable birth/estimated-delivery/formal-intent date.
| Date | Shared entitlement |
|---|---|
| 1 July 2017–31 March 2025 | Check the previous 2013 SPL scheme through GPL Portal |
| 1 April 2025–31 March 2026 | 6 weeks shared |
| From 1 April 2026 | 10 weeks shared |
Notice and use
From 1 April 2025 give four weeks’ notice unless the employer accepts less. Consume within 12 months of birth, including the birth date. Continuous or non-continuous use can be agreed; without agreement use one continuous block within 26 weeks of birth inclusive. GPL Portal explains allocation and planning.
Related topics and services
Official documents and references
- Government-Paid Leave portal ↗ Government source
- Shared Parental Leave Benefit scheme ↗ Government source
- Government-Paid Leave portal ↗ Government source