Denmark is significantly increasing government-paid leave for parents of hospitalized newborn children from a combined total of three months for both parents to 12 months for each parent. This extension will also apply to “early homestays,” where medical treatment is provided at home instead of in hospital, rather than only to hospitalized cases.
These changes will take effect from 1 January 2026 and apply to parents of children born or adopted on or after 1 January 2026.
Background
The Act amending the Parental Leave Act (the “Amending Act”) was passed by the Danish Parliament on 11 June 2025 and signed into law by the King of Denmark on 20 June 2025.
Key details
Under the existing Parental Leave Act, parents of a newborn child or an adopted child (regardless of the adopted child’s age) admitted to hospital during the first 46 weeks after birth or adoption are entitled to an extension of their government-paid parental leave equal to the period of the child’s hospitalization, subject to a combined maximum of three months for both parents. The Amending Act increases this limit significantly, granting up to 12 months of leave extension per parent.
This leave extension is in addition to the current total family leave entitlement per parent of 24 weeks (covering maternity, paternity, and parental leave) as follows:
Two weeks: allocated to each parent, to be taken immediately after the child’s birth (cannot be transferred to the other parent)
Eight weeks: allocated to the mother to be taken within the first 10 weeks of the child’s birth and allocated to the father or co-mother to be taken within one year of the child’s birth (may be transferred to the other parent)
Nine weeks: allocated to each parent, to be taken within one year of the child’s birth (cannot be transferred to the other parent)
Five weeks: allocated to each parent, to be taken within one year of the child’s birth (may be transferred to the other parent)
Currently, the parental leave extension applies only if the child is admitted to hospital. Under the Amending Act, “early homestays” – where medical treatment is provided at home rather than in hospital – will also qualify for the same parental leave extension.
Employer action: ACT
Employers should review these changes and prepare to update their handbooks, policies, practices, and collective agreements accordingly, effective 1 January 2026. The Danish government is expected to update their online guidance on family leave, which will likely be available at official portals such as borger.dk (opens a new window) or lifeindenmark.dk (opens a new window).
Further Information
L 207 Proposal for an Act amending the Parental Leave Act | Folketinget (opens a new window)
