Elternzeit - Parental Leave (Germany)
A statutory job-protected parental leave entitlement in Germany that allows each parent to take up to three years of unpaid leave per child, with income partially replaced through Elterngeld (parental benefit) for up to 14 months, governed by the Federal Parental Benefit and Parental Leave Act (BEEG).
What Is Elternzeit in Germany?
Key Takeaways
- ✓Elternzeit gives each parent up to three years of job-protected leave per child. The leave is unpaid, but income replacement comes through the separate Elterngeld benefit system.
- ✓Both parents can take Elternzeit simultaneously. There's no requirement that one parent must return to work for the other to start leave.
- ✓During Elternzeit, the employment contract is suspended but not terminated. The employee has a right to return to the same or an equivalent role.
- ✓Elterngeld replaces 67% of net income for up to 14 months (if both parents take at least 2 months each). The cap is 1,800/month, the floor is 300/month.
- ✓Employees must notify their employer of Elternzeit at least 7 weeks before it starts (for leave in the child's first 3 years) or 13 weeks for leave between the child's 3rd and 8th birthday.
Germany's Elternzeit is one of the most generous parental leave systems in the world, at least on paper. Each parent gets up to three years of job-protected leave per child. That's not a shared pool. It's three years each. Both parents can be on leave at the same time if they choose. The catch is that Elternzeit itself is unpaid. The income replacement comes from a separate system called Elterngeld (parental benefit), which is administered by the government and only covers up to 14 months between both parents. So while you can stay home for three years, you'll only receive government income support for roughly the first year. The system was redesigned in 2007 to do two things: give parents genuine financial support during the first year, and encourage fathers to take leave. The "partner bonus" months are the key tool. A family gets 12 months of Elterngeld. But if the second parent (usually the father) also takes at least 2 months of Elterngeld, the total extends to 14 months. This incentive has worked: father participation has risen from under 5% in 2006 to over 44% in 2023. The average duration fathers take, however, is still just 3.6 months, compared to 14.6 months for mothers.
Types of Elterngeld (Parental Benefit)
Germany offers three Elterngeld variants that parents can mix and match to suit their family and career needs.
| Type | Duration | Pay Rate | Work Allowed | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basiselterngeld | Up to 14 months (shared) | 67% of net income (300 to 1,800/month) | Up to 32 hours/week | Parents taking full-time leave |
| ElterngeldPlus | Up to 28 months (shared) | Up to 50% of the Basiselterngeld amount | Up to 32 hours/week | Parents working part-time during leave |
| Partnerschaftsbonus | 4 additional months per parent | Same as ElterngeldPlus | 24-32 hours/week required | Both parents working part-time simultaneously |
Eligibility for Elternzeit and Elterngeld
Most working parents in Germany qualify, but the rules differ slightly between Elternzeit (the leave itself) and Elterngeld (the pay).
Elternzeit eligibility
Any employee in Germany can take Elternzeit regardless of how long they've worked for their employer. There's no minimum service period. Full-time, part-time, mini-job, apprenticeship, and fixed-term contract workers all qualify. The parent must live with the child in the same household and be primarily responsible for the child's care during the leave period. Both biological and adoptive parents qualify. Foster parents in certain situations can also claim Elternzeit.
Elterngeld eligibility
To receive Elterngeld, the parent must be resident in Germany, live with the child, care for the child personally, and work no more than 32 hours per week during the benefit period. Since September 2024, families with a combined taxable income above 200,000 per year are no longer eligible for Elterngeld (the threshold was lowered from 300,000). Self-employed parents, freelancers, and civil servants can all receive Elterngeld. Even parents who weren't employed before the birth get the minimum 300/month.
Foreign workers in Germany
EU citizens working in Germany have the same Elternzeit and Elterngeld rights as German citizens. Non-EU workers with a residence and work permit also qualify. The key requirement is that the parent has a legal right to employment in Germany. Workers on temporary assignment or posted from another country may face different rules depending on their social insurance arrangement.
How to Apply for Elternzeit and Elterngeld
The application processes for leave and pay are separate. One goes to your employer, the other to the government.
Requesting Elternzeit from your employer
Submit a written request to your employer at least 7 weeks before the leave starts (for leave in the child's first three years) or 13 weeks before (for leave between ages 3 and 8). The request must specify the exact period of leave for at least the first two years. Once submitted, the employer can't refuse. They can only discuss timing adjustments for operational reasons, and even then, the employee has the final say. During the notification period and throughout Elternzeit, the employee has special protection against dismissal.
Applying for Elterngeld
Elterngeld applications go to the Elterngeldstelle (parental benefit office) in your federal state, not to your employer. You can apply after the child is born. Benefits are paid retroactively for up to three months before the application date. You'll need the child's birth certificate, income documentation (pay slips for the 12 months before birth), confirmation from your employer about your leave, and the other parent's planned Elterngeld months. Processing typically takes 4 to 8 weeks.
Working Part-Time During Elternzeit
Parents on Elternzeit can work up to 32 hours per week. This creates several interesting options for families.
Part-time with your current employer
You have a legal right to work part-time (up to 32 hours/week) with your current employer during Elternzeit, provided the company has more than 15 employees. Submit your part-time request at least 7 weeks before it should start. The employer can only refuse for urgent operational reasons, and those reasons must be specific and documented. If you and your employer can't agree on hours or scheduling, the labor court can decide.
Part-time with a different employer
Working for another employer during Elternzeit requires your current employer's consent. They can refuse for legitimate business reasons (e.g., you'd be working for a competitor). Freelance work during Elternzeit doesn't require employer consent, but it must stay under 32 hours per week and it affects your Elterngeld calculation.
Impact on Elterngeld
Working part-time reduces your Elterngeld. The benefit is calculated on the difference between your pre-birth income and your part-time income. If you earned 3,000/month before birth and earn 1,500/month part-time, your Elterngeld is based on the 1,500 difference (roughly 1,005/month at 67%). This is where ElterngeldPlus becomes attractive: it pays a lower monthly amount but extends over twice as many months, often resulting in more total benefit for part-time workers.
Employer Obligations During Elternzeit
German law places strong protections on employees during Elternzeit. Employers must follow these rules carefully.
- Dismissal protection: An employee can't be terminated during Elternzeit except in extraordinary circumstances approved by the state authority (Gewerbeaufsichtsamt). This protection starts when the employee notifies their Elternzeit request.
- Return guarantee: The employee has a right to return to their previous position or an equivalent role with the same pay grade and conditions.
- Holiday entitlement: Annual leave entitlement can be reduced proportionally for each full calendar month of Elternzeit. Any unused leave from before Elternzeit must be available when the employee returns.
- Social insurance: Health insurance continues during Elternzeit. If the employee was covered through statutory health insurance and receives Elterngeld, they don't pay contributions. The employer's share pauses as well.
- Part-time requests: Employers must approve part-time work requests during Elternzeit unless they can demonstrate urgent operational reasons for refusal (companies with 15+ employees).
- Multiple children: Each child triggers a new Elternzeit entitlement. A parent with two children under 3 can stack the leave periods.
Elternzeit Statistics [2026]
Data on how Elternzeit and Elterngeld are used across Germany.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can both parents take Elternzeit at the same time?
What happens to my Elternzeit if I change employers?
Can I end Elternzeit early to return to work?
Is Elterngeld taxable?
What if I'm self-employed?
Written by Adithyan RK