In both jurisdictions new parents can avail of Paternity Leave to support their partner and care for the new baby.

Some employers have their own paternity leave arrangements which are more generous than the statutory entitlement (check your employment contract). Paternity Leave is in addition to paid holiday leave.

A “partner” includes the spouse or civil partner of the pregnant woman and a person, of either sex, in a long term relationship.

Paternity leave entitlement in Northern Ireland

To qualify for paternity leave, you must

• be an employee and have been working for your employer for at least 26 weeks by:
• the end of the 15th week before the start of the week when the baby is due
• the end of the week you are notified you are matched with your child

You must also be one of the following:

• the child’s biological father
• mother or adopter’s husband or partner (including same-sex)
• child’s adopter
• intended parent of a baby from a surrogacy arrangement

As long as you meet certain conditions and provide the correct notice to your employer, you can take either one or two consecutive weeks’ Paternity Leave. You also have the right to unpaid leave to attend 2 antenatal appointments.

Statutory Paternity Pay in Northern Ireland

Statutory Paternity Pay may be paid for up to two consecutive weeks, depending on how long you choose to take paternity leave. See Paternity leave | nidirect

If you don’t qualify for paternity leave or pay, your employer might give you some time off or you could take paid holiday leave.

Cross-border issues

Live South & Work North:  you may be entitled to this statutory leave and payment from your employer – do check with them.

Live North & Work South:  you will find that employers are not obliged to pay employees who are on paternity leave, although some do. You may qualify for Paternity Benefit   (citizensinformation.ie) from the Department of Social Protection if you have sufficient PRSI contributions, if you don’t have sufficient PRSI please ask that your record of National Insurance contributions be transferred from NI.

Page last checked: August 2022

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