Are you going to be a mother? This is your maternity leave leave 2026

The mother should take six after giving birth to recover physically. The other 10 can be enjoyed before or after birth. They can be taken by the father or mother if they both work, or jointly (5 weeks each). The father has paternity leave of five weeks, independent of that of the mother.

Maternity leave is requested at the offices of the National Social Security Institute (INSS).

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You must bring your DNI, the maternity leave certificate provided by the health service and the family book.

If it is requested before the birth or adoption, the registration of the newborn or adopted subsequently must be attached.

Requirements to collect maternity leave

• The pregnant woman must be working or collecting unemployment benefits.
• Under 21 years old. No contribution period is required.
• Between 21 and 26 years old. You must have contributed 90 days in the seven years prior to the date of delivery, or 180 days throughout your working life.
• Over 26 years old. You must have contributed a minimum of 180 days to Social Security, in the seven years preceding the date of birth, or 360 days throughout your entire working life.

Special cases

There is the option to take 6 weeks full time and enjoy the rest part time. Thus, the remaining 10 weeks become 20, working half the working day during that time.

Maternity leave can be extended up to 13 more weeks (reaching a maximum of 29 weeks in total) as long as the child remains hospitalized.

There is also the option of taking 6 weeks after delivery and postponing the other 10 for when the premature baby leaves the hospital, with a leave of two hours a day while the child is still hospitalized.

The worker has the right to enjoy vacations after her maternity leave, even if the calendar year to which they correspond has ended.

Whether he works or not, the father can take the entire maternity leave.

There are also 16 weeks unless the mother asks to return sooner.

Maternity allowance

Women who meet the minimum contribution period to collect maternity benefits can request a subsidy equivalent to 100 percent of the public multiple-effect income indicator (IPREM).

It is charged for 42 calendar days after delivery.

And after maternity leave?

Workers with small children enjoy some advantages (reduction in hours, leaves of absence, but it is also advisable to consult the collective agreement of the company or the labor sector to which the company belongs, because sometimes they include improvements.