France introduces new birth leave from July 2026

Since 1 July 2026, France has implemented a major reform of its parental leave system. In addition to the existing maternity, paternity and adoption leave schemes, parents can now benefit from a new supplementary birth leave (congé supplémentaire de naissance).

This measure aims to give parents more time to be present during their child's first months of life, while also contributing to a more balanced sharing of caregiving responsibilities between both parents.

The new leave entitles each parent individually to one or two additional months of leave. It is a personal and non-transferable entitlement, meaning that both parents can independently claim this leave.

The first month is compensated at 70% of the employee’s net salary, while an optional second month is compensated at 60%. The leave can be taken as a single period or split into two separate periods of one month each.

It is important to note that this new birth leave is granted in addition to existing leave schemes and does not replace them. Employees retain their rights to maternity leave, paternity leave, adoption leave and parental leave. As a result, families can significantly extend the time they spend with their child during the first year of life.

Foreign companies employing staff in France should also pay close attention to this change. As soon as employees are covered by French social security and labour law, they are generally entitled to this additional birth leave. For international employers, it is therefore important to align their French HR and payroll processes accordingly and assess the financial and organisational impact in a timely manner.