Employment
Paternity leave in Switzerland: time off, pay and claims in 2026
Swiss paternity leave is legally known as leave for the other parent. It provides two weeks off, while the income-compensation benefit and the way leave is scheduled follow separate rules.
By Sarah Prieur · Swiss certified accountant
At a glance
Key takeaways
- Take the ordinary two-week entitlement within six months of the birth, in one block or separate days.
- Federal benefits replace 80% of relevant earnings, capped at CHF 220 per day and 14 daily allowances.
- The maximum CHF 3,080 is a ceiling, not an automatic payment to every parent.
Who is entitled to paternity leave and benefits?
The entitlement covers the child’s legal father at birth, or a father who establishes that status within six months. It also covers the mother’s wife where she is the other legal parent under the relevant Civil Code conditions. Living with the mother alone does not create entitlement.
“Paternity leave” remains the common search term. Official forms use leave for the other parent, or congé de l’autre parent in French.
Federal income-compensation benefits, known as APG/EO, generally require nine months of compulsory AVS insurance before birth and at least five months of gainful activity or qualifying income-compensation benefits during that period. The insurance period is reduced for premature births.
The parent’s status at birth also matters. Employees, self-employed people and certain unemployed people or recipients of replacement income may qualify. Foreign insurance and work periods can be relevant under coordination rules.
The employer assesses the employment-law leave entitlement; the compensation office decides the benefit claim. An incomplete APG application is not, by itself, a reason to refuse every absence.
Two weeks of leave is not fourteen working days
Leave is expressed in weeks. The maximum fourteen daily benefits follow a calendar-day system; they do not mean fourteen working days for someone working Monday to Friday.
| Usual schedule | Illustration of two weeks’ leave |
|---|---|
| Five working days per week | Ten working days |
| Three full working days per week | Six working days |
| Five shorter days per week | Ten days at the usual shorter hours |
| Irregular schedule | Calculate using the contractual work pattern and compensation-office rules |
These examples describe time off. Benefit calculations for split leave must remain consistent with working percentage and insured earnings.
Leave can be taken in weeks or individual days within six months after the birth. Discuss dates early, confirm them after birth and track the remaining balance. A written request can record the birth date, proposed schedule and balance. Unused ordinary leave is not freely transferable beyond the six-month limit.
How much paternity pay will you receive?
For regular monthly pay, divide relevant monthly income by thirty and apply 80%, capped at CHF 220 per day. The compensation office uses the relevant AVS earnings, including remuneration components such as the applicable share of a 13th salary.
| Relevant monthly earnings in the example | Simplified daily calculation | Gross total for 14 allowances |
|---|---|---|
| CHF 6,000 | 6,000 ÷ 30 × 80% = CHF 160 | CHF 2,240 |
| CHF 8,250 | 8,250 ÷ 30 × 80% = CHF 220 | CHF 3,080 |
| CHF 10,000 | Capped at CHF 220 | CHF 3,080 |
These are gross benefits, not take-home salary. Apply the correct deductions and payroll treatment. For variable earnings or self-employment, use the compensation office’s assessed income rather than the latest bank receipt.
The federal scheme does not automatically maintain full pay. A contract, collective agreement or employer policy may provide a top-up. When the employer maintains salary, it generally receives the corresponding benefit; the allowance is not automatically paid on top of full salary as a bonus.
Claim checklist for parents and employers
- Proof of identity and legal parenthood.
- Birth details and the leave schedule.
- Employment or self-employment information and relevant earnings.
- Details from every employer where there are multiple jobs.
- Confirmation of the days taken and any salary maintained.
Submit the claim to the competent compensation office. Employees generally apply through their employer; self-employed parents deal with their own office. Payment follows the required submission and processing of leave-day information.
Payroll should reconcile recorded absences, salary maintained, benefits claimed and reimbursements received. A difference may reflect the benefit ceiling, partial leave or a different assessed earnings base rather than an administrative mistake.
Track four key dates: birth, last leave day, claim submission and receipt of the benefit statement. Keep the evidence with payroll records and ensure the Swiss salary certificate does not count the same remuneration twice.
For a self-employed parent, keep the earnings information used for the claim consistent with the records supporting self-employed AVS contributions.
Particular situations and employment protection
This entitlement differs from maternity leave, adoption leave and voluntary employer parental leave. Each has its own conditions.
If the employer terminates employment, Article 335c CO can extend the notice period by the outstanding other-parent leave days under the applicable conditions. This is not general dismissal protection identical to maternity protection. Review the specific termination circumstances.
If the mother dies on the birth date or within the following 97 days, a special regime can provide the other parent with 98 additional daily allowances, equivalent to fourteen weeks. The specific rules on starting and taking this leave, and on returning to work, must be applied with the compensation office. Do not treat it as a simple addition of a few days to the ordinary balance.
A multiple birth does not double the ordinary two-week entitlement. A self-employed parent may qualify for benefits when interrupting work under the rules, but does not receive leave granted by an employer.
Collective agreements, public-sector rules and contracts may provide more days or better pay. Separate the federal benefit from any additional employer entitlement in both scheduling and payroll.
Frequently asked questions
Is Swiss paternity leave paid at 100%?
Not automatically. Federal benefits replace 80% of relevant earnings, up to CHF 220 per day. Full salary may be provided by the contract, collective agreement or employer policy.
Can a self-employed parent claim the benefit?
Yes, if the APG conditions are met. The parent interrupts their activity under the applicable rules and the compensation office assesses entitlement and earnings.
Does part-time work reduce the two-week entitlement?
The entitlement remains two weeks according to the usual schedule. Someone working three full days a week generally takes six working days, not ten full days.
Do twins create two separate leave entitlements?
No. A multiple birth does not double the ordinary other-parent leave entitlement.
Must the father be married to the mother?
No, but legal parenthood must be established within the required period. For the mother’s wife, entitlement depends on the specific Civil Code conditions for legal parenthood.
Sources and further reading
About the author
Sarah Prieur
Sarah is a Swiss certified accountant, partner and head of operations at Karpeo. She supports SMEs and self-employed clients with accounting, tax, VAT and payroll, and oversees the quality of client files and year-end accounts. Before Karpeo, she spent eight years in audit at PwC Switzerland, progressing to manager.
Coordinate parental leave and payroll
Karpeo helps employers organise leave records, claims and compensation-office reimbursements.
