Starting January 1, 2026, French fathers will be entitled to up to two additional months of paternity leave. This extension aims to give fathers more time to welcome and care for their newborn or newly adopted child. The policy was adopted by the French National Assembly in November 2025.
The new paternity leave policy is intended to offer greater flexibility to parents for family bonding and child care. It reflects demographic goals in France to support parenthood and encourage more equitable sharing of parental responsibilities between mothers and fathers.
The French National Assembly's approval marks a key step in formalizing this entitlement, emphasizing the government’s commitment to modernizing family leave policies to suit evolving social and demographic needs.
"This measure is designed not only to support families but also to encourage demographic growth by giving fathers the time to engage deeply in early child care," voiced by French policymakers during the legislative debate.
With this new policy, fathers will have a more significant and recognized role immediately after the birth or adoption of a child, reducing the traditional focus on mothers alone for early childcare. This move is expected to promote better family well-being and gender balance in parenting.
This policy extension represents a progressive step for family rights and demographic support in France, reinforcing fathers' vital role in early childcare and promoting a more balanced parental leave system.