Parental leave in Austria (2026)

Last reviewed: 7 November 2026

In short: Mothers may not work for 8 weeks before and 8 weeks after birth (12 after a premature, multiple or caesarean birth). Parental leave (Karenz) runs until the child is 22 months and fathers can take one month of leave after the birth. Dismissal is barred during pregnancy, for 4 months after birth and during Karenz.

RuleWhat applies
Maternity leaveTaking parental leaveEmployees may not work in the last 8 weeks before the expected birth and for 8 weeks after it. The period after birth is at least 12 weeks after a premature birth, multiple birth or caesarean birth, and is extended if the pre-birth period was shortened, up to 16 weeks in total. [1]
Paternity leaveTaking parental leaveOn request, a father living with the child in the same household is entitled to one month of leave from the birth until the end of the mother's post-birth employment ban (8 weeks, 12 weeks after a premature, multiple or caesarean birth). Notice is due at least 3 months before the expected birth date. [2]
Parental leaveTaking parental leaveOn request, parental leave (Karenz) is granted until the child's 22nd month, or the 24th month for a single parent, and must last at least 2 months. Both parents can share it, but not take it at the same time, except in the case set out in § 15a Abs. 2 MSchG. [3]
Pay during leaveTaking parental leaveMothers receive Wochengeld during the protection periods, set at average net earnings of the last 13 weeks (or last 3 calendar months). The flat-rate childcare benefit (Kinderbetreuungsgeld) is EUR 41.14 a day in the law's base figure for up to 365 days, or can be stretched to up to 851 days (1,063 if both parents share) at a proportionally lower daily rate. Fathers on the month-long leave can claim the Familienzeitbonus, EUR 54.87 a day in the law's base figure, for 28 to 31 days. [4]
Job protectionTaking parental leaveA woman cannot validly be dismissed during pregnancy and until 4 months after birth, unless the employer did not know (she can still tell the employer within 5 working days of the notice). A father in Karenz may not be dismissed or summarily dismissed; the protection starts when Karenz is announced (earliest 4 months before it begins, not before the birth) and ends 4 weeks after it ends. A court can allow dismissal in exceptional cases. [5]

Notes

  • Cash amounts in the Austrian laws are base figures that are adjusted each 1 January, so the current daily amounts are higher than the figures in the legal text.

Sources

  1. Bundeskanzleramt (RIS, Rechtsinformationssystem des Bundes): Mutterschutzgesetz 1979 § 5 (Bundesrecht konsolidiert, tagesaktuelle Fassung) (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
  2. Bundeskanzleramt (RIS, Rechtsinformationssystem des Bundes): Väter-Karenzgesetz § 1a (Bundesrecht konsolidiert, tagesaktuelle Fassung) (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
  3. Bundeskanzleramt (RIS, Rechtsinformationssystem des Bundes): Mutterschutzgesetz 1979 § 15 (Bundesrecht konsolidiert, tagesaktuelle Fassung) (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
  4. Bundeskanzleramt (RIS, Rechtsinformationssystem des Bundes): Allgemeines Sozialversicherungsgesetz § 162 Wochengeld (Bundesrecht konsolidiert, tagesaktuelle Fassung) (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
  5. Bundeskanzleramt (RIS, Rechtsinformationssystem des Bundes): Mutterschutzgesetz 1979 § 10 (Bundesrecht konsolidiert, tagesaktuelle Fassung) (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources

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General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.