Parental leave in Sweden (2026)

Last reviewed: 7 November 2026

In short: Women have at least 7 weeks of leave before and 7 weeks after the birth, and fathers can receive 10 days of temporary parental benefit around the birth. Parental benefit covers 480 days in total, with 90 days at SEK 180 a day. Employers may not disadvantage staff because of parental leave.

RuleWhat applies
Maternity leaveTaking parental leaveA female employee is entitled to full leave of at least 7 weeks before the expected birth and 7 weeks after it. Two weeks of this maternity leave are compulsory, before or after the birth, unless she is on leave on another ground. [1]
Paternity leaveTaking parental leaveA father (or an equivalent parent) who stays away from work around the birth can receive temporary parental benefit for up to 10 days per child, but not for time after the 60th day after the child came home from hospital. [2]
Parental leaveTaking parental leaveA parent has the right to full leave until the child is 18 months, and after that for as long as the parent receives full parental benefit. Part-time leave is also possible. Parental benefit can be taken until the child is 12 or has finished the fifth school year, whichever is later. [1]
Pay during leaveTaking parental leaveParental benefit is paid for up to 480 days in total for the parents, 390 of them at the sickness-benefit level (based on income; SEK 250 a day if that is lower) and 90 at SEK 180 a day. With joint custody each parent gets half of the days. [2]
Job protectionTaking parental leaveAn employer may not disadvantage a job applicant or employee for reasons connected with parental leave, including in dismissal, promotion, pay or work allocation. If an employee shows facts suggesting this, the employer must prove it did not happen. Agreements that restrict the employee's rights under the Act are void. [1]

Notes

  • From 1 July 2028 the law is amended: parental benefit can be taken until the child has finished the sixth school year (now the fifth), as set out in the text of 12 kap. 13 § socialförsäkringsbalken.

Sources

  1. Sveriges riksdag: Föräldraledighetslag (1995:584) (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
  2. Sveriges riksdag: Socialförsäkringsbalk (2010:110) (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources

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