Maternity Leave in Germany: A practical Guide for Expats What is maternity leave in Germany? Anyone who works in Germany and becomes pregnant is legally entitled to fourteen weeks off as maternity leave – at least six weeks before and eight weeks after childbirth. You can extend your leave up to 12 weeks if you have a premature, cesarean, or multiple births, or if your child is born with a disability.
Maternal Leave (Mutterschutz) in Germany [2024 English Guide] The beginning of maternity leave is six weeks before the birth of a child. It ends eight weeks after the birth of a child. In case of multiple birth or premature delivery, mothers are entitled for 12 weeks after birth. The after-birth 12 weeks period offered for premature babies is extended by days. This extension cannot be availed before birth.
Understanding Maternity Leave in Germany: A Comprehensive , Maternity leave in Germany If you become pregnant while working in Germany, you are legally entitled to fourteen weeks' maternity leave (at least six weeks before and eight weeks after childbirth). You are entitled to eighteen weeks’ leave in the event of a premature birth, multiple births, or if your child is found to have a disability.
A Guide to Maternity and Paternity Leave in Germany Parental leave ("Elternzeit") is an unpaid leave from work for which the parents of babies and young children can apply. If you want to spend more time with your child, you can "go on parental leave". During this time, you do not work or do so only for limited hours.
Understanding Maternity Leave in Germany: A Comprehensive Employees who have a German employment contract – whether full-time, part-time, marginal employment, fixed-term or permanent contract, etc. – are entitled to parental leave. The title also applies to trainees. The entitlement to parental leave exists until the child reaches the age of three.
Mutterschutz—statutory maternity leave - Universität Hamburg Mothers are not the only ones who use such an opportunity in Germany. More and more fathers apply for parental leave so that they can spend more time with their child in the first years of his/her life. After parental leave, you can return to your previous job.
Maternity Leave and Job Protection (Mutterschutz) in Germany
Anyone living in Germany will need to register with either a public or private health insurance scheme for maternity coverage. If you’re employed in Germany and paying into the social security scheme, you may claim parental leave for up to three years after the baby’s birth. 
Maternity leave deutschland4 Maternity leave is more of a requirement than a right in Germany - from six weeks before birth to eight weeks after (longer in the case of multiple or premature births). During this time, if you are employed, you continue to be treated as an “active employee” and receive your full salary as part of your maternity benefit.