From 1 April 2026, the Shared Parental Leave (SPL) entitlement will increase from 6 weeks to 10 weeks, providing parents with flexibility to share caregiving responsibilities. Together with Government Paid Maternity Leave (GPML) and Government Paid Paternity Leave (GPPL), eligible parents will receive up to 30 weeks of paid leave in their child’s first year.
2 This enhancement provides greater support for parents during their child’s infancy, when caregiving needs are highest. It is part of the Government’s broader efforts to strengthen support Singaporeans across their marriage and parenthood journey, and to encourage shared parenting.
10-Week Shared Parental Leave
3 Eligible working parents of Singapore Citizen (SC) children born on or after 1 April 2026* will be entitled to 10 weeks of SPL, which can be shared between both parents. The leave must be taken within 12 months of the child’s birth, after the respective primary leave schemes (i.e. GPML or GPPL) have been fully utilised.
4 SPL will automatically be equally distributed between both parents. However, parents may mutually agree to adjust the allocation based on their caregiving needs. They should inform their employers early to facilitate planning and work arrangements.
5 In the absence of mutual agreement, SPL must be taken in a continuous block within the first 26 weeks of the child’s birth, after providing the minimum notice period of four weeks to the parent’s employer.
Application Process
6 Parents have up to four weeks from the child’s birth to decide and submit the SPL sharing arrangement on LifeSG (https://www.life.gov.sg). This can be done when registering their child’s birth or through the “Manage SPL sharing arrangement” service.
7 After this period, any changes will require mutual agreement between parents and their employers. Supporting documents from employers must be submitted when applying for changes via LifeSG.
8 Employers should verify their employee’s SPL sharing arrangements via the Government-Paid Leave portal (www.profamilyleave.msf.gov.sg), after the child’s birth has been successfully registered.
9 For more information, please refer to the SPL page at go.gov.sg/gpls-spl. Parents and employers may also refer to the respective implementation guides at go.gov.sg/splguide-parents and go.gov.sg/splguide-employers. More information on the various parental leave and benefits provisions can be found at www.madeforfamilies.gov.sg/parental-leave-and-benefits.
ISSUED BY
MINISTRY OF SOCIAL AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENT
*Eligible working parents whose child’s Estimated Date of Delivery (EDD) is on or after 1 April 2026, but was born before 1 April 2026, may be eligible for 10 weeks of Shared Parental Leave. To apply for 10 weeks of Shared Parental Leave, please contact us via the form link in your acknowledgement email after completing your child’s birth registration on LifeSG. Any subsequent adjustments to your shared parental leave should also be made via the same form link.