GPPL: what Government-Paid Paternity Leave gives working fathers
In this article
GPPL stands for Government-Paid Paternity Leave, paid time off for working fathers after their baby arrives. MOM says that if your child's birth date or estimated delivery date is on or after 1 April 2025, you are entitled to 4 weeks. Before that date, it was 2 weeks, plus 2 more only if your employer allowed it. Self-employed fathers qualify too, and the Government reimburses all 4 weeks.
| Length | 4 weeks, for births from 1 April 2025 |
|---|---|
| Your child | A Singapore citizen |
| Marriage | To the mother, between conception and birth or within 12 months |
| Your service | 3 continuous months before the birth |
| Notice | 4 weeks, unless your employer accepts less |
| Refund to employer | All 4 weeks, up to $2,500 a week |
Who qualifies for GPPL
MOM's checklist has four parts. Your child is a Singapore citizen. You are, or were, lawfully married to the child's mother at some point between conception and birth, or within 12 months of the birth. As an employee, you served your employer for at least 3 continuous months before the birth. If you are self-employed, you worked in your trade for 3 continuous months before the birth and lost income during the leave.
MSF's Government-Paid Leave portal adds the edge cases. A child who becomes a citizen within 12 months of birth counts, and so does a marriage within that window, but the leave can only be used after the citizenship or the marriage. Adoptive fathers qualify from the date of formal intent to adopt, for a child under 12 months on that date. MOM says fathers of a stillborn child get 2 weeks.
How many days 4 weeks gives you
When you work out your actual days off, GPPL is counted in working days: MOM says the entitlement per week follows the number of days you work, capped at 6 a week, so a 6-day week gives 24 days. On a 5-day week, 4 weeks works out to 20 working days. Twins do not double it: the portal says a father of multiple births gets the same GPPL as a father of one baby.
When and how you can take it
If you and your employer cannot agree, MOM says you take 4 continuous weeks within 16 weeks after the birth. With agreement you have more room: 4 continuous weeks at any point in the first 12 months, or the 4 weeks broken into single working days in any combination over those 12 months. The leave cannot start before your child is born, and every day must be used before your child's first birthday.
From 1 April 2025, MOM says you must give 4 weeks' notice unless your employer agrees to less, and it is an offence for an employer to dismiss you while you are on GPPL. Self-employed fathers claim on the Government-Paid Leave portal no later than 3 months after the last day of leave.
Who pays, and what NDR 2026 adds
Your employer keeps paying you and then claims back all 4 weeks, capped at $2,500 a week or $10,000 in total, MOM says. Paternity leave was already fully reimbursed, so the NDR 2026 promise to cover all child-related leave mostly changes maternity leave, where employers still fund 8 weeks for a first or second child.
MOM adds that you may also be able to take Shared Parental Leave on top. Our paternity leave calculator counts your days and notice date, and the maternity and paternity leave guide helps you plan both parents' leave together.
Frequently asked questions
What does GPPL mean?
Government-Paid Paternity Leave. It is the paid leave a working father of a Singapore citizen child can take in the first year, with the Government reimbursing the employer.
Is paternity leave 2 weeks or 4 weeks in Singapore?
It depends on the date. MOM says a birth date or estimated delivery date on or after 1 April 2025 gives 4 weeks. Earlier than that, the entitlement was 2 weeks, with 2 more only if the employer allowed it.
Can I split my paternity leave into separate days?
Yes, if your employer agrees. MOM says you can then take the 4 weeks as working days in any combination within 12 months of the birth.
Do I get GPPL if we marry after the baby is born?
Yes, if you marry within 12 months of the birth. MSF's portal says the leave can only be used after the marriage, and still within those 12 months.
Related terms
- Government-Paid Maternity Leave (GPML): 16 weeks of paid leave for working mothers of a Singapore citizen baby, partly or fully reimbursed by the Government.
- Baby Bonus Scheme: Singapore's parenthood payout: a Cash Gift plus a Child Development Account, replaced by the SG Child Support Package from April 2027.
- SG Child Support Package: The scheme replacing Baby Bonus from April 2027: up to $62,000 per citizen child, the same for every birth order.
