The Parental Leave (Barsel) Visualizer
Denmark’s parental leave rules changed dramatically in August 2022. The new system enforces a strict 24/24 week split to promote equality. Use our visualizer to understand your “Use It or Lose It” weeks and see how many weeks you can transfer to each other.
Transferable Weeks Slider
*Assumes both parents are employed wage earners living together in Denmark. (Mother automatically receives an additional 4 weeks before birth not shown in this post-birth split).
- Pregnancy Leave (Before birth) 4 weeks
- Mandatory (Post-birth) 2 weeks
- Earmarked (Use or lose) 9 weeks
- Transferable remaining 13 weeks
- Total Post-Birth Paid Weeks: 24
- Pregnancy Leave 0 weeks
- Mandatory (Post-birth) 2 weeks
- Earmarked (Use or lose) 9 weeks
- Transferable remaining 13 weeks
- Total Post-Birth Paid Weeks: 24
Understanding the 11 + 13 Rule
To get the maximum 48 weeks of post-birth paid leave, you have to play by the “Use It or Lose It” rules.
The 11 “Earmarked” Weeks
The government mandates that both parents take a minimum amount of time off. You cannot give these weeks to your partner.
- The First 2 Weeks: Both parents have 2 weeks of earmarked leave that must be taken immediately in connection with the birth.
- The Next 9 Weeks: Both parents have an additional 9 weeks of earmarked leave. If you are a wage earner (lønmodtager), you must take these 9 weeks before the child turns 1 year old.
- If the Father decides he only wants to take 2 weeks off total and go back to work, his 9 earmarked weeks simply disappear. The mother cannot claim them.
The 13 “Transferable” Weeks
This is where you have the flexibility to plan your family’s timeline.
- Both parents are initially given 13 additional weeks of paid leave.
- You can completely transfer these 13 weeks to your partner. For example, if the mother wants to stay home longer, the father can transfer all 13 of his transferable weeks to her (giving her a total of 37 post-birth weeks, while he takes 11).
- You manage this transfer officially through Borger.dk using your MitID.
Barselsdagpenge vs. Full Salary
Just because the government gives you the *time* off doesn’t mean your employer will pay your full salary.
- The 48 weeks mentioned above guarantee you Barselsdagpenge (Maternity/Paternity benefits from Udbetaling Danmark), which is capped at roughly 20,359 DKK per month before tax.
- If you want Full Salary during your leave, it must be explicitly written into your employment contract or union agreement (overenskomst). For example, a contract might state: “Mother receives full pay for 14 weeks; Father receives full pay for 10 weeks.” After those weeks run out, you drop down to the lower Barselsdagpenge rate for the remainder of your leave.
FAQ
Special rules for solo parents, unemployed expats, and LGBT+ families.
What if I am unemployed, a student, or a freelancer?
The strict 9 “Earmarked” weeks rule only applies to wage earners (lønmodtagere). If you are unemployed, a student, or self-employed, you do not have the 9 weeks locked. This means you can transfer up to 22 weeks (9 + 13) to your partner!
What are the rules for Solo Parents?
If you are a solo parent (only one legally registered parent at birth), you do not lose any weeks. You are granted the full 46 weeks of parental leave (plus the mandatory 2 weeks = 48 total post-birth weeks). From January 2024, solo parents can also transfer a portion of these weeks to a close family member (like a grandparent) to help with childcare.
What are the rules for LGBT+ and “Social Parents”?
As of 2024, the two legal parents can now transfer their transferable leave weeks to up to two “Social Parents.” A social parent could be the legal parent’s spouse/cohabiting partner, a known sperm donor, or the donor’s spouse/partner. This allows modern families to legally share paid leave among the people actually raising the child.