Parental Leave Denmark (Barsel) — Rights, Pay & Planning 2026

How Parental Leave Works in Denmark

Updated By exploringdenmark

Denmark offers generous parental leave — up to 52 weeks total per child, split between both parents. The system was reformed in 2022 to give each parent earmarked, non-transferable weeks, alongside shared weeks you divide however you want. It’s one of the best parental leave systems in the world, but understanding who gets what — and who pays — takes some untangling.

4w pre 10w mother 2w 9w father Shared weeks — divide freely 52 wks ● Mother ● Father/co-parent ● Shared Earmarked weeks are non-transferable (2022 reform)

Overview

Danish parental leave (barsel) is governed by the Barselsloven (Maternity/Paternity Act). Both parents have individual rights to leave, plus shared weeks they can divide between them. The total is 52 weeks (for the child) with pay through barselsdagpenge — though not all 52 weeks are paid at full salary.

How much leave is there?

For each parent (2022 reform rules, applicable in 2026):

  • Mother before birth: 4 weeks of pregnancy leave before due date
  • Mother after birth: 2 weeks mandatory maternity leave (plus 8 weeks earmarked)
  • Father/co-parent after birth: 2 weeks within the first 10 weeks (plus 9 weeks earmarked)
  • Shared between parents: remaining weeks up to 52 total, divided as you choose
  • Earmarked weeks: 11 weeks per parent are non-transferable — use them or lose them. This was introduced to encourage more equal sharing.

Who gets what

Under the 2022 reform for employees:

  • Mother: 4 weeks before birth + 10 weeks after birth (2 mandatory + 8 earmarked) + share of remaining weeks
  • Father/co-parent: 2 weeks after birth + 9 earmarked weeks + share of remaining weeks
  • Total with barselsdagpenge: up to 24 weeks per parent with pay

The earmarked weeks cannot be transferred to the other parent. If a father doesn’t use his 9 earmarked weeks, they’re lost — they don’t transfer to the mother.

Self-employed parents have slightly different rules — fewer earmarked weeks and different dagpenge conditions. Check with your A-kasse or Udbetaling Danmark for your specific situation.

Barselsdagpenge (parental leave pay)

During leave, you receive barselsdagpenge from Udbetaling Danmark. The maximum rate is approximately 4,650 DKK/week (2026) — the same as sygedagpenge. This is significantly less than most people’s full salary.

Many employers — especially in the public sector and larger private companies — top up barselsdagpenge to full salary for some or all of the leave period. This depends on your collective agreement or employment contract.

Employer top-up

Whether you receive full salary during leave depends entirely on your employer and collective agreement:

  • Public sector: typically full salary for most of the leave (varies by agreement)
  • Large private companies: often full salary for 14–26 weeks, then barselsdagpenge
  • Smaller companies: may only pay barselsdagpenge rate. Check your contract.

Planning your leave

Use the Barsel Planner to model different scenarios. Key planning considerations:

  • Notify your employer 3 months before the expected due date about your planned leave.
  • Decide how to split shared weeks between parents — this requires coordination.
  • Remember earmarked weeks are use-it-or-lose-it.
  • Leave can be taken part-time (e.g., working 3 days, leave 2 days) if your employer agrees.
  • Up to 5 weeks can be saved and used later (before the child turns 9), if your collective agreement allows.

Common problems

My employer doesn’t top up salary

They’re not legally required to (beyond barselsdagpenge). But many collective agreements mandate it. Check your contract and agreement. If there’s no top-up, plan your budget around the dagpenge rate.

I’m not sure how many earmarked weeks I have

Check with Udbetaling Danmark or use borger.dk (log in with MitID) to see your specific allocation. The rules differ slightly for self-employed and same-sex couples.

We want the mother to take all the leave

Under the 2022 reform, this is no longer fully possible. The father/co-parent has 11 earmarked weeks that cannot be transferred. If unused, they’re lost. The remaining shared weeks can go to either parent.

Questions and answers

Can I take leave after the child is born if I’m the father?

Yes. You have 2 weeks within the first 10 weeks after birth (often taken immediately), plus 9 earmarked weeks that can be taken later, plus your share of shared weeks.

What if I’m not a Danish citizen?

Parental leave rights apply to anyone working in Denmark with a CPR number, regardless of nationality. Your permit status doesn’t affect your barsel rights.

Can I extend leave without pay?

You can extend to up to 32 additional weeks without pay (40 weeks if self-employed), stretching the dagpenge over a longer period at a lower weekly rate. Employer must agree to the unpaid extension.

Sources

  1. borger.dk — Barselsloven and parental leave entitlements.
  2. Life in Denmark — parental leave for international workers.