Are you confused about how to apply for paternity pay and what amount will land in your account? Not surprisingly, one doesn’t usually apply for it that often in one’s lifetime. Luckily, you don’t have to remember anything, because we’ve written a clear guide and procedure on how to do it.
First, let’s summarise very briefly what is meant by the word paternity leave. It is a leave with wage compensation that allows fathers to help their wives or girlfriends care for their newborn babies. The father of the child is entitled to fourteen days of leave within six weeks of the birth (or later if the child had to be hospitalised after birth). The father can choose the specific start date himself. However, paternity leave should not be confused with long-term care for a young child up to the age of three or four. In that case, it is parental leave.
Another option for entitlement to this allowance is if the insured person has taken the child into care in lieu of parental care (typically adoption), if the child has not yet reached the age of seven. It is also payable to a father whose child is stillborn or dies within 6 weeks of the date of birth. Even in these cases, paternity pay is available within six weeks of the events giving rise to entitlement.
The amount of paternity allowance is the same even if the mother has twins or more children. The same principle applies in the case of adoption or death of a newborn child.
Tip: We have discussed the exact definition of paternity leave and entitlement to it in a separate article.
The competent authority for this benefit is the District Social Security Administration. If you are a classic employee, you must apply through your employer. If you work as a self-employed person, you should contact the Social Security Administration directly.
Our attorneys can provide you with qualified advice and assistance within two business days. And you don’t even have to go anywhere, we handle everything online.
First of all, you must complete the Application for Paternity Allowance form. Here you fill in details of the newborn child, including the birth number, in addition to information about yourself and your employer, if applicable. The baby’s father must be on the baby’s birth certificate. If you are applying for paternity pay when you take the child into adoptive or foster care, you must also provide the court order giving custody of the child.
The basic condition for entitlement is that you have been on sickness insurance (typically employment) for at least three months before you start parental leave.
The time limit for processing and payment of the benefit is one month from the date on which the district administration receives the application for paternity leave.
Tip: What are the options for earning extra money on maternity leave? We have discussed this in a separate article.
As a father, you are entitled to 70% of the reduced daily assessment base per calendar day for caring for your baby . Your daily assessment base is the decisive factor for calculating the final amount. This is calculated as the sum of your gross income divided by the number of calendar days (the calculation is usually based on the last 12 months’ income, taking into account excluded days such as sickness etc.). As with ordinary sickness benefit, income is then reduced using three reduction thresholds.
In 2025, the following reduction thresholds apply:
100 % of the amount of CZK 1 500 will be counted towards the paternity allowance, 60 % will be counted towards the amount of CZK 2 250 and 30 % will be counted towards the amount of CZK 4 500.
The wage replacement for working days is set at 70% of the reduced earnings.
The maximum amount of the 14-day paternity allowance may be CZK 25 144 in 2025. The amount is always paid back into a bank account.
However, you do not need to remember the formulae, reduction thresholds or percentage amounts. Try the MLSA’s calculator, for example. The paternity leave calculator will simply calculate it for you.
Tip: Are you and your partner considering adopting a child from an orphanage? Or does your partner want to adopt your child from a previous marriage? Learn all about adoption and adoption in our article.
Men who are self-employed are entitled to this benefit provided they have paid sickness insurance for at least three months before taking paternity leave.
The minimum contribution to sickness insurance for self-employed workers in 2025 is CZK 243. This is the amount you must pay as a sole trader, even if your calculated average is lower.
If you don’t normally pay sick pay advances and would consider paying solely to qualify for paternity pay, it’s definitely worth calculating in advance whether it’s worthwhile. Take into account the necessary paperwork involved and the fact that as a self-employed person you must not be gainfully employed during paternity leave.
Paternity leave is a fortnight’s paid leave for fathers, which can be taken during the six months after the birth or later if the child has been hospitalised. It is also available to adoptive parents or fathers of children who were stillborn or died within six weeks. The application is made to the District Social Security Administration – employees through their employer, self-employed persons directly. The application must be accompanied by the child’s birth certificate and participation in sickness insurance at least three months in advance. The amount of the benefit is 70% of the reduced daily assessment base, with a maximum amount of CZK 25 144 for 2025. The self-employed person must have paid sickness insurance and must not be in business during the period of paternity leave. The benefit is paid retrospectively into a bank account within one month of the application.
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