In 2026, the father of a newborn is entitled to 10 working days of paternity leave, plus another 5 days if he has completed a childcare (puericultură) course — so up to 15 working days in total. The leave is taken in the first 8 weeks after birth, is paid in full by the employer (as salary), and is requested in writing. The rules are unchanged since 2022, when the law was rewritten.

Below is everything you need: how many days, when and how to claim them, which documents you need, and who is entitled.

How many days a father gets in 2026

The paternity-leave law (Law no. 210/1999, substantially amended by Emergency Ordinance no. 117/2022) provides:

  • 10 working days of paternity leave — the base right (Art. 2).
  • +5 working days if the father obtains the certificate for completing a childcare course — so 15 working days in total (Art. 4).

These are working days, not calendar days. The 5-day bonus applies for each newborn child (or each birth, in the case of multiple births).

When to take it and how it’s paid

  • Deadline: the leave is granted on request, in the first 8 weeks after the child’s birth (Art. 2).
  • Who pays: the employer, from its own payroll fund. It is not a state benefit, unlike the child-raising allowance.
  • How much: it equals the full salary for that period.
  • Taxation: because it’s paid by the employer, the indemnity is included in taxable income and is taxed like salary (income tax + contributions) — unlike the child-raising allowance, which has a different tax regime.

Which documents you need

  • A written request to the employer.
  • The child’s birth certificate, showing the applicant as the father.
  • For the +5 days: the certificate for completing the childcare course.

Submit the request in good time, within the 8 weeks.

The childcare course: how to get the extra 5 days

The course covers basic newborn-care notions and can be taken during the mother’s pregnancy or after birth. It is held at the father’s family doctor’s office or at other medical/specialised units. At the end, the family doctor (or specialised medical staff) issues the certificate, with the father’s details, the date, signature and stamp.

Fathers who are doctors or nurses are exempt from taking the course, but still need the certificate.

Who is entitled

Paternity leave is granted to a father who is a worker — that is, who has an employment contract or a service relationship (including civil servants), plus a range of assimilated categories (athletes, cooperative members, company directors, police, military, etc.).

  • Adoptive fathers are entitled to paternity leave.
  • The self-employed (PFA) / independent workers, without an employment contract or service relationship, are not covered.

Job protection and sanctions

Emergency Ordinance 117/2022 added important guarantees:

  • The paternity-leave period counts as length of service.
  • Dismissal is prohibited during paternity leave (exception: the employer’s judicial reorganisation/bankruptcy).
  • The employer may not treat less favourably a father who requested or took the leave.
  • If the employer refuses the leave or fails to inform employees of this right, it risks a fine of 4,000–8,000 lei (legal entity).

What comes after paternity leave

After paternity leave, the family can enter child-raising leave and the child-raising allowance — see our guide on how the child-raising allowance is calculated. As the child grows, our guides on from what age for nursery and kindergarten and enrolling in a state nursery will also be useful.

Frequently asked questions

How many days of paternity leave does a father get in 2026? 10 working days, plus 5 days if he completed the childcare course — so up to 15 working days.

Who pays for paternity leave? The employer, from its own payroll fund, at the level of the full salary. It is not a state benefit.

When must paternity leave be taken? In the first 8 weeks after the child’s birth.

Is the paternity-leave indemnity taxed? Yes. Because it’s paid by the employer, it’s included in taxable income and taxed like salary.

Are adoptive fathers or the self-employed entitled? Adoptive fathers are entitled. The self-employed (PFA) without an employment contract or service relationship are not covered.

Sources

  • Law no. 210/1999 on paternity leave (amended by Emergency Ordinance no. 117/2022 and Law no. 196/2024)
  • Government Decision no. 1577/2022 — methodological norms (the childcare course, the certificate)
  • Ministry of Labour — information on paternity leave
  • Legislative portal — legislatie.just.ro

See all our official sources on the data sources page.

Conclusion

Paternity leave in 2026 means 10 working days (plus 5 with the childcare course), paid in full by the employer, in the first 8 weeks after birth. Submit the written request in good time, and if you want the extra 5 days, take the childcare course at your family doctor. You’ll find every nursery and kindergarten in Cluj-Napoca on the interactive piticluj.ro map.