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Maternity Leave and Parental Leave in Taiwan

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Updated: January 24, 2026

2026 Guide to Maternity Leave, Pregnancy Checkup Leave, and Unpaid Parental Leave in Taiwan

For expectant mothers who are also working and their employers, understanding maternity leave regulations is essential! This guide explains the key aspects of maternity leave: how many days you get, whether weekends are included, how much pay you receive, and the relevant application rules—all in one place!

1. Maternity Leave (產假)

Maternity leave allows expectant mothers to rest and recover before and after childbirth. Under the Labor Standards Act, women have the right to take maternity leave whether the birth is successful or ends in miscarriage.

How many days of maternity leave are there? Do weekends count?

The duration depends on the length of the pregnancy:

Childbirth (Success): 8 weeks.
Miscarriage after 3 months: 4 weeks.
Miscarriage between 2 to 3 months: 1 week.
Miscarriage under 2 months: 5 days.

It’s important to note that maternity leave days include weekends and public holidays. According to the Council of Labor Affairs’ interpretation of the Labor Standards Act: “Maternity leave, as stipulated in Article 50 of the Labor Standards Act, is meant to protect maternal health. Weekends, public holidays, Labor Day, and other holidays designated by the central authorities are included in the leave and do not need to be deducted.” Therefore, when calculating maternity leave, mothers should not exclude weekends or holidays, as they are not granted additional days off if a holiday falls during their leave.

Is maternity leave paid? How is the salary calculated?

Yes! According to the Labor Standards Act, if you have worked for more than six months, you are entitled to receive full pay during maternity leave. If you have worked for less than six months, you can receive 50% of your salary.

However, it’s important to note that only the 8-week and 4-week maternity leave options come with paid leave benefits. This means that only in the case of a successful birth or a miscarriage after 3 months of pregnancy are you eligible to receive either 100% or 50% of your salary. For miscarriages occurring before 3 months of pregnancy, there is no legal requirement for the employer to provide paid leave, so for the 1-week and 5-day maternity leave options, the company is not obligated to pay your salary.

Maternity leave calculation:

How to apply for Maternity Leave? Application Guidelines

Recommended Maternity Leave: Reserve 4 Weeks for Postpartum Recovery, Leave Can Be Taken in Parts

According to Taiwan’s Labor Standards Act, a mother is entitled to 8 weeks of maternity leave after a successful childbirth. It is generally recommended to reserve at least 4 weeks for postpartum recovery, so you may choose to start taking maternity leave 4 weeks before your due date. Additionally, if agreed upon by both employer and employee, maternity leave can be taken in parts during pregnancy, based on the mother’s health and needs.

Required Documents for Maternity Leave Application

The documents typically needed to apply for maternity leave include the following, but may vary depending on the policies of your employer:

Medical certificate issued by a medical institution or doctor, including the estimated due date
Birth certificate submitted after the child is born
A copy of the household registration with the child included, after registration is completed
A photocopy of the cover of the mother’s health handbook, which includes the expected due date

Maternity Leave does not affect Perfect Attendance Bonuses

Some mothers may worry about losing "Perfect Attendance Bonuses" (全勤獎金)or that their leave will impact their attendance record. Don’t worry! According to the Ministry of Labor’s maternity leave regulations, taking maternity leave is a legal right and should not be counted as absenteeism. Therefore, it will not affect your perfect attendance bonuses or performance reviews. You can confidently take maternity leave to rest and prepare for your baby’s arrival.

ARC/APRC Note: As long as you have Labor Insurance (勞保), you are eligible for this lump sum, regardless of nationality.

2. Pregnancy Checkup Leave

As of January 18, 2022, employees are entitled to 7 days of paid leave for pregnancy checkups. This is an increase from the previous allowance of 5 days, aimed at encouraging regular prenatal health checks and supporting parents during this critical time.

Eligibility:
- The leave can be taken by pregnant employees for their own checkups or by their spouses when accompanying them for checkups or during labor. This provision is part of the Act of Gender Equality in Employment, which emphasizes supportive measures for families.
Flexibility in Leave Usage:
- The regulations allow both parents to take their leave in smaller increments, such as half-days or hours, facilitating attendance at various medical appointments like ultrasounds.

2.5 Family Care Leave 家庭照顧假

Starting in 2026, Family Care Leave has become much more flexible to help parents handle sudden childcare needs (like school suspensions or fever).

Allowance: 7 days per year.
New Flexibility: It can now be taken by the hour (totaling 56 hours per year).
Impact on Attendance: While this leave is unpaid, employers cannot deduct "Perfect Attendance Bonuses" (全勤獎金) or count it as absenteeism for performance reviews

3. Unpaid Parental Leave (育嬰假)

Unpaid parental leave allows parents to take time off work to care for their newborn. During the leave period, parents can apply for the "Unpaid Parental Leave Allowance" from the government. Since July 2021, in addition to the original allowance of 60% of salary, the government has provided an additional 20%, resulting in a total of 80% of the salary.

Who is Eligible for Parental Leave?

Employment: Employed for at least 6 months (those employed less than 6 months may apply if the employer agrees).
Child’s Age: The child must be under 3 years old.
Applicants: Both mothers and fathers can apply.

How long can you take? (New "Flexible" Option)

Parents can take leave until the child turns 3, for a maximum of 2 years. Under the 2026 new rules, there are now two ways to take this leave:

1. Standard Long-term Leave:

Typically applied for in blocks of 30 days or more.
Best for full-time care over a continuous period.

2. Flexible Short-term Leave (New!):

By the Day: You can now apply for leave as short as 1 day.
Quota: Parents have a specific quota (e.g., 30 days) within their 2-year cap to use for this flexible, daily leave.
Notice Period: You generally need to apply 5 days in advance. In emergencies (e.g., child illness), you can apply 1 day in advance.

Incentive for Small Businesses: To encourage employers to approve flexible leave, the government now provides a subsidy of NT$1,000 per day to employers with fewer than 30 employees when staff take "Flexible Parental Leave."

FAQ 1: After Applying for Parental Leave, Can I Return to Work Early or Extend the Leave Period?

Answer: Yes. Any changes to the original leave period require a mutual agreement between the employer and the employee. We recommend discussing changes at least one month in advance to help with scheduling.

FAQ 2: Can Employees Continue to Participate in Labor Insurance During Parental Leave?

Yes, employees can continue to participate in labor insurance during unpaid parental leave. When applying for unpaid parental leave, parents can submit the "Application for Continuing Labor Insurance Coverage During Unpaid Parental Leave" to the Labor Insurance Bureau to maintain their coverage.

FAQ 3: How Are Labor Insurance Premiums Paid During Parental Leave?

Yes. During the leave, the 70% premium usually paid by the employer is fully covered by the government. You only pay your 20% portion, and you can choose to defer payment for up to 3 years.

FAQ 4: How is the 80% allowance calculated for "Flexible Day" leave? (New for 2026!)

Answer: Starting in 2026, the calculation has changed from "rounding up to the nearest month" to a pro-rated system. If you take single-day leave, your allowance (80% of average insured salary) will be calculated based on the specific number of days taken (divided by 30).

4. Unpaid Parental Leave Allowance (The 80% Pay)

Eligible parents receive 80% of their average monthly insured salary (60% base + 20% subsidy).

This allowance is paid by Employment Insurance (就業保險).

Eligible: Taiwanese, APRC holders, and ARC holders married to Taiwanese.
Not Eligible: General ARC holders. You can take the time off (job protection), but you will not receive the monthly 80% allowance.

The "7+7" Bonus Rule (New for 2026!)

To encourage shared parenting, if both parents take 6 months of leave and claim the allowance:

Each parent is granted an extra 1 month of allowance.
Total Support: 14 months per child (7 months per parent).