Paternity Leave Timeline Planner

Compare the Great Britain and Northern Ireland notice, service and leave-end dates for a birth-related request.

Website updated 30 October 2026

Great Britain paternity timeline

Sample dates

This is a date-planning aid, not a decision about leave or Statutory Paternity Pay. The employer handles the leave request and SPP claim; HMRC handles statutory-pay disputes.

Edit sample dates

The birth date is not known. The leave-end window is provisional; enter the actual date after birth, especially if the baby arrives early.

Important dates and checks

Tell your employer the due date
By 27 December 2026
GOV.UK says to tell the employer the baby’s due date at least 15 weeks before the expected week. Adoption and surrogacy use a different notice route.
SPP qualifying week ends
2 January 2027
This is the end of the 15th week before the expected week of childbirth. For a 26-week service check, the employment start date would generally need to be on or before 4 July 2026; continuity and all other conditions still require employer/payroll confirmation.
Give notice of leave start and length
By 5 April 2027
At least 28 days before the planned leave, tell the employer when it should start and whether you want one or two weeks.
Planned leave block starts
3 May 2027
2 weeks planned in this block. Check the correct notice rules for your jurisdiction.
Latest end date for this leave block
16 April 2027 (birth date estimated from due date) to 14 April 2028
Leave cannot start before birth and must end within 52 weeks of birth, or within 52 weeks of the due date if the baby arrives early. With a 2-week block, plan to start by 1 April 2028.
Separate Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) checks
Employer/payroll decision
SPP still has a qualifying-week service condition, employment-through-birth and a 2026/27 average-earnings threshold of £129 a week. The employer pays SPP through payroll. This planner does not decide eligibility or calculate pay.

Your paternity leave dates

Employment jurisdictionUse the rules that govern the job. Great Britain and Northern Ireland have different leave rights and end dates.Expected due dateThe expected week is treated as Sunday to Saturday for the qualifying-week dates.Actual birth date, if knownEnter the actual date after birth. Early birth changes the end-of-leave window.Planned leave startThe 28-day notice reminder is calculated from this date.Continuous employment start dateUsed only to show the 26-week service date; employment continuity and the other pay tests are not checked.Paternity Leave lengthNI two-week leave must be consecutive. GB may take two weeks together or as separate one-week blocks; this planner shows one block at a time.I am an employee

Sample only. The dates you enter are stored in this page URL for sharing; avoid sharing personal dates.

Leave entitlement and SPP are separate

Great Britain’s day-one Paternity Leave right from 6 April 2026 is separate from the Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) service and earnings tests. Northern Ireland continues to use its own service rule for leave, notice process and 56-day finish window. This planner checks standard birth-related dates only; it does not decide employment status, relationship eligibility, continuous service, average earnings, SPP entitlement, adoption/surrogacy cases, stillbirth rules or unusual notice circumstances.

Read the Great Britain Paternity Leave guide or Northern Ireland Paternity Leave guide for the complete process. To estimate a gross SPP amount, use the UK Maternity and Paternity Pay Calculator; it does not determine eligibility or net pay.

Paternity leave planner FAQs

Does the GB day-one Paternity Leave rule apply in Northern Ireland?

No. From 6 April 2026, eligible employees in Great Britain have a day-one leave right. Northern Ireland has separate rules and generally requires 26 weeks’ continuous service by the qualifying week. Select the jurisdiction that governs the job.

How many weeks can I plan in Great Britain?

Up to two weeks. You may take both weeks together or as separate one-week blocks. The planner shows one block at a time; run each block separately if splitting leave and give the required notice for each.

How many weeks can I plan in Northern Ireland?

You may take one or two weeks. If taking two weeks, nidirect says they must be consecutive; odd days are not allowed. A week follows your normal working pattern.

What is the NI 26-week service date?

For a birth, the leave right generally requires 26 weeks with the same employer by the end of the 15th week before the expected week of childbirth. The tool shows a date based on your employment-start input, but your employer must confirm continuous service and the full conditions.

Does day-one leave mean I qualify for SPP from day one in Great Britain?

No. Great Britain Paternity Leave and SPP are separate. SPP generally still requires 26 weeks’ continuous service by the qualifying week, employment through birth and average weekly earnings above the threshold.

What are the 2026/27 SPP earnings conditions?

The current GOV.UK and nidirect guides list an average weekly earnings threshold of £129 before tax. Payroll calculates the relevant average under the statutory rules; this planner does not check earnings.

How much is SPP in 2026/27?

The standard weekly rate is £194.32 or 90% of average weekly earnings if lower. It is paid through payroll and is not a net-pay amount. Use the existing pay calculator for a gross illustration.

When do I tell my Great Britain employer?

GOV.UK says to tell the employer the due date at least 15 weeks before the expected week. At least 28 days before leave starts, confirm the start date and whether you want one or two weeks. Adoption and surrogacy use different forms and dates.

When do I tell my Northern Ireland employer?

For a birth, nidirect says to give the expected week, leave length and intended start at least 15 weeks before the beginning of that week. If you need to change the start date, give 28 days’ notice where possible. Adoption has a separate matching notice.

What is the last day for Paternity Leave in Great Britain?

The leave must finish within 52 weeks of birth, or within 52 weeks of the due date if the baby is born early. The planner estimates the end date from the actual birth date when entered; otherwise the due date is only a provisional reference.

What is the last day for Paternity Leave in Northern Ireland?

The leave must finish within 56 days of birth. If the baby arrives early, nidirect uses the first day of the expected week as the reference. Enter the actual birth date to update the planner; adoption uses a separate placement route.

Do I apply for SPP through DWP?

No. You give the required notice and claim SPP through the employer, which pays it through payroll. If SPP is refused, ask for form SPP1 and the reason; HMRC handles statutory-pay disputes.

What if the baby is born early or I cannot give full notice?

The date window can change, and the standard notice reminder may not fit. Contact the employer promptly and follow the official route for the relevant jurisdiction; the planner does not decide if late notice is accepted.

Does this tool cover adoption, surrogacy or Shared Parental Leave?

No. Adoption and surrogacy have different notice, evidence and timing rules. Shared Parental Leave and ordinary unpaid Parental Leave are separate schemes with their own eligibility and booking processes.

Are my dates stored?

The input values are written to the page URL so you can share the plan. They are not saved to an account by this tool. Avoid sharing the link if you want to keep personal dates private.

Official paternity leave and pay sources

Use the applicable jurisdiction source and confirm current payroll details with your employer.

GOV.UK: Paternity leave timing and notice
Great Britain one- or two-week blocks and the 52-week finish window.
GOV.UK: Paternity Leave and SPP eligibility
Day-one GB leave right and separate SPP service and earnings tests.
GOV.UK: How to claim and notify your employer
Due-date notice, 28-day leave notice and transition rules.
nidirect: Paternity Leave in Northern Ireland
NI service condition, employer notice and 56-day finish window.
nidirect: Statutory Paternity Pay
NI SPP application, earnings, service and employer-pay process.
GOV.UK: Rates and thresholds for employers 2026 to 2027
Published 2026/27 SPP rate and average-earnings threshold.

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Important dates and checks

Tell your employer the due date

By 27 December 2026

GOV.UK says to tell the employer the baby’s due date at least 15 weeks before the expected week. Adoption and surrogacy use a different notice route.

SPP qualifying week ends

2 January 2027

This is the end of the 15th week before the expected week of childbirth. For a 26-week service check, the employment start date would generally need to be on or before 4 July 2026; continuity and all other conditions still require employer/payroll confirmation.

Give notice of leave start and length

By 5 April 2027

At least 28 days before the planned leave, tell the employer when it should start and whether you want one or two weeks.

Planned leave block starts

3 May 2027

2 weeks planned in this block. Check the correct notice rules for your jurisdiction.

Latest end date for this leave block

16 April 2027 (birth date estimated from due date) to 14 April 2028

Leave cannot start before birth and must end within 52 weeks of birth, or within 52 weeks of the due date if the baby arrives early. With a 2-week block, plan to start by 1 April 2028.

Separate Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) checks

Employer/payroll decision

SPP still has a qualifying-week service condition, employment-through-birth and a 2026/27 average-earnings threshold of £129 a week. The employer pays SPP through payroll. This planner does not decide eligibility or calculate pay.

Your paternity leave dates

Employment jurisdictionUse the rules that govern the job. Great Britain and Northern Ireland have different leave rights and end dates.

Expected due dateThe expected week is treated as Sunday to Saturday for the qualifying-week dates.

Actual birth date, if knownEnter the actual date after birth. Early birth changes the end-of-leave window.

Planned leave startThe 28-day notice reminder is calculated from this date.

Continuous employment start dateUsed only to show the 26-week service date; employment continuity and the other pay tests are not checked.

Paternity Leave lengthNI two-week leave must be consecutive. GB may take two weeks together or as separate one-week blocks; this planner shows one block at a time.

I am an employee

Sample only. The dates you enter are stored in this page URL for sharing; avoid sharing personal dates.

Leave entitlement and SPP are separate