Elternzeit

Elternzeit is job-protected leave from work to care for your child. It is not the same thing as Elterngeld — Elternzeit is the legal right to take time off with your job held open; Elterngeld is the separate payment that replaces part of your income during that time (or during reduced hours). You can take Elternzeit without claiming Elterngeld, and you can claim Elterngeld for months that overlap with part-time work, so plan them together but apply for each separately.

Quick Summary

Elternzeit gives each parent the right to up to 3 years of leave per child, with your job legally protected, under the Bundeselterngeld- und Elternzeitgesetz (BEEG). Your employer cannot refuse it and cannot dismiss you for taking it.

Who Needs This

• You are an employee in Germany (Elternzeit is an employment-law right, not tied to your residence permit type the way Elterngeld is — though you naturally need a permit that allows you to work)
• You want to reduce or stop work to care for a child without losing your job
• You want to understand the notice period so you don’t miss employer deadlines

What Elternzeit Gives You

• Up to 3 years of leave per child, which can be split between both parents and taken at different times.
• Up to 24 months of this can be transferred and taken later, until the child’s 8th birthday, with your employer’s agreement in most cases.
• Your job (or an equivalent role with equal pay) must be available to you when you return.
• You may work part-time (up to around 32 hours/week) during Elternzeit without losing the leave status.

Step-By-Step: Requesting Elternzeit

1. Decide with your partner how you’ll split the 3 years per child between you, and roughly when each period will start and end.
2. Notify your employer in writing at least 7 weeks before the Elternzeit is to start.
3. If a portion of your Elternzeit will begin after your child’s 3rd birthday, give at least 13 weeks’ notice for that portion instead.
4. State clearly in your written notice which two years (of the first three) you are requesting leave for, since German law requires this level of specificity upfront for that period.
5. If you plan to work part-time during Elternzeit, request this from your employer in the same notice; they can only refuse for significant operational reasons.
6. Separately, apply for Elterngeld through your local Elterngeldstelle if you want income replacement during this time — Elternzeit notice to your employer does not trigger Elterngeld payments automatically.

Written means written

Notice must be given in text form to your employer (a letter or a clear written statement) — a verbal request is not sufficient to secure the legal protection.

Common Documents

• Written Elternzeit request/letter to your employer
• Child’s birth certificate (your employer may request a copy)
• Employer’s written confirmation of the agreed Elternzeit period, for your own records

Common Mistakes

• Confusing Elternzeit (the leave) with Elterngeld (the payment) and assuming applying for one covers the other
• Missing the 7-week (or 13-week) notice deadline
• Not specifying enough detail about which period you want in the initial notice
• Assuming part-time work during Elternzeit is automatically approved without discussing it with your employer first

Important Note

Elternzeit is a federal employment-law entitlement, but details like part-time arrangements are negotiated with your specific employer. If your employer disputes your request, consult your works council (Betriebsrat), a labor law advisor, or the local employment agency.