Adoption leave in the public service
Verified 31 March 2023 - Legal and Administrative Information Directorate (Prime Minister)
Are you a public official and you adopt one or more children? You are entitled to adoption leave. We present you the rules for this leave, depending on whether you are a public servant or a contractor.
Official
You are entitled to adoption leave if one or more children are entrusted to you for adoption by one of the following authorities:
- Departmental Child Welfare Service (Ase)
- French Adoption Agency (Afa)
- French Organization Authorized for Adoption (OAA)
- Competent foreign authority (provided the child has been authorized to enter France)
Adoption leave may be granted to either adoptive parent.
If the other adoptive parent is also an employee or a contract parent, the leave may be shared among you.
You can benefit from adoption leave whether you are a probationary or tenured public servant.
You can take adoption leave if you are in position of employment or secondment.
The length of the adoption leave varies depending on the number of adopted children, the number of children you already have dependent on, and whether the leave is divided between the two parents.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
You're adopting a child
The length of the adoption leave varies depending on the number of children you already have dependent on and whether the leave is divided between the two parents.
Number of children already chargeable | Length of leave if it is taken by only 1 parent | Length of leave if it is divided between the two parents |
|---|---|---|
0 or 1 | 16 weeks | 16 weeks + 25 days |
2 or more | 18 weeks | 18 weeks + 25 days |
In the case of division between the two parents, the leave may be divided into only two periods, one of which is of at least 25 days or, in the case of multiple adoption, of at least 32 days.
The two parents can take their adoption leave at the same time.
The leave shall start, at your choice, on the date of arrival of the child at your home or not more than 7 days before that date of arrival.
You can request that the adoption leave succeed the 3-day leave for the arrival of a child placed for adoption.
You adopt 2 or more children
The duration of the adoption leave shall be:
- 22 weeks if the leave is taken by only one parent,
- 22 weeks + 32 days if divided between the 2 parents.
In the case of division between the two parents, the leave may be divided into only two periods, one of which is of at least 25 days or, in the case of multiple adoption, of at least 32 days.
The two parents can take their adoption leave at the same time.
The leave shall start, at your choice, on the date of arrival of the child at your home or not more than 7 days before that date of arrival.
You can request that the adoption leave succeed the 3-day leave for the arrival of a child placed for adoption.
You must submit your request for adoption leave by mail to your head of department.
You must enter the child's arrival date and your planned leave dates.
You cannot be denied this leave.
Attach the following documents to your application:
- Any document certifying that a child is entrusted to you for adoption by a departmental child welfare service (Ase), the French Agency for Adoption or any other body authorized for adoption and specifying the date of arrival
- Declaration of your spouse adopting stating that he does not have adoption leave for that child or that you share the adoption leave with each other
There is no text setting out the time limit within which you must first submit your application.
Reminder
If you have to travel overseas or abroad for the adoption of your child, you can benefit from a availability up to 6 weeks.
During your adoption leave, you continue to receive your entire index treatment.
You keep touching the whole thing the residence allowance and the new index enhancement (NBI) if you are receiving these compensation supplements.
If you already touch the family treatment supplement (FTS), it also continues to be paid in full to you during your leave.
The SFT for the new child is paid to you from 1er day of the month following the month of arrival.
You continue to receive all of your premiums and allowances.
Adoption leave shall be considered as a period of activity for advancement in step and grade and retirement.
Paternity leave does not affect your entitlement to other leave (annual leave, sick leave, etc.).
If you work part-time, you are automatically reinstated full-time during your paternity leave.
At the end of your leave, you are reassigned to your position.
If this is not possible, you are assigned to an equivalent job, closest to your last place of work.
You can apply to be posted to a job closer to home, if the transfer priorities granted to certain officials so allow.
FYI
If you are a probationary public servant, paternity leave extends, under certain conditions, your internship period without changing your tenure date.
Contractual
You are entitled to adoption leave if one or more children are entrusted to you for adoption by one of the following authorities:
- Departmental Child Welfare Service (Ase)
- French Adoption Agency (Afa)
- French Organization Authorized for Adoption (OAA)
- Competent foreign authority (provided the child has been authorized to enter France)
Adoption leave may be granted to either adoptive parent.
If the other adoptive parent is also a contract or civil servant, the leave may be shared among you.
You can benefit from adoption leave whether you are in CSD: titleContent or DTA: titleContent.
You can take adoption leave if you are working (i.e. if you are not on unpaid leave: parental leave, mobility leave, etc.)
The length of the adoption leave varies depending on the number of adopted children, the number of children you already have dependent on, and whether the leave is divided between the two parents.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
You're adopting a child
The length of the adoption leave varies depending on the number of children you already have dependent on and whether the leave is divided between the two parents.
Number of children already chargeable | Length of leave if it is taken by only 1 parent | Length of leave if it is divided between the two parents |
|---|---|---|
0 or 1 | 16 weeks | 16 weeks + 25 days |
2 or more | 18 weeks | 18 weeks + 25 days |
In the case of division between the two parents, the leave may be divided into only two periods, one of which is of at least 25 days or, in the case of multiple adoption, of at least 32 days.
The two parents can take their adoption leave at the same time.
The leave shall start, at your choice, on the date of arrival of the child at your home or not more than 7 days before that date of arrival.
You can request that the adoption leave succeed the 3-day leave for the arrival of a child placed for adoption.
You adopt 2 or more children
The duration of the adoption leave shall be:
- 22 weeks if the leave is taken by only one parent,
- 22 weeks + 32 days if divided between the 2 parents.
In the case of division between the two parents, the leave may be divided into only two periods, one of which is of at least 25 days or, in the case of multiple adoption, of at least 32 days.
The two parents can take their adoption leave at the same time.
The leave shall start, at your choice, on the date of arrival of the child at your home or not more than 7 days before that date of arrival.
You can request that the adoption leave succeed the 3-day leave for the arrival of a child placed for adoption.
You must submit your request for adoption leave by mail to your head of department.
You must enter the child's arrival date and your planned leave dates.
You cannot be denied this leave.
Attach the following documents to your application:
- Any document certifying that a child is entrusted to you for adoption by a departmental child welfare service (Ase), the French Agency for Adoption or any other body authorized for adoption and specifying the date of arrival
- Declaration of your spouse adopting stating that he does not have adoption leave for that child or that you share the adoption leave with each other
There is no text setting out the time limit within which you must first submit your application.
Reminder
If you have to travel overseas or abroad to adopt your child, you can take up to 6 weeks of unpaid leave.
During your adoption leave, you continue to receive your full salary.
Adoption leave is considered to be a period of activity.
It is taken into account when calculating your length of service when a length of service condition is required to qualify for a right (for example, to apply for part-time).
It does not reduce your entitlement to other leave (annual leave, sick leave, etc.).
If you work part-time, you are automatically reinstated full-time for the duration of your adoption leave.
At the end of your leave, you are reassigned to your position.
If this is not possible, you are given priority to be re-employed on a similar job with equivalent pay.
Article L331-7: duration of leave compensation
Articles 15, 16, 19a, 28, 32
Articles 10, 11, 14-1, 28, 33
Articles 13, 14, 18-1, 28, 30
Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs