Paid Leave for birth and bonding
Welcoming a child? Start here!
Paid Leave gives you time off to take care of your health during pregnancy, recover after birth, and bond with your new child.
If you are welcoming a child into your home through birth, adoption, or foster placement, you may be able to take Bonding Leave. And if you are a birthing parent who needs time off to care for your health during pregnancy or after giving birth, you may be able to take Medical Leave, too.
Who counts as a new child?
Under Minnesota Paid Leave, welcoming a child into your family includes:
- A newborn child (biological)
- A child placed with you through adoption
- A child placed with you through foster care
Bonding Leave is available during the first 12 months after the child's birth, adoption, or foster placement, and may be taken after the first year if the child remained hospitalized longer than the birthing parent. You may also use Bonding Leave before the actual placement or adoption of a child if you need time to:
- Attend counseling sessions
- Appear in court
- Consult with the attorney or doctors representing the birth parent
- Submit to a physical examination
- Travel to another country to complete an adoption
If I welcome a child in 2025, can I take Paid Leave in 2026?
Yes, you can take Bonding Leave in 2026, as long as the leave is completed within 12 months of the child's birth, adoption, or foster placement. This means that parents who welcome a child in 2025 may each take up to 12 weeks of Bonding Leave in 2026.
If you give birth in 2025, you may also be able to take Medical Leave in 2026 if your medical provider certifies that you require time off to manage your health and recovery.
Examples: How leave works if you are welcoming a child in 2025
| Child arrives | Bonding Leave must be taken by | Bonding Leave time available |
|---|---|---|
| June 1, 2025 | June 1, 2026 | Up to 12 weeks
(the maximum under the law) |
| March 1, 2025 | March 1, 2026 | Up to 8 weeks
(the time between January 1, 2026, and March 1, 2026) |
Can a non-birthing parent take Bonding Leave?
Bonding Leave is available to birthing and non-birthing parents. Each parent can take up to 12 weeks of Bonding Leave. The leave that one parent takes does not count against the leave the other parent can take.
How does Medical Leave work for a new child?
If you are pregnant and need time off before giving birth or to recover after giving birth, you may qualify for Medical Leave. If you take both Bonding Leave and Medical Leave in the same year, you may be able to take up to 20 total weeks of leave.
If you plan to take both types of leave after the birth of your child, you will be able to submit a single application for Birth and Bonding Leave.
How will I get paid?
Paid Leave offers a portion of your normal wage, but not the full amount. Use our payments calculator to estimate how much you could receive while on leave: Payments and time off / Minnesota Paid Leave
- You will be paid weekly during your approved leave
- Payments will be sent through direct deposit or prepaid debit card
Do I have to take leave all at once?
Paid Leave can be taken all at once (continuous) or at different times (intermittent). Learn more about how leave can be taken here: Payments and time off / Minnesota Paid Leave
- If you take leave all at once
- If you plan to take continuous leave as a birthing parent, using both Medical and Family Leave in one block, you can use the single Birth and Bonding Leave application.
- If you take leave at different times
- If you plan to take leave intermittently, or not in a single continuous block, you will need to submit separate applications:
- One for Medical Leave
- One for Family Leave (Bonding)
- If you plan to take leave intermittently, or not in a single continuous block, you will need to submit separate applications:
When do I apply?
Once Paid Leave launches in January 2026, you can apply as far as 60 days before your leave begins. If you are not able to apply before your leave begins, you must submit your application within 30 days after your leave starts.
If you apply before your leave begins, you will need to return to your application to provide documents that show your child was born, adopted, or placed with you.
What documents do I need to apply?
You will need to submit a document with your application that shows why you need leave.
For Medical Leave (during pregnancy or after birth)
You will need a note from a healthcare provider that includes:
- A statement confirming pregnancy care or recovery needs
- When the condition began
- Expected leave dates
- Provider's signature
For Bonding Leave (Family Leave)
You will need one of the following:
- A birth certificate
- A signed note from a provider with the child's birth date
- A document confirming the date of adoption or foster placement
- A legal document confirming your parental role or guardianship
When do I notify my employer?
You must notify your employer before you begin an application for Paid Leave. You should notify your employer at least 30 days in advance, or as soon as possible once you know you will need leave.