Paternity Leave in Austria 2026: the Familienzeitbonus

If your child is born in Austria, you may be able to spend one month with your family immediately after the birth and receive financial support for this period. This support is the Familienzeitbonus (FZB). The following guide explains who qualifies, how much is paid and how to apply in 2026.

At a glance

• The Familienzeitbonus is available to fathers who temporarily stop all gainful employment after the birth and focus exclusively on their family.
• For children born on or after 1 January 2025, the payment is 54.87 euros per day, or approximately 1,700 euros in total.
• Familienzeit can last 28, 29, 30 or 31 days.
• You must submit the application within 121 days of the child’s birth to the responsible health insurance provider.

How much is the Familienzeitbonus?

For children born on or after 1 January 2025, the bonus is 54.87 euros per day. The total payment is approximately 1,700 euros.

You choose the length of your Familienzeit. However, the period for which the bonus is paid must exactly match the period during which you are actually taking Familienzeit.

• Daily amount: 54.87 euros for children born on or after 1 January 2025
• Total amount: approximately 1,700 euros
• Available duration: 28, 29, 30 or 31 days

What does Familienzeit mean?

The Familienzeitbonus is not paid leave provided by your employer. It is state financial support. You qualify only if you temporarily stop all gainful employment because of the child’s birth and focus intensively and exclusively on your family during this period.

This period is called Familienzeit, or Familienmonat. It can include:

• time away from work because of the birth, known as Papamonat;
• unpaid special leave agreed with the employer (Sonderurlaub gegen Entfall der Bezüge);
• early parental leave for fathers in public service (Väterfrühkarenz);
• for self-employed people, an interruption of the activity together with deregistration from social insurance;
• notification that a trade licence is dormant (Ruhendmeldung des Gewerbes).

Important: Sick leave (Krankenstand) and regular paid leave (Erholungsurlaub) do not count as an interruption of gainful employment. You therefore cannot receive the FZB for these periods.

Who is eligible?

All of the following conditions must be met:

• You are entitled to family allowance for the child (Familienbeihilfe), and it is actually being paid to you.
• You, the child and the other parent have your centre of life in Austria (Lebensmittelpunkt).
• You live permanently in a shared household with the child and the other parent, and all three of you have the same registered main residence (Hauptwohnsitz).
• You actually take Familienzeit.
• You meet the requirements concerning gainful employment.

If you are not an Austrian citizen, you must also have lawful residence in Austria under the legal grounds provided by the Settlement and Residence Act (Niederlassungs- und Aufenthaltsgesetz) or the Asylum Act (Asylgesetz).

What employment history is required?

During the last 182 calendar days before the bonus starts, you must have continuously and actually carried out gainful employment in Austria that required health and pension insurance contributions.

• Previous employment: 182 calendar days continuously
• Permitted interruption: a maximum of 14 days in total
• Unemployment benefits during this period: not permitted, including Arbeitslosengeld, Notstandshilfe or Weiterbildungsgeld

Additional rules apply:

• Sick leave or paid leave during an existing employment relationship does not count as an interruption if wages continue to be paid.
• Parental leave for fathers (Väterkarenz), and equivalent situations for self-employed people and agricultural producers, count as equivalent to employment, up to the older child’s second birthday.
• At the end of Familienzeit, you must actually return to work. Taking parental leave for fathers (Väterkarenz) also counts as returning to work.

When can Familienzeit start?

In the case of a hospital birth, the bonus can start at the earliest on the day the mother and child leave the hospital. This also applies if you stayed together in a family room (Familienzimmer).

If the child is admitted to hospital alone or remains in hospital for health reasons, for example as a premature baby, or if the mother remains in hospital for health reasons, the health insurance provider can provide information about the available options.

How and when must you apply?

The Familienzeitbonus must be claimed by submitting a separate application; it is not paid automatically. You must apply to the health insurance provider (Krankenversicherungsträger) with which you were insured because of gainful employment on the last day before Familienzeit began.

Important deadlines

1. Earliest: you can apply on the child’s date of birth.
2. Latest: you must apply within 121 days of the child’s date of birth.
3. You may change the selected duration once, subject to certain conditions, within 182 days of the birth.

The application form is called Familienzeitbonus Antrag. The required supporting documents must be attached as listed in Annex 1 (Anlage 1). The application must state how many days between 28 and 31 you are applying for.

Frequently asked questions

Can I receive the Familienzeitbonus while I am on holiday?

No. Paid leave (Erholungsurlaub) and sick leave do not count as an interruption of work, so no bonus is paid for these days.

What if I received unemployment benefits before the birth?

During the 182 days before the bonus starts, you must not have received benefits from unemployment insurance, such as Arbeitslosengeld or Notstandshilfe.

Can I change the length of Familienzeit afterwards?

Yes, once and subject to certain conditions, within 182 days of the child’s birth.

How does the Familienzeitbonus relate to Kinderbetreuungsgeld?

The Familienzeitbonus and childcare allowance (Kinderbetreuungsgeld) are two separate benefits.

Practical steps

1. Check that you, the child and the other parent have the required residence and shared household arrangements in Austria.
2. Confirm that you received Familienbeihilfe or are entitled to it.
3. Check the 182-day employment requirement and make sure you did not receive Arbeitslosengeld, Notstandshilfe or Weiterbildungsgeld during that period.
4. Agree the Familienzeit period with your employer, or complete the relevant interruption or notification steps if you are self-employed or work in public service.
5. Choose a duration of 28, 29, 30 or 31 days.
6. Complete the Familienzeitbonus Antrag and attach the documents listed in Anlage 1.
7. Submit the application to the relevant Krankenversicherungsträger no earlier than the birth and no later than 121 days after it.

This article is based on information available online and does not constitute advice. Use of the information is at your own responsibility. For professional advice, contact a lawyer, legal professional, healthcare professional, employment-law or labour-market specialist, or another relevant professional.

Source: oesterreich.gv.at