Guide to Parental Leave in Denmark

Congrats, you are having a baby! And if that wasn’t enough of a reason to celebrate, here’s another: you have chosen to raise your child in Denmark, a country that takes work-life balance seriously and consistently ranks among the happiest in the world.

When it comes to parental leave – barselsorlov in Danish – Denmark is often held up as a model of fairness and flexibility. But as wonderful as the system is, figuring out the what, when, and how can be overwhelming, especially if you’re new to the country. But no need to worry, we are here to help with some useful tips and resources that will hopefully make the process a lot easier.

Danish Parental Leave as a Model of Gender Equality

My father-in-law loves to tell the story of when they had their first child in England, almost forty years ago. When he asked his employer about paternity leave, he was told that he could have as much as… half a day off! 

Thankfully, times have changed. Across most of Europe today, both parents are entitled to some form of paid parental leave, with Denmark being among the leaders. Here, the system is designed to promote gender equality by ensuring that both parents can be present and have an active role in those crucial first months.

In Denmark, each parent can have up to 24 weeks of paid parental leave after birth, with a fair degree of flexibility on how time is split between the two parents. The birthing parent also gets up to 4 weeks of paid leave before birth, helping them prepare physically and mentally for the new arrival. Each parent can then transfer up to 13 weeks of their leave to the other (with some limitations), giving families the opportunity to structure their time in a way that works best for them.

The Overwhelm is Real

Even though it’s possible to find most information online in English, it is still a lot to process – lots of rules, exceptions, different situations and scenarios… 

I have to admit, I lost count of how many times I phoned Udbetaling Danmark (Denmark’s public benefits office) while I was pregnant with my daughter, just to ask for clarifications and make sure I understood everything correctly. Blame it on the hormones or the pregnancy ‘brain fog’ – but I was constantly feeling confused, overwhelmed, and scared of making mistakes. After all, I was still relatively new in Denmark, with no family support, and not many parents in my (still small) circle of new friends. So who could I turn to for advice? 

Nabo’s Guide to Parental Leave in Denmark

It turns out, I didn’t have to try and work it out all by myself. I recently joined nabo, a community where both Danes and expats can find support and information. Among other resources, it offers a series of useful guides on how to navigate life in Denmark, including a step-by-step guide to parental leave in Denmark, which gathers all the main information in one place. It is totally free and can be downloaded from our site.

This guide focuses on salaried employees, since that’s the most common situation. If you’re self-employed or in another category, the rules may look a little different – but don’t worry, you’re not left without support.

Here is some practical advice:

1. Talk to your employer or HR department. They know your contract and situation best, and they can guide you through your entitlements and the application process.
2. Check out the official Life In Denmark website. It has detailed, up-to-date information in English on literally everything you need to know to survive (and thrive!) in Denmark.
3. Call Udbetaling Denmark. Their staff speak very good English and are always very helpful in clearing any doubt.
4. Remember you are not alone! You have neighbours all around Denmark who are happy to help. We’ve been there, and we’ve got your back.

What exactly is nabo?

nabo is like a digital neighbourhood designed to create a sense of belonging and make everyone feel like they are part of a caring, supportive community. It’s kind of like a social network, but just for Denmark, without distracting ads, and full of people who are committed to being really kind and supportive. And when you’re in a new country – especially during such a big life change as becoming a parent – feeling like you’re not alone is priceless.

On nabo, you can:

• Connect with other parents (or soon-to-be parents) in Denmark. 
• Join common interest groups or attend online and in-person events. 
• Access guides on everything from childcare and education to navigating Danish bureaucracy.
• Exchange tips, resources, and even language-learning support.

And the best part? It’s completely free to join! 

I wish I had known about nabo when I first moved to Denmark. Its practical guides and caring community would have saved me a lot of stress and uncertainty.

Learn more about nabo and join us at mynabo.dk. We have free recurring events, like our online Book Club and our “Cup of Community”, a weekly meeting where we socialise and get to know each other better. We look forward to welcoming you as a new neighbor in our community!