How to Claim 14 Days of Paternity Leave: A Dad’s HR Filing Guide

The first few weeks and months after your little one arrives will be a whirlwind of emotions and new experiences! That’s precisely what paternity leave is for—to give you the time and space to support your partner and embrace your new role as a hands-on dad (congratulations, by the way!).

The best part? This precious family bonding time is protected by law under Republic Act (RA) 8187 (your boss can’t say no to it), and if your wife shares part of her SSS maternity leave with you, you could take up to 14 days total. Here’s everything you need to know about paternity leave in the Philippines.

Quick Answer: How Many Days Is Paternity Leave in the Philippines?

• What you get: You’re entitled to 7 working days of paternity leave with full pay under RA 8187.
• Who qualifies: You qualify if you’re a married male employee, in the private or public sector, cohabiting with your legitimate spouse.
• What’s covered: You’re covered for your spouse’s first four deliveries—childbirth, miscarriage, or abortion.
• Extra days: You can get up to 7 more days if your wife allocates part of her SSS maternity benefit to you under RA 11210.
• Good to know: Your company policy or CBA might give you more than the legal minimum, so it’s worth asking HR directly.

What Is Paternity Leave?

Paternity leave is your chance to step back from work and step fully into your role as a dad, right when your family needs you most. Under RA 8187, or the Paternity Leave Act of 1996, every married male employee gets seven working days off with full pay when his legitimate spouse gives birth, has a miscarriage, or undergoes an abortion.

The law calls this “lending support” to your wife, and that’s really the heart of it: less pressure on her, and more time for you to help during those first, tiring days. In fact, a US study found that parents who took paternity leave reported feeling more satisfied in their relationship, especially the moms.

Who Can Avail of Paternity Leave?

Not every employee automatically qualifies, so it helps to check where you stand before you plan around it.

Paternity Leave Requirements: Documents to Prepare

Get your papers ready early so you’re not scrambling for signatures the week your baby’s due; you’ll want to be fully present for your wife at that time! Here’s what you’ll need, based on DOLE’s implementing rules:

• Marriage certificate (PSA copy) or proof of marriage, submitted with your Paternity Notification Form—get this early in the pregnancy so you’re not chasing it close to your wife’s due date
• Birth certificate of your newborn, submitted after delivery
• Medical certificate signed by your doctor or midwife, showing the actual date of delivery, miscarriage, or abortion—hold onto this, since HR will likely ask for it before releasing your benefits
• Company-specific forms, since some employers have their own leave request templates on top of the legal requirements

How to File or Claim Paternity Leave

Filing your Paternity Notification Form early helps HR process your leave faster.

Once your documents are ready, here’s how the actual filing works, step by step.

1. Tell your employer as soon as you know your wife is pregnant, including her expected delivery date. If it’s a miscarriage or abortion, you don’t need to give this advance notice.
2. Fill out your company’s Paternity Notification Form and attach your marriage certificate or proof of marriage.
3. Confirm your leave dates with HR. You can take your seven days before, during, or after delivery, just make sure you use them within 60 days of the delivery.
4. Submit your child’s birth certificate or a medical certificate afterward, so HR can close out your paternity leave record.

What Full Pay Means for Your Paternity Leave

Once your leave is approved, the next thing on your mind is probably your paycheck—and this is where you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Is paternity leave paid? Yes, and your seven days come with full pay, not a partial rate.

Full pay means your basic salary, plus all your usual allowances and other monetary benefits, continue as if you were at work. Think of RA 8187 as the minimum your employer has to give you, not the maximum. So, if your company or CBA (collective bargaining agreement—the contract your employer and union negotiate) already gives you more than seven days, you still get to keep that.

One thing to keep in mind: if you don’t use your paternity leave, it doesn’t convert to cash. It’s meant to be used, not banked.

Paternity Leave Rules for Unmarried Fathers

All of this—the seven days, the full pay, the protection under RA 8187—comes with one condition worth addressing directly: the law is specific about who qualifies. The law specifically covers married male employees cohabiting with their legitimate spouse. So, if you’re not married to your child’s mother, this particular benefit doesn’t apply to you.

That said, you’re not automatically shut out of every option. Some companies extend similar leave benefits through their own HR policy or CBA, so it’s worth asking your employer directly rather than assuming you have no options at all.

A New Bill Could Extend Your Paternity Leave to 105 Days

Everything mentioned above reflects the law as it stands today. But here’s something worth knowing: lawmakers are actively pushing to change it. They aren’t just questioning who qualifies for leave, but how many days you get, too.

On June 18, 2026, Akbayan Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno filed House Bill 9891, the Paternity and Parental Leave Act (PAPA Leave Act), which would raise your paid paternity leave from 7 days to as much as 105 days and remove the current marriage requirement.

This isn’t law yet. It still needs to pass Congress and be signed before any of it takes effect, so the 7-day (or 14-day, with SSS allocation) benefit is what applies to you right now.

FAQs About Paternity Leave

You can stretch your 7 days to 14 days of paternity leave if your wife allocates part of her SSS maternity leave to you.

Got more questions? Here are quick answers to the ones dads ask most.

Q: When should you file for paternity leave?

File as soon as you learn your wife is pregnant, then confirm the actual leave dates once she’s closer to her due date.

Q: What’s the difference between paternity leave and maternity leave allocation?

A: You get seven days on your own under RA 8187, as a married dad. Separately, under RA 11210, or the Expanded Maternity Leave Law, your wife can allocate up to seven days of her 105-day maternity leave to you. This allocation option is open to her regardless of your marital status, but if you’re already eligible under RA 8187, the two benefits can stack, giving you up to 14 days total.

Check her SSS maternity benefit details to see how that allocation actually works on her end.

Q: Does paternity leave cover miscarriage?

A: Yes. The law’s definition of “delivery” includes miscarriage and abortion, so you’re entitled to your seven days in either case. The one difference? You don’t need to give your employer advance notice for a miscarriage or abortion, since these aren’t planned for the same way a due date is.

Show Up for Your Family, Starting Today

You’ve now got what you need, Dad: your 7 guaranteed days (up to 14, if it applies to you), what to prepare, and how to file. The one thing left is to actually use it. Don’t wait until the week your baby’s due to figure out your leave—talk to your HR department today, even if delivery is still months away, so your paperwork and your dates are settled long before you need them.

However you spend it, whether that’s in the delivery room, handling the first sleepless nights, or simply being present when your family needs you most, paternity leave exists so you don’t have to choose between your job and your family. And once you’re settled into this new chapter, these guides on newborn essentials and baby milestones can help you plan for what comes next.

Connect with other dads and moms figuring out paternity leave, HR processes, and new-parent life in the ParenTeam Moms and Dads Facebook group—swap notes, ask questions, and get real answers from parents who’ve filed for it too.