--- title: "Maternity and Paternity Leave in Switzerland: Rights and Procedures for Cross-Border Workers" url: https://www.ibani.com/en/guides/maternity-paternity-leave-cross-border-switzerland lang: en date_modified: 2026-09-30 author: "Brice DELHOME" --- ![Maternity Paternity Leave Switzerland](https://www.ibani.com/images/conge-maternite-frontalier-suisse.png) # Maternity and Paternity Leave in Switzerland: Rights and Procedures for Cross-Border Workers 6 min read | 26 February 2026 | Updated on 30 September 2026 2026 Guide Author: [Brice DELHOME](https://www.ibani.com/en/author/brice-delhome) ๐Ÿ“Œ In short: maternity and paternity leave for cross-border workers in Switzerland - **Maternity and paternity leave for cross-border workers:** a G permit holder is entitled to the same birth-related leave as resident workers, compensated by the Swiss loss of earnings insurance (APG). - **Maternity leave:** 14 weeks (98 days) from the child's birth, paid at 80% of the average salary with a cap of 220 CHF per day; the canton of Geneva extends it to 16 weeks. - **Paternity leave:** 2 weeks, i.e. 14 daily allowances, taken in one block or as 10 separate working days, within 6 months of the birth; after that, the right lapses. - **Conditions and procedure:** you must have been insured with the AVS for the 9 months before the birth, including at least 5 months of gainful employment; the claim is normally filed by the employer with its AVS compensation fund. **The arrival of a child is an exceptional moment, but it raises many legal and financial questions when you work in Switzerland and live in a bordering country.** As a cross-border worker (G permit holder), you enjoy the same fundamental rights as resident workers regarding birth-related leaves. Whether you are the future mother or father, Swiss law provides for specific allowances covered by the Loss of Earnings Compensation (APG). Here is a clear and detailed overview of your rights, the duration of your leave, and the procedures to undertake with your Swiss employer. ## 1\. How long is maternity leave in Switzerland? Federal maternity leave (maternity insurance) grants female workers the right to paid leave after childbirth. Unlike in France, **prenatal leave does not exist as such** in Swiss law. If you must stop working before the birth, this falls under standard sick leave (upon presentation of a medical certificate). ### Duration and Compensation - **Minimum legal duration:** 14 weeks (98 days) starting from the child's birth. - **Compensation:** 80% of the average salary earned before childbirth. - **Cap:** The daily allowance is capped at a maximum amount set by the Confederation (currently 220 CHF per day), reached from a gross monthly salary of 8,250 CHF (8,250 ร— 0.8 รท 30), according to [AHV/IV memo 6.02](https://www.ahv-iv.ch/p/6.02.e). Since these daily allowances are paid in Swiss francs, it is useful to [convert your allowances from Swiss francs into euros](https://www.ibani.com/en/currency-converter/chf-to-eur-rate) to estimate what you will receive in your euro account. At ibani, conversion is at the market rate plus a margin of 0.40% to 0.15% depending on the amount. ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ญ CANTONAL AND CONVENTIONAL SPECIFICITIES Some cantons or collective employment agreements (CCT) are more generous than federal law. For example: - In the **Canton of Geneva**, maternity leave is extended to **16 weeks**; the cantonal maternity insurance pays 80% of the salary, with a daily allowance capped in principle at 329.60 CHF ([ge.ch](https://www.ge.ch/proteger-ses-employees-enceintes-qui-allaitent/droit-au-conge-maternite)). - Some employers pay 100% of the salary throughout maternity leave, where the employment contract or the applicable collective agreement (CCT) provides for it. ### Eligibility Conditions for Cross-Border Workers To benefit from the maternity allowance, you must: 1. Have been insured with the AVS (Old-Age and Survivors' Insurance) during the 9 months preceding childbirth. 2. Have engaged in lucrative employment for at least 5 months during this period. 3. Still be employed on the date of childbirth. Periods of employment and insurance completed in an EU or EFTA state, or in the United Kingdom, are taken into account in this calculation: a cross-border worker who has only recently started working in Switzerland can therefore complete her 9 months with her previous employment in France, Germany or Italy. ## 2\. How does paternity leave work in Switzerland? Introduced more recently into federal legislation, paternity leave allows working fathers (including cross-border workers) to be involved from the child's first days. ### Duration and Conditions The legal duration of paternity leave is **2 weeks** (i.e., 14 paid days). These days can be taken: - All at once (14 consecutive days, including weekends). - Or as single days (10 working days). **Deadline:** The leave must strictly be taken within the **6 months** following the birth. After this period, the right expires. | Overview of Federal Rights | Maternity Leave | Paternity Leave | | --- | --- | --- | | **Legal Duration** | 14 weeks minimum | 2 weeks (14 days) | | **APG Compensation** | 80% of salary (capped at 220 CHF/day) | 80% of salary (capped at 220 CHF/day) | | **Contribution Conditions** | 9 months AVS, including 5 months of work | 9 months AVS, including 5 months of work | | **Usage Deadline** | Immediately upon birth | Within 6 months following birth | ## 3\. What are the procedures for allowances and family allowances? As a cross-border worker, your procedures are primarily handled through your Swiss employer. ### How to Apply for Your Allowances (Maternity / Paternity)? The payment of the allowance is not automatic. The application (form 318.750 for maternity) is sent to the competent AVS compensation office, in principle **through your employer**, who certifies the duration of the employment relationship and the relevant salary, once the child is born. The entitlement can be claimed up to five years after the end of the leave. You will need to provide them with a copy of the birth certificate or an updated family record book. ๐Ÿ’ถ FAMILY ALLOWANCES (CHILD ALLOWANCES) In addition to birth leave, you are entitled to Swiss family allowances. If your spouse works in your country of residence (e.g., France), priority rules apply: - **Priority Country:** The country where the professional activity is exercised pays the allowances as a priority. If both parents work, the children's country of residence is prioritized. - **Differential Allowance (ADI):** If the allowance amount from the priority country is lower than what the other country provides, the second country's fund pays the difference. In Switzerland, the federal minimum is 215 CHF per month per child, and 268 CHF per month for the vocational training allowance ([FSIO](https://www.bsv.admin.ch/en/family-allowances-benefits-and-conditions)). ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is a cross-border worker entitled to Swiss maternity leave? Yes. A cross-border worker employed in Switzerland pays AVS contributions and receives the maternity allowance on the same terms as a resident: she must have been insured with the AVS during the 9 months before the birth and have been gainfully employed for at least 5 months. Periods completed in an EU or EFTA state are taken into account in this calculation. ### How much do you receive during maternity leave in Switzerland? The federal allowance is 80% of the average income earned before the birth, up to 220 CHF per day, for 14 weeks (98 days). The cap is reached from a gross monthly salary of 8,250 CHF. In Geneva, the leave lasts 16 weeks and the cantonal allowance is capped in principle at 329.60 CHF per day. ### How many days of paternity leave are there and when must it be taken? Paternity leave lasts 2 weeks, i.e. 10 working days for a full-time job and 14 daily allowances. It can be taken all at once or as single days within the 6 months after the birth; after this period, the entitlement expires. The allowance is also 80% of income, up to 220 CHF per day. ### Who submits the application for maternity or paternity allowance? The application is sent to the competent AVS compensation office, in principle through the employer, who certifies the duration of the employment relationship and the relevant salary. For maternity, the form is number 318.750. The entitlement to the allowances can be claimed up to five years after the end of the leave. ### Which country pays family allowances when one parent works in Switzerland and the other in the country of residence? The priority country is the one where a parent is gainfully employed and where the children live. If its allowances are lower than those of Switzerland, the Swiss fund pays the difference on request. In Switzerland, the federal minimum is 215 CHF per month per child, and 268 CHF per month for the vocational training allowance. ## Official sources - [Federal Act on Compensation for Loss of Earnings (LAPG/EOG), SR 834.1 (in French)](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/1952/1021_1046_1050/fr) โ€” Fedlex, accessed 30 September 2026 - [Memo 6.02 โ€” Maternity allowance (as of 1 January 2025)](https://www.ahv-iv.ch/p/6.02.e) โ€” AHV/IV Information Centre, accessed 30 September 2026 - [Memo 6.04 โ€” Allowance for the other parent (as of 1 January 2024)](https://www.ahv-iv.ch/p/6.04.e) โ€” AHV/IV Information Centre, accessed 30 September 2026 - [Family allowances: benefits and conditions](https://www.bsv.admin.ch/en/family-allowances-benefits-and-conditions) โ€” Federal Social Insurance Office (FSIO), accessed 30 September 2026 - [Family allowances: children living abroad](https://www.bsv.admin.ch/en/family-allowances-children-living-abroad) โ€” Federal Social Insurance Office (FSIO), accessed 30 September 2026 - [Right to maternity leave (Canton of Geneva, in French)](https://www.ge.ch/proteger-ses-employees-enceintes-qui-allaitent/droit-au-conge-maternite) โ€” ge.ch, accessed 30 September 2026 ## Maximize Your Cross-Border Income You will soon receive your family allowances or leave indemnities in Swiss Francs (CHF). Do not lose a portion of these amounts to bank exchange fees. With ibani, convert your income and allowances at the market rate plus a margin of 0.40% to 0.15% depending on the amount, directly to your local bank account. [Download ibani](https://www.ibani.com/en/app)