Answers · UK 2025/26

What leave and pay am I entitled to when adopting a child in the UK?

Eligible employees adopting a child can take up to 52 weeks of Statutory Adoption Leave, with up to 39 weeks of Statutory Adoption Pay, structured very similarly to Maternity Leave and Pay -- 90% of average weekly earnings for the first 6 weeks, then the lower of the standard statutory weekly rate or 90% of average weekly earnings for the remaining weeks.

Last updated: 1 July 2026Last reviewed: 1 July 2026How we verify

Full answer

Statutory Adoption Leave and Pay closely mirror Statutory Maternity Leave and Pay in structure, giving one parent in an adopting couple (or a single adopter) broadly equivalent leave and pay rights to a birth mother. **Leave entitlement** Eligible employees can take up to 52 weeks of Statutory Adoption Leave, split into 26 weeks of Ordinary Adoption Leave and 26 weeks of Additional Adoption Leave, taken from the date the child is placed with the family (or, for overseas adoptions, when the child enters the UK). **Pay entitlement and rate** Statutory Adoption Pay is payable for up to 39 weeks, calculated as 90% of average weekly earnings for the first 6 weeks, then the LOWER of the standard statutory weekly rate or 90% of average weekly earnings for the remaining 33 weeks -- this is the same rate structure used for Statutory Maternity Pay. **Eligibility conditions** To qualify, the employee generally needs to have been matched with a child for adoption by an approved adoption agency, have a minimum period of continuous employment with their employer by the relevant qualifying week, and earn at least the Lower Earnings Limit on average. **Which partner takes Adoption Leave versus Paternity Leave** In a couple adopting together, one partner can take Adoption Leave and Pay, while the other partner may be eligible for Statutory Paternity Leave and Pay (up to 2 weeks), broadly mirroring how a birth mother and her partner would split maternity and paternity leave -- couples can choose which of them takes the main Adoption Leave. **Shared Parental Leave for adopters** As with birth parents, the adopting parent taking the main Adoption Leave can curtail it early and convert the remaining weeks into Shared Parental Leave and Pay, allowing both adoptive parents to share the remaining leave and pay flexibly, in the same way as for birth parents. **Worked example** A couple is matched with a child for adoption. One partner takes 52 weeks of Adoption Leave, receiving 39 weeks of Statutory Adoption Pay (90% of average earnings for 6 weeks, then the standard statutory weekly rate for 33 weeks), while the other partner takes 2 weeks of Statutory Paternity Leave and Pay around the placement date. **Practical tip** Notify your employer of your adoption match and intended leave dates as soon as possible, since specific notice periods apply, and check whether your employer offers an enhanced (above statutory) adoption pay scheme, which many larger employers now match to their maternity pay policy.