Eligible working parents in Singapore can receive Government-Paid Childcare Leave (GPCL) or Extended Childcare Leave (ECL) if they meet the following criteria.

Child's profile

• The child must be a Singapore Citizen (SC) at birth, or become one within the calendar year. GPCL and ECL can only be consumed after the child obtains SC status.

• For GPCL: the youngest child must be under 7 years old at any point during the calendar year.

• For ECL: the youngest child must be between 7 and 12 years old (inclusive) at any point during the calendar year.

Parent's profile

• Mothers are eligible regardless of marital status.

• Fathers must be or have been married to the child's mother. If the marriage takes place after the child's birth, GPCL and ECL can only be taken from the date of marriage onwards. Divorced fathers remain eligible.

• Adoptive parents are eligible once the Adoption Order has been passed.

• Foster parents are eligible if they hold a valid Letter of Identity.

• Step-parents are eligible if they marry the child's other parent within the calendar year.

• Legal guardians are eligible if they hold a valid Legal Guardianship document.

Employment status

• Employees must have served their employer continuously for at least 3 months. If you have worked for less than a year, your entitlement may be prorated based on the length of your employment.

• Self-employed parents must have been engaged in a trade, business, profession, or vocation continuously for at least 3 months, and must have lost income from ceasing active engagement during the leave period.

Additional notes

• The relevant period is the 12-month period used to determine your eligibility and entitlement. By default, this is the calendar year (1 January to 31 December). Employers and employees may mutually agree on a different 12-month period. If you are self-employed or have not made such an agreement with your employer, the calendar year applies

For more information, visit the GPL Portal.