The INPS, through Message No. 251 dated 26 January 2026, has provided operational guidance regarding the extension of the time limits for taking parental leave.
The 2026 Budget Law has extended from 12 to 14 years the period within which employed parents may take parental leave, both in cases of birth (from the end of maternity leave for mothers and from the child’s birth for fathers) and in cases of adoption or foster care. For adoption and foster care, the 14‑year period is calculated from the child’s entry into the family, provided that it occurs before the child reaches 18 years of age.
The amendment applies exclusively to employed workers: the limits remain unchanged for contributors to the Separate Management scheme (12 years) and for self‑employed workers (1 year).
The new provision applies from 1 January 2026; until 31 December 2025, the 12‑year limit remains in force.
Starting from 1 January 2026, employees with children under the age of 14 may request parental leave within the ordinary statutory limits. INPS updated the online “Maternity and Paternity Applications” procedure on 8 January 2026. For the days between 1 and 7 January 2026, retroactive submission of applications is allowed, and INPS local offices must assess such requests considering the technical impossibility of submitting them in advance.