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No English? Call 651-556-7777 or 844-556-0444 for help in your language.
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 Starting in January 2026, Paid Leave will offer payments and job-protected leave to make it possible for Minnesotans to be there for some of life's most important moments – like welcoming a child, recovering from a serious illness, or caring for a loved one. Learn more about Paid Leave.
Applications for new parents now open
If you welcomed a child in 2025, you may be able to apply today to take leave to bond with your child. Leave cannot start until January 1, but completing applications early will give Minnesotans and their employers time to plan ahead and prepare for the start of Paid Leave.
You can apply now if:
- You welcomed a child in 2025.
- You want to start your leave in the next 60 days.
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You want to take leave in one block of time.
- You notify your employer of your plan to take leave.
To learn more, visit our website:
Before you apply for Paid Leave, take a few steps to get ready.
- Start by confirming you are eligible and collecting the documents you need to apply.
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Talk with your employer about your planned leave dates and how long you expect to be on leave. You should notify your employer 30 days before you plan to start leave, or as soon as possible.
- When you have everything ready, you can submit your application. You can apply for Paid Leave up to 60 days before your leave will begin.
What is Bonding Leave?
Bonding Leave makes it possible for parents to care for and build a connection with a new child. This includes time with a newborn, a child placed through adoption, or a child placed through foster care.
Bonding Leave is available to all eligible parents, including birthing and non-birthing parents. The leave that one parent takes does not reduce the leave the other parent can take. They do not have to be taken at the same time.
You may also be able to take Medical Leave for your own care related to pregnancy or birth. If you plan to take both Bonding Leave and pregnancy-related Medical Leave, we recommend you wait until January to apply for both types of leave.
When can I take Bonding Leave?
Bonding Leave is available during the first 12 months after the child's birth, adoption, or foster placement. This means you can use Bonding Leave starting January 1, 2026, up until:
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The day before your child turns one
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The day before the one-year anniversary of adoption or foster placement
If your child remained hospitalized longer than the birthing parent, Bonding Leave must be taken before the one-year anniversary of the day the baby came home from the hospital.
What if I already took parental leave? How does this work with FMLA?
Any leave you took before Paid Leave starts on January 1, 2026, does not reduce the amount of time you can take for Paid Leave.
Once Paid Leave begins, your employer may choose to run Paid Leave at the same time as other programs like the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) or Minnesota's Pregnancy and Parental Leave Act. Talk to your employer about how this will apply to your workplace.
What if I need a different kind of leave, or a different schedule?
If the conditions above don’t apply to you, you can still apply when Paid Leave starts on January 1, 2026. Learn more about how Paid Leave works.
For more information
Have questions or need help? Our Contact Center is ready to assist. Call us at 651-556-7777 or send us an email.
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