Free tool · Canada · Weeks and routes only

EI parental leave: how many weeks, and how to apply

Answer three questions and see the number of weeks and the application route for EI maternity or parental benefits. Weeks and routes only — no benefit amounts, and no advice on which option to choose. Every figure below was read from the Service Canada EI pages on November 5, 2026.

EI figures last checked: November 5, 2026. Quebec is separate: EI maternity and parental benefits do not apply there — Quebec residents use the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) instead.

Do you live in Quebec? Choose one No — I live in another province or territory Yes — I live in Quebec

Which benefit? Choose one Maternity benefits (for the person giving birth) Parental benefits (for a parent caring for a newborn or newly adopted child)

Parental benefits: which option? Choose one Not applicable — maternity benefits, or no parental benefit Standard parental benefits Extended parental benefits

Will the weeks be shared with another parent? Choose one No — one parent will take all the weeks Yes — the weeks will be shared between two parents

Check the weeks and the route

The weeks, side by side

Benefit	Weeks	When the weeks must fall
Maternity benefits	Up to 15 weeks, only for the person giving birth, and they cannot be shared	Can start as early as 12 weeks before the expected due date. Cannot be received more than 17 weeks after the due date or the date of birth, whichever is later
Standard parental benefits, one parent	Up to 35 weeks	Within 52 weeks (12 months) of the child's birth or placement for adoption
Standard parental benefits, shared	Up to 40 weeks in total	Within 52 weeks. One parent can receive up to 35 weeks; the other parent can receive up to 5 additional weeks, which only the other parent can take
Extended parental benefits, one parent	Up to 61 weeks	Within 78 weeks (18 months) of the child's birth or placement for adoption
Extended parental benefits, shared	Up to 69 weeks in total	Within 78 weeks. One parent can receive up to 61 weeks; the other parent can receive up to 8 additional weeks, which only the other parent can take

Parents sharing benefits must choose the same option — standard or extended. Each parent submits their own application. Parents can take their weeks at the same time or one after another. Once benefits have been paid for a week under one option, neither parent can switch to the other option. You can apply for parental benefits at the same time as maternity benefits, and parental benefits can start the week the child is born or placed for adoption.

How to apply

Apply as soon as possible after you stop working. If you apply more than 4 weeks after your last day of work, you may lose benefits. The online application takes about 1 hour and can be saved for up to 72 hours. Do not wait for documents before you apply — apply first and send the documents when they are ready. Check the status of your application in My Service Canada Account (MSCA). Step-by-step: How to Start Applying for Employment Insurance (EI) Benefits in Canada.

Quebec residents: QPIP, not EI

The Province of Quebec is responsible for providing maternity, paternity, parental and adoption benefits to residents of Quebec through the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP). EI benefits continue in all other provinces and territories. If you live in Quebec but work elsewhere, QPIP applies; if you work in Quebec but live elsewhere, EI applies.

Service Canada, Employment Insurance maternity and parental benefits · Service Canada, How to apply for EI maternity and parental benefits · Service Canada, EI maternity and parental benefits — Quebec Parental Insurance Plan · Service Canada, Eligibility for EI maternity and parental benefits

Sources and how each figure was checked

Sources: Service Canada, "Employment Insurance maternity and parental benefits" — up to 15 weeks of maternity benefits, up to 35 weeks of standard parental benefits (40 shared), up to 61 weeks of extended parental benefits (69 shared), the 52-week and 78-week windows, the 5- and 8-week sharing bonus, the same-option rule, the no-switching rule, and that parental benefits can start the week of the birth or placement, read on November 5, 2026. Service Canada, "How to apply for EI maternity and parental benefits" — apply as soon as possible after stopping work, benefits can be lost by applying more than 4 weeks late, the online application takes about 1 hour and can be saved for 72 hours, do not wait for documents, and check the status in My Service Canada Account, read on November 5, 2026. Service Canada, "Eligibility for EI maternity and parental benefits" — the 600 insured hours and the more-than-40% earnings decrease, read on November 5, 2026. Service Canada, "EI maternity and parental benefits — Quebec Parental Insurance Plan" — Quebec residents receive benefits through QPIP, read on November 5, 2026. This page is rechecked when Service Canada changes the EI maternity or parental rules, and any new figure ships as a dated correction, never a silent edit.