1. Legal right to “Kind krank” leave
In Germany, every employee has the legal right to take time off from work in order to care for their sick child, up to the age of 12.
In certain cases (for example, in the case of disabilities or serious illnesses), this may apply without a strict age limit.
Legal basis: Section 45 of the German Social Code Book V – § 45 SGB V.
2. Number of days allowed per year
For each parent:
→ 10 working days per child per year
For single parents (mother or father):
→ 20 working days per child per year
Maximum limit:
→ 25 days per parent per year (or 50 days per year for single parents).
If you have more than one child, the number of days is calculated separately for each child.
3. What to do when your child is sick
a) Inform your employer immediately
On the first day of absence, contact your employer (by phone or e-mail) as soon as possible and explain that you must stay at home to care for your child, for example:
“Mein Kind ist krank, ich muss zu Hause bleiben und es betreuen.”
(“My child is ill; I have to stay at home and look after them.”)
b) Obtain a medical certificate for the child (Kindkrankschreibung)
Take your child to the paediatrician.
Ask for the official certificate “Bescheinigung für den Arbeitgeber nach § 45 SGB V”, which confirms that your child is ill and requires care by a parent.
Send one copy of this certificate to your employer and another copy to your statutory health insurance fund (Krankenkasse).
c) Apply for child sickness benefit (Krankengeld)
Submit an application for “Krankengeld bei Erkrankung des Kindes” (sickness benefit for the child) to your statutory health insurance.
The health insurance will compensate you for the days you are absent from work in order to care for your child – usually around 90% of your net income.
In some cases (depending on your employment or collective agreement), your employer may continue to pay your regular salary for these days; however, in many cases the benefit is paid directly by the health insurance.
4. Summary of the steps
Inform your employer immediately about your absence and the reason (your child is ill).
Obtain a medical certificate (Kindkrankschreibung) from your child’s doctor.
Send the certificate to your employer and health insurance.
Apply for Krankengeld (child sickness benefit) if necessary.
5. Important notes
Your employer may not refuse your “Kind krank” leave if you provide the required legal certificate.
This leave does not count as part of your normal annual vacation (Urlaub).
The system applies to all employees, even if both parents work for the same company.
Conclusion
When your child is ill:
Inform your employer without delay,
obtain a medical certificate from the paediatrician,
send it to your employer and your health insurance,
and apply for the corresponding sickness benefit if your employer does not continue to pay your full salary.
Your right to take “Kind krank” days is protected by law, and if you follow the correct procedure, your employer cannot lawfully refuse this leave.
The editorial team of this website makes every effort to provide accurate information based on thorough research and multiple sources. However, errors may occur or some details may be incomplete or not fully verified. Therefore, please treat the information contained in this article as an initial point of reference only and always consult the competent authorities, health insurance funds or professional advisors for binding and up-to-date guidance.
