"Honor • Service • Excellence • Sacrifice"
Building Military Families
Supporting service members in their journey to expand their families through adoption with comprehensive leave benefits and family support services.
Non-Chargeable Leave
Continued Coverage
Job Security
Service members adopting a child can receive up to 21 days of non-chargeable leave to bond with their new family member and complete necessary adoption procedures.
Authorized service members who adopted a child through a qualifying adoption agency receive up to 21 days for non-chargeable leave of absence.
The military aims to provide support for serving personnel who are newly adopting children, comparable to maternity leave arrangements.
Available to qualifying Service personnel who have been notified of being matched with a child and are not taking Paternity Leave.
Authorization: Service members who adopted a child through a qualifying adoption agency are authorized up to 21 days for non-chargeable leave of absence.
Military Support: The military aims to provide support for serving personnel who are newly adopting children and is comparable to maternity leave arrangements.
Eligibility: Adoption Leave scheme is available to qualifying Service personnel who have been notified of being matched with a child and who are not taking Paternity Leave.
Coverage: Adoption leave is given to recognize the adoption of a child (or children) up to the age of 18 years. It is available to both male and female Service personnel and to those adopting a child on their own or one member of a couple adopting a child together.
Available to both male and female service members
Children up to 18 years of age
Solo adopters or couples (one member)
Non-chargeable to your leave balance
Find answers to common questions about military adoption leave benefits and eligibility requirements.
Yes, qualifying service members who have been notified of being matched with a child through an approved adoption agency are eligible for up to 21 days of non-chargeable adoption leave, provided they are not already taking paternity leave.
After exhausting your 21-day adoption leave, you may use accrued annual leave or request unpaid leave for additional time off. Your command will work with you to ensure you have adequate time for the adoption process.
Yes, adoption leave is non-chargeable, meaning you receive full military pay and benefits during your 21-day adoption leave period. This leave does not count against your annual leave balance.
All military benefits continue uninterrupted during your adoption leave period. This includes healthcare, housing allowances, and all other entitlements. Your job security is also protected during this time.
Take the next step in growing your military family. Our support team is here to guide you through the adoption leave application process.