Taiwan extends paid marriage leave to 14 days

台灣延長婚假至14天

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan will extend paid marriage leave from eight to 14 days on Thursday, with the government reimbursing employers for wages paid during the six additional days, the labor ministry said Tuesday.

The ministry announced the measure after amending the Regulations of Leave-Taking for Workers and issuing guidelines for a wage subsidy program. The new rules and application system will take effect on Oct. 1.

Employers must pay workers their regular wages throughout the 14 days of marriage leave. They may then apply to the Bureau of Labor Insurance for full reimbursement of wages covering days nine through 14.

Employers may apply after a worker has completed the leave or, if the employment contract ends before then, after paying the wages required for the additional days. Applications can be submitted through the bureau’s online service system using an organization’s digital certificate.

Employers may also download an application form from the bureau’s website and submit it by registered mail or in person.

The bureau expects to issue the first payments for eligible applications submitted in 2026 by the end of January 2027. Applications received from January 2027 onward will generally be paid by the end of the following month. Payments are contingent on passage of the 2027 budget.

Employers must apply within two years of paying wages for the additional marriage leave. The bureau has established an online information section containing application instructions, subsidy details, frequently asked questions and a one-minute tutorial video.

The ministry said the policy would give workers more time to prepare for marriage and adjust to a new stage of life while reducing the financial burden on employers.

The measure is part of the government’s population strategy, which seeks to strengthen workplace support for marriage, pregnancy, childbirth and parenting.