To apply: If you are an employee

1. Discuss with your employer about the start and end date of your adoption leave.
2. Give your employer early notice of your adoption leave plans so as to allow your employer time to verify that you are eligible and to make alternative work arrangements.
3. Submit a declaration form (Form GPAL1) to your employer with all the necessary supporting documents. Your employer may also use its own declaration form/system for you to declare your eligibility. Please click here for the details that must be provided for declaration.
4. Apply for adoption leave in accordance to your company's leave application procedures.

To claim:

If you are self-employed

The government will reimburse the income you lost for the days of adoption leave that you have taken.

The total amount of reimbursement, which is capped at $10,000 for the 4 weeks, is calculated based on your notice of assessment from the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS).

1. Record your GPAL dates. Keep a personal log of the dates the leave was taken.
2. Submit your duly completed hardcopy claim form (GPAL3 Form) along with other required documents to the CPF Board within 3 months from the last day of your adoption leave.

Note: Late claims will not be entertained.

If you are the employer

1. Obtain the relevant declaration form and supporting documents from your employee at the point of application of GPAL.
2. You do not need to use GPAL1 if you are able to ascertain your employees eligibility with your companys forms/systems.
3. Submit the duly completed hardcopy claim form along with other required documents to the CPF Board within 3 months from the last day of your employees adoption leave. Keep in mind that late claims will not be entertained.

To apply: If you are an employee

• Declaration form (Form GPAL1)

To claim:

If you are self-employed

• Duly completed hardcopy claim form (GPAL3 Form)
• A direct credit authorisation form with the banks endorsement, if you do not have a standing payment instruction with the CPF Board
• Copy of adoption petition to the Family Court (for SC child)
• Copy of in-principle approval for a Dependents Pass (DP) (for non SC child)
• Copy of the latest notice of assessment from the IRAS
• Copy of the Adoption Order and The Schedule
• Copy of the Singapore Citizenship certificate of the child (if applicable)

NOTE: If the Adoption Order and/or Singapore Citizenship certificate is/are not available at the point of submission of the claim, they must be furnished to the CPF Board as soon as they are available.

If you are the employer

• Filled up GPAL2 Form
• A direct credit authorization form with the banks endorsement, if you do not have a standing payment instruction with the CPF Board.
• Copy of adoption petition to the Family Court (for SC child)
• Copy of in-principle approval for a Dependents Pass (DP) (for non SC child)
• Copy of the Adoption Order and The Schedule
• Copy of the Singapore Citizenship certificate of the child (if applicable)

NOTE: If the Adoption Order and/or Singapore Citizenship certificate is/are not available at the point of submission of the claim, they must be furnished to the CPF Board as soon as they are available.

For enquiries on adoption process:

Ministry of Social and Family Development

512A Thomson Road, #02-01/09 SLF Podium, Singapore 298137

T: 6355 6388

F: 6258 4823

Email: msf_adoption@msf.gov.sg

For enquiries on adoption leave:

Central Provident Fund Board

CPF Building

79 Robinson Road

Singapore 068897

Email: employer@cpf.gov.sg

CPF Call Centre 1800-227-1188 (local) +65-6227-1188 (overseas)

• Hotlines are closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

1.) You are the childs adoptive mother.

2.) Your adoptive child is below 12 months of age at the point of your leave consumption.

3.) You are/have been lawfully married at the point of your formal intent to adopt, which is:

• The application to adopt is made to the Court (for a Singapore Citizen (SC) child); or,
• Issuance of Dependant's Pass (DP) for the adoptive child (includes the document evidencing that the application has been approved) (for a child who is not a SC)

4.) You have served your employer or if you are self-employed, have been engaged in your current business, trade or profession for a continuous period of at least 3 months immediately preceding the point of your formal intent to adopt.

5.) If your adoptive child is not a SC, at least you or your spouse who is adopting with you must be a SC.

Explain the fees structure which is required for obtaining the certificate/document.

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

To view and download forms follow link: http://www.ecitizen.gov.sg/Topics/Pages/Adoption-leave-How-to-apply.aspx

Please attach sample completed documents which would help other people who would like to follow this procedure.    

To Claim: 15 working days upon receipt of the complete set of supporting documents and properly completed claim form. Inaccurate information will delay your application.

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications. 
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type="website">video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the "&" inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver, 
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M" Video ID is "Y0US7oR_t3M". 
	

Please provide instructions on obtaining the certificate/documents.
e.g. The state office holds birth records since january 1908.

A list which displays the kind of information which is required to complete the procedure.
e.g.
1. Date of Birth.
2. City or County of Birth.

The government of singapore supports adoptive parents in caring for their adopted child. With this in mind beginning May 1, 2013, the government will require employers to provide adoptive leave to eligible mothers who adopted a child below 12 months of age.

The benefit will grant mothers 4 weeks of leave to be taken within 12 months from the child's birth. Adoption leave can be taken in a single continuous period or can be consumed in installment subject to mutual agreement between the mother and her employer.

Mothers can begin taking adoption leave from the point of formal intent to adopt, which is:

• If the child is a Singapore Citizen: From the date you made the application to adopt to the Court.
• If the child is not a Singapore Citizen: From the date the Dependent's pass is issued in respect of the child (includes the document evidencing that the application has been approved).

Self-employed mothers are also eligible for GPAL once criteria for eligibility are met.

The employer or the mother herself (if self-employed) will be entitled to claim reimbursement up to $10,000 for 4 weeks (inclusive of CPF contributions) from the Government.

Terms and Conditions

The following terms and conditions are to be fulfilled; otherwise the Government may recover the payment from the adoptive mother as a civil debt.

• The Adoption Order is granted within one year from the point of formal intent to adopt;
• Your adopted child (if not a SC) obtains Singapore Citizenship within 6 months after the Adoption Order is passed; and
• Your employer will be reimbursed when the Central Provident Fund Board (CPF Board) verified that you have met the above eligibility criteria for GPAL. However, you must submit a copy of the Adoption Order and the Singapore Citizenship certificate (if applicable) to your employer as soon as you have obtained the document.

In addition, please note that you cannot use adoption leave to offset the notice period when you leave your job.

Please explain what are other uses of obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

• Ministry of Social and Family Development: http://app.msf.gov.sg/Adoption/HowtoadoptacitizenorPR.aspx
• Central Provident Fund Board: http://mycpf.cpf.gov.sg/Members/home.htm
• eCitizen: http://www.ecitizen.gov.sg/Topics/Pages/Adoption-leave-How-to-apply.aspx?Tab=Overview

• Learn about the adoption process in Singapore : http://app.msf.gov.sg/Policies/StrongandStableFamilies/SupportingFamilies/AdoptionPolicyProcess.aspx
• Learn more about the enhancements to the Marriage & Parenthood Package 2013: http://www.heybaby.sg/
• Frequently asked questions on adoption leave: http://app.customerfeedback.msf.gov.sg/mcys_faqmain.asp?strItemChoice=2004104123228&action=SHOWTOPICS&strSubItemChoice=2004129225829&m_strTopicSysID=201312111399#2004129225829