A lot of prep work goes into planning your maternity leave in Canada. 

Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as bragging about the perfect name you chose, picking a date to stop work, or choosing baby’s first holiday outfit. 

Between understanding EI maternity benefits, reading how parental leave actually works in Canada, and making sure the right paperwork is submitted on time, there are several steps parents need to take before their leave begins.

And yes, those government websites can become bulky and tough to follow. 

Many soon-to-be parents find themselves asking the same questions: When should I tell my employer? When do I apply for EI maternity benefits? What documents do I need to prepare? And how does all of this really work?

So, if you’re feeling unsure about what to do first, you're definitely not alone. The process can feel confusing, especially if this is your first time navigating maternity leave.

The good news? This is a guide that will walk you through the key steps involved in preparing for maternity leave in Canada, including everything that has to do with work, how to prepare your EI maternity application, and what to organize before your leave begins.

To make things easier, we’ve also created a simple maternity leave preparation checklist you can download and follow as you plan your leave.

Because, life is changing and we want to make things even the slightest bit easier for you.

Why Preparing for Maternity Leave in Canada Can Feel Overwhelming

Want a simple checklist you can follow?

We’ve put together a step-by-step maternity leave checklist so you don’t miss anything important.

👉 Download the checklist here

Preparing for maternity leave in Canada can sometimes feel like trying to piece together a puzzle without seeing the full picture.

You might start by searching how maternity leave works in Canada, only to find yourself bouncing between government pages about EI maternity benefits, explanations of parental leave options, and workplace policies that may or may not apply to your situation.

Suddenly you're learning about things like standard versus extended parental leave, Record of Employment requirements, and when exactly you're supposed to apply for EI maternity benefits.

For example, under the Government of Canada’s EI program, eligible parents can receive up to 15 weeks of maternity benefits, followed by either 35 weeks of standard parental leave or 61 weeks of extended parental leave. But understanding how those timelines actually work in practice (and how they connect to your job and your paperwork) isn’t always obvious at first glance.

And unfortunately, a lot of the official information online isn’t written in the most reader-friendly way. It can feel dense, especially when you're already juggling doctor appointments, work responsibilities, and preparing for a new baby.

Like, hey government… Uh, can you just make this easier to read? I don’t want to feel like I’m doing my taxes…

Anyway, every parent’s situation can look a little different. Some people start maternity leave weeks before their due date, while others work right up until the baby arrives. Some parents share parental leave in Canada with their partner, while others take the full leave themselves.

So if you're feeling unsure about what steps to take first, that's completely normal.

The good news is that preparing for maternity leave becomes much easier when you break it down into a few clear steps.

That’s exactly why we created the Preparing for Maternity Leave Checklist, which walks you through the key things to organize before your leave begins.

Next, we’ll go through those steps together so you know exactly what to prepare — and when.

How Maternity Leave Works in Canada

In Canada, maternity leave and parental leave are supported through Employment Insurance (EI) benefits provided by the Government of Canada. These benefits help replace a portion of your income while you're away from work caring for your new baby.

Here’s a simple breakdown of how the system works.

Maternity Leave (EI Maternity Benefits)

Maternity benefits are available to the person who gives birth.

Under the Government of Canada’s EI program, eligible parents can receive:

• Up to 15 weeks of EI maternity benefits

• Paid at 55% of your average weekly earnings

• Up to a maximum weekly amount set by the government each year

Maternity benefits can start as early as 12 weeks before your expected due date and must end 17 weeks after the birth of your baby.

Parental Leave (EI Parental Benefits)

After maternity benefits end, parents can take parental leave, which allows additional time off to care for the baby.

Parents can choose between two options:

Standard Parental Leave

• Up to 35 weeks of EI parental benefits

• Paid at 55% of your average weekly earnings

Extended Parental Leave

• Up to 61 weeks of EI parental benefits

• Paid at 33% of your average weekly earnings

Parents can also share parental leave between partners, which many families choose to do.

When to Apply for EI Maternity Benefits

You should apply for EI maternity benefits as soon as you stop working, even if you have not yet received your Record of Employment (ROE) from your employer.

Applying early helps avoid delays in receiving payments.

You can apply online through the Government of Canada EI portal.

Helpful Government Resources

For full details, you can visit the official Government of Canada pages:

• Government of Canada – EI maternity and parental benefits

• Employment Insurance – How EI maternity benefits work

These pages provide the most up-to-date information about eligibility, payment amounts, and application requirements.

Preparing for Maternity Leave in Canada: Our Step-by-Step Checklist Explained

Once you understand how maternity EI and parental leave in Canada work, the next step is preparing for your leave itself.

The easiest way to approach it is by breaking the process into a few simple stages. Each step helps make sure your leave begins smoothly, both at work and with your EI maternity benefits.

Below is a more detailed version of our checklist that every Canadian parent can follow when preparing for Canadian maternity leave.

1. Confirm Your Leave Timeline

One of the first things to think about is when your maternity leave will begin.

Some parents start their leave a few weeks before their due date, while others work right up until the baby arrives. Your decision may depend on your health, your job responsibilities, and your employer’s policies.

Knowing your approximate timeline helps you plan conversations with your employer and prepare your EI maternity application.

2. Understand Your Maternity and Parental Leave Options

Before submitting any paperwork, it’s helpful to understand the two parts of leave available through the Government of Canada’s EI program:

• Maternity benefits – up to 15 weeks
• Parental benefits – up to 35 weeks (standard) or 61 weeks (extended)

Many families also decide whether both parents will share parental leave, which can affect how the benefits are used.

Having a clear plan for your leave helps avoid confusion later.

3. Inform Your Employer

Once you have a rough timeline, it’s time to let your employer know that you plan to take maternity leave.

Workplaces typically require written notice, and many parents also discuss things like:

• when their last working day will be
• how responsibilities will be handed off
• whether they plan to return after leave

Every workplace handles this slightly differently, so checking your company’s leave policies can be helpful.

4. Prepare Your EI Maternity Application

Next comes the paperwork.

To apply for EI maternity benefits, you’ll need a few basic pieces of information, including:

• your Social Insurance Number (SIN)
• your banking information for direct deposit
• your Record of Employment (ROE) from your employer

Applications are submitted through the Government of Canada EI system, and you should apply as soon as you stop working to avoid delays in your benefits.

5. Organize Key Documents

Before your leave begins, it’s helpful to gather everything you may need for your EI maternity or parental leave application.

This may include:

• your Record of Employment (ROE)
• identification and SIN
• due date confirmation from your healthcare provider
• any employer forms related to leave

Having these ready ahead of time can make the application process much smoother.

6. Prepare Your Work Handoff

The final step before your leave begins is preparing things at work.

Many parents spend their last week or two organizing projects, documenting responsibilities, and helping coworkers transition into temporary roles.

Some also set:

• out-of-office messages
• email forwarding
• notes for colleagues covering their work

It’s a small step that can make leaving work feel much less stressful.

Download Our Full Preparing for Maternity Leave Checklist

Planning maternity leave involves a lot of small details, and it’s easy to forget something along the way.

That’s why we created a simple Preparing for Maternity Leave Checklist that walks through each step in an easy-to-follow format.

👉 Download the checklist here

Sources

Information in this guide is based on resources from the Government of Canada regarding EI maternity and parental benefits.

Official information can be found here:

• https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/ei-maternity-parental.html

Common Questions About Preparing for Maternity Leave in Canada

Preparing for maternity leave often raises a lot of practical questions. Here are some of the ones parents ask most often when planning their leave in Canada.

When should I apply for EI maternity benefits?

You should apply for EI maternity benefits as soon as you stop working.

You don’t need to wait for your Record of Employment (ROE) to apply. If your employer hasn’t submitted it yet, you can still complete your application and the document will be added later.

Applying early helps prevent delays in receiving your maternity EI payments.

How long is maternity leave in Canada?

Under the Government of Canada EI program, maternity leave is made up of two parts:

• Maternity benefits: up to 15 weeks for the birth parent
•Parental benefits: up to 35 weeks (standard) or 61 weeks (extended) that parents can share

This means parents may take close to a year of leave, or longer with the extended option.

Can parents share parental leave in Canada?

Yes. EI parental leave benefits can be shared between parents.

For example, one parent may take part of the parental leave while the other takes the remaining weeks.

Some families choose to split the leave so both parents can spend time at home with the baby.

Do I need to tell my employer before applying for maternity leave?

Most workplaces require employees to inform their employer before starting maternity leave.

Many provinces have rules about providing written notice, although the exact timing can vary depending on where you live and your workplace policies.

It’s usually best to have this conversation once you’ve decided when your leave will begin.

What documents do I need to apply for EI maternity leave?

When applying for EI maternity benefits, you will typically need:

• your Social Insurance Number (SIN)
• your Record of Employment (ROE) from your employer
• your banking information for direct deposit
• basic personal details and your expected due date

Most applications are completed through the Government of Canada EI online portal.

Preparing for Leave, One Step at a Time

Don’t feel overwhelmed. Especially when you're trying to understand EI maternity benefits, workplace policies, and the steps involved in applying for leave.

The good news is that once you understand the process, it becomes much easier to manage.

By taking a few simple steps — confirming your timeline, speaking with your employer, and preparing your EI maternity application — you can approach your leave with more clarity and confidence.

And if you want something simple to guide you along the way, our Preparing for Maternity Leave Checklist is designed to help you keep track of everything in one place.

👉 Download the checklist here, and keep it handy as you plan your leave

Because when life is changing in big ways, even small pieces of clarity can make a real difference.