Pre-placement adoption leave and allowance for BC Public Service employees

Last updated on January 21, 2026

This information is for people employed by the BC Public Service.

If you work for another employer, please contact your Human Resources Office or review the maternity and parental leave information offered by Service Canada.

Pre-placement adoption leave provides BC Public Service employees with time away from work to complete the steps required to adopt a child. This leave is available before the child is placed in your care and can be used for mandatory visits, legal processes, and travel.

Overview

Pre-placement adoption leave without pay can be taken intermittently, as needed, to a combined maximum of 7 weeks (245 work hours) per calendar year.

You may be eligible for an allowance of 85% of your basic pay. This allowance is available only for the periods of leave taken for pre-placement adoption activities.

Eligibility

Eligibility for leave and allowance depends on your employment status and collective agreement. Refer to your Collective Agreement or Terms and Conditions of Employment for details.

Things to consider

This leave may be used for:

Mandatory pre-placement visits with the prospective adoptive child
Legal processes required by the child’s country
Travel related to international adoption

Pre-placement visits are not normally required for direct placement adoptions, such as adoptions by:

A family member
The partner of a birth parent
Foster parents if the child was living with them immediately before the adoption process

When does the leave end

The leave will end with the placement of the adoptive child or when the maximum of the leave has been taken in the calendar year.

Unsuccessful matches

If a match is not successful, you are still eligible to use the remaining balance of your yearly leave entitlement.

Additional leave after the child is placed

After the child is placed, adoptive parents may be eligible for parental leave. Refer to the Parental Leave and Allowance page for more information.

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