Annual Leave Entitlements Across Europe: Country-by-Country Guide

• Minimum Statutory Vacation Days by Country
• How Leave Accrues and Carryover Rules

Most European Union countries guarantee at least 20 working days of annual leave for full-time employees, aligning with the EU Working Time Directive minimum. However, statutory entitlements vary significantly across member states. Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands provide 20 days as a baseline, while France legally guarantees a minimum of 25 days annually.

Southern European countries often offer more generous provisions: Italy provides 20-24 days depending on sector agreements, Spain guarantees 30 calendar days, and Portugal mandates 22 working days plus 9-10 public holidays. Central and Eastern European nations like Poland and Romania typically offer 20-26 days, with additional benefits for seniority or hazardous work environments.

Nordic countries lead in vacation generosity—Sweden allows 25 days minimum, while some collective agreements provide 30 days. These statutory minimums form the baseline; many employers offer additional leave above legal requirements to remain competitive in their labor markets.

Leave accrual typically operates on a monthly or annual basis, with employees earning a proportional amount as they work. In Germany, Austria, and many EU nations, leave accrues monthly—for example, 20 annual days equals approximately 1.67 days per month. Some countries distinguish between earned and planned leave, with complex formulas for part-time workers who accrue leave proportionally.

Carryover rules vary considerably: EU regulations allow unused leave to carry forward into the following year, but employers can impose deadlines for taking carryover leave. Many countries cap carryover at 5-10 days, while others permit full accumulation. Spain and Italy generally allow carryover without strict limits, whereas Germany may enforce that leave must be taken within 15 months of accrual.

When employment terminates, most European jurisdictions require employers to pay out accrued but unused leave at the employee's regular wage rate. Payment timing differs—some countries mandate payout within weeks of termination, while others allow longer processing periods. Part-time and seasonal workers have proportionally reduced accrual in most member states.