Canada

How much annual vacation am I entitled to under federal law?

2 weeks
Minimum vacation
1 year
Employment required
4%
Vacation pay (first 5 years)
6%
Vacation pay (after 5 years)
The Short Answer

Under federal law in Canada, most employees are entitled to at least 2 weeks of paid vacation after completing one year of employment.

What the Law Says

The Canada Labour Code sets the minimum vacation entitlement for employees under federal jurisdiction — such as those working in banking, interprovincial transport, telecommunications, and federal government roles.

Section 184 of the Canada Labour Code guarantees employees the right to annual vacation with pay after completing one year of continuous employment.

The minimum vacation period is two weeks per year for employees with less than five years of service. After five consecutive years of employment, the minimum increases to three weeks per year.

Vacation pay must be at least 4% of the employee’s gross wages earned during the vacation entitlement year for the first five years, and 6% thereafter.

Statutory Text

Employees are entitled to annual vacation with vacation pay after completing one year of employment.

— Canada Labour Code, s. 184 — Annual vacations

What to Do

1

Confirm your employment falls under federal jurisdiction (e.g., banks, airlines, federal Crown corporations).

2

Track your length of continuous employment — vacation entitlement starts after 1 full year.

3

Review your pay stubs to ensure vacation pay is calculated correctly (4% for <5 years; 6% for ≥5 years).

4

Request vacation time in writing if your employer does not schedule it — employers must grant vacation within 12 months of entitlement.

5

If denied vacation or pay, file a complaint with the Labour Program of Employment and Social Development Canada.

Sources

statuteCanada Labour Code, s. 184 — Annual vacations

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Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.