GermanyHow many vacation days am I entitled to per year?
You are legally entitled to at least 24 paid workdays of vacation per calendar year in Germany.
What the Law Says
German law guarantees every employee a minimum amount of paid vacation each year — regardless of contract type, part-time status, or probation period. This right is non-waivable and applies from day one of employment.
The Federal Vacation Act (Bundesurlaubsgesetz, BUrlG) sets the legal floor for vacation entitlement. It applies to all employees in Germany, including part-time and mini-job workers (though their entitlement is prorated based on working days).
The law defines 'workdays' specifically: any calendar day that is not a Sunday or a public holiday. So if you work Monday–Friday, all five weekdays count as potential vacation days — even if your employer schedules only four days per week.
Employers cannot offer less than the statutory minimum. Collective bargaining agreements or individual contracts may provide more vacation days, but never fewer.
Statutory TextJeder Arbeitnehmer hat in jedem Kalenderjahr Anspruch auf bezahlten Erholungsurlaub.
— BUrlG § 1 — Federal Vacation Act
Statutory Text(1) Der Urlaub beträgt jährlich mindestens 24 Werktage. (2) Als Werktage gelten alle Kalendertage, die nicht Sonn- oder gesetzliche Feiertage sind.
— BUrlG § 3 — Federal Vacation Act
What Courts Have Said
German courts have clarified that employers bear the responsibility for ensuring vacation is taken — and that unused days don’t automatically expire.
Landmark ruling on vacation carry-over: the employer bears the burden of proving that it informed the employee clearly and in good time about their remaining vacation entitlement and the risk of forfeiture. Without such notification, vacation does not expire at year-end and accumulates indefinitely.
What to Do
Check your employment contract or collective agreement — you may be entitled to more than 24 days.
Confirm with your employer how your vacation days are calculated if you work part-time (e.g., 3 days/week = ~14.4 days/year).
Request vacation in writing and keep records — especially if your employer delays approval.
If you haven’t used all vacation by December 31, ask whether it can be carried over — your employer must have actively informed you about forfeiture risks for it to lapse.
Sources
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JapanNot 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: June 2026.