GermanyCan I carry over unused vacation to the next year?
Yes, but only under specific conditions — unused vacation can carry over to the next year if urgent business or personal reasons justify it, and must be taken by March 31 of that year.
What the Law Says
German law generally requires vacation to be taken in the same calendar year — but exceptions exist. The key rule is in the Federal Vacation Act (BUrlG), which sets strict limits on carryover while also imposing duties on employers.
Under BUrlG § 7(3), vacation must normally be taken within the current calendar year. Carryover to the next year is only permitted if 'urgent operational reasons' or 'personal reasons of the employee' justify it.
If carryover is allowed, the vacation must be taken by the end of March in the following year — i.e., within the first three months of the new calendar year.
There’s one automatic exception: a partial vacation entitlement arising under § 5(1)(a) (e.g., due to mid-year hiring or termination) must be carried over upon the employee’s request — no justification needed.
Importantly, the law does not say vacation 'expires' automatically. Courts have clarified that employers bear responsibility for ensuring vacation is taken.
Statutory TextDer Urlaub muß im laufenden Kalenderjahr gewährt und genommen werden. Eine Übertragung des Urlaubs auf das nächste Kalenderjahr ist nur statthaft, wenn dringende betriebliche oder in der Person des Arbeitnehmers liegende Gründe dies rechtfertigen. Im Fall der Übertragung muß der Urlaub in den ersten drei Monaten des folgenden Kalenderjahrs gewährt und genommen werden.
— BUrlG § 7(3) — Federal Vacation Act
What Courts Have Said
German courts — especially the Federal Labour Court (BAG) — have strengthened employees’ rights to carry over vacation, interpreting EU law strictly.
Vacation entitlement does not automatically expire at year-end. The employer must actively inform the employee about remaining vacation days and encourage their use. Failure to do so means vacation carries over indefinitely, implementing the ECJ's Max-Planck ruling.
What to Do
Check your employment contract or collective agreement — they may allow broader carryover rules.
Ask your employer in writing before year-end if you need to carry over vacation and why (e.g., illness, workload).
If your employer hasn’t reminded you about unused days, keep proof — you may retain the right indefinitely.
Take any carried-over days by March 31 of the next year, unless your employer agrees otherwise in writing.
Sources
Related Questions
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: June 2026.