Paid holiday by country
Last reviewed: 9 October 2026
Minimum paid annual leave for employees and how public holidays relate to it. Pick a country for the full list of rules, each with its official source.
| Country | Minimum paid leave a year (weeks) | Minimum paid leave as the law states it | National public holidays a year | Public holidays and annual leave |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | ⚠ Not yet verified | 24 Werktage | ⚠ Not yet verified | Not counted as leave |
| Netherlands | 4 weeks | 4 x weekly hours | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| United Kingdom | Full-time employee, Great Britain: 5.6 weeks | Full-time employee, Great Britain: 28 days (5-day week) | Full-time employee, England & Wales: 8 (England and Wales, 2026) Full-time employee, Scotland: 10 days Full-time employee, Northern Ireland: 10 days | Full-time employee, Great Britain: May count towards leave |
| France | 5 weeks | 30 jours ouvrables | 11 fêtes légales | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Spain | ⚠ Not yet verified | 30 calendar days | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Italy | 4 weeks | 4 weeks, no pay in lieu | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| United States | None (no federal minimum) | No federal requirement | Full-time employee, federal employees: 11 (federal employees only) | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Canada | Full-time employee, federally regulated employers: 2 weeks (after 1 year) | Full-time employee, federally regulated employers: 2 / 3 / 4 weeks by years of service | Full-time employee, federally regulated employers: 10 general holidays | Full-time employee, federally regulated employers: Not counted as leave |
| Mexico | ⚠ Not yet verified | 12 working days (rising to 20+) | 7 (plus 1 Oct every 6 years, election days) | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Ireland | 4 working weeks | 4 working weeks | 10 per year | Separate from annual leave |
| Australia | Full-time employee, National system: 4 weeks (5 for some shiftworkers) | Full-time employee, National system: 4 weeks a year; extra week for some shiftworkers | Full-time employee, National system: ⚠ Not yet verified | Full-time employee, National system: Not counted as annual leave |
| New Zealand | 4 weeks | At least 4 weeks of paid annual holidays after each 12 months of continuous employment. The entitlement is counted in the employee's own working weeks, so an employee working 5 days a week can take 20 days and one working 3 days can take 12 days. | Up to 12 a year (incl. 1 regional day) | Not deducted from annual leave |
Before you rely on it
This comparison covers national rules. Regional or local rules can apply on top of them, and rules change. A rule marked “to verify” has not yet been confirmed against an official source. Each country page links to the official sources, and those are the place to confirm the details before you act.
General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.