Can my employer give me fewer than 22 days of annual leave in Albania?
No — not for a full year of work: the legal minimum is 22 paid working days. Article 92 of the Labour Code guarantees that minimum, and public holidays falling during your leave do not count as leave days. The employer sets the dates taking your wishes into account and must give at least 30 days' notice. The myth: “if I have not taken it by 31 December, I lose it”. No — the Code allows leave to be taken up to the end of the first quarter of the following year, and the right only lapses after 3 years. Watch the figure, too: many sources still say 20 days or 4 weeks. That is out of date. When employment ends, accrued and unused leave is paid out in money.
📋 The rules
- Article 92 of the Labour Code guarantees at least 22 working days of annual leave for a full year of work.
- Public holidays that fall during the leave do not count as annual leave days.
- For an employment relationship that has not lasted the whole year, leave is calculated in proportion to the length of employment.
- The employer sets the dates taking the employee's wishes into account and must give at least 30 days' notice.
- Leave is taken during the working year or up to the end of the first quarter of the following year; the right to untaken leave lapses after 3 years.
🔓 Exceptions
- If the employee falls ill or is hospitalised during the leave and proves it as the law requires, those days are postponed.
- Leave cannot be traded for money during the employment relationship; compensation is allowed when the relationship ends with leave unused.
- An individual or collective contract can grant more than 22 days, but never less than the legal minimum for a full year.
⚠️ Penalties & fines
When employment ends, accrued and unused leave is paid out in money — untaken days do not vanish with the contract. Failing to grant the 22-day minimum can bring a corrective order from the inspectorate, a payment claim from the employee and an administrative fine for the employer. The real exposure for an employer is cumulative: several years of short-changed leave become one single liability on the day the employee leaves, and the employee's right only lapses after 3 years.
📎 Official sources
- QBZ · official publications, where the consolidated Labour Code is found →
- State Labour Inspectorate · official site (frequently asked questions) →
- President of the Republic · official site (text of the Labour Code) →
❓ Frequently asked
How many days of annual leave am I entitled to?
For a full year of work the minimum is 22 paid working days under article 92 of the Labour Code. If you worked only part of the year, the leave is calculated in proportion to your time in employment.
Why do many sources say 20 days or 4 weeks?
That was the old wording of article 92 and it still circulates on pages that have not been updated. Law no. 91/2024 amended the provision, and the current consolidated minimum is 22 working days.
Do I lose leave I did not take within the year?
Not automatically: the Code allows leave to be taken up to the end of the first quarter of the following year. The right to untaken leave only lapses after 3 years.
Do I get paid for unused leave when I leave the job?
Yes. When the relationship ends, accrued and unused leave is compensated in money. During employment, by contrast, leave cannot be sold back instead of actually being taken.
Do public holidays count as leave days?
No. Official holidays falling inside your leave period do not count as annual leave days. If you fall ill or are hospitalised during leave and prove it as the law requires, those days are postponed.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “how many days annual leave albania”
- “annual leave 22 days albania”
- “do i lose untaken leave albania”
- “payment for unused leave albania”
- “notice for annual leave albania”
- “complain about annual leave albania”