Can I take annual leave in Austria?
Yes — you have a right to paid annual leave. The statutory minimum is 30 working days (Mon–Sat counting) = 5 weeks per working year, i.e. 25 working days in a five-day week. After 25 years of service with the same employer the entitlement rises to 36 working days = 6 weeks. In the first half-year it accrues pro-rata, from the 7th month the full year's leave is available, and from the 2nd year in full from the start. Important: the timing of leave must be agreed between you and the employer — you can't simply take it unilaterally. In short: yes, at least 5 weeks, but the dates are a matter of agreement.
📋 The rules
- At least 30 working days = 5 weeks a year
- Five-day week: 25 working days
- After 25 years of service: 6 weeks
- First half-year: entitlement is pro-rata
- Timing must be agreed with the employer
🔓 Exceptions
- Prior service partly counts toward the 25-year mark
- Untaken leave lapses after 2 years (after a prompt)
- Long illness doesn't cut leave, military/civilian service does
⚠️ Penalties & fines
There's no administrative fine; untaken leave must be paid out on termination as holiday compensation (Urlaubsersatzleistung). The minimum entitlement is 5 weeks, rising to 6 weeks after 25 years. Beware a myth: "leave I don't take simply expires after a year" is false — entitlement lapses only 2 years after the end of the leave year, and under EU case law it doesn't lapse at all unless the employer actively prompted you to take it and warned of forfeiture. Tip: agree leave in writing in good time and don't let carried-over leave pile up indefinitely.
📎 Official sources
- WKO · holiday entitlement →
- oesterreich.gv.at · annual leave →
- Chamber of Labour · how much leave you get →
❓ Frequently asked
How much leave am I entitled to?
The statutory minimum is 30 working days, that is five weeks per working year. In a five-day week that equals 25 working days. After 25 years of service with the same employer the entitlement rises to 36 working days, i.e. six weeks.
Can I decide the leave dates myself?
No, the timing must be agreed between you and the employer, so you can't simply take leave unilaterally. Both sides should take account of the operational needs as well as your interest in rest and recovery.
Does my leave expire?
Untaken leave lapses only two years after the end of the leave year in which it arose. Under EU case law it also lapses only if the employer first actively prompted you to take it and warned of the impending forfeiture.
Do I get full leave in the first year?
In the first six months of the first working year the entitlement accrues pro-rata. From the seventh month the full year's amount is available. From the second working year you have the full leave from the start of the working year.
What happens to leftover leave if I leave the job?
Untaken leave must be paid out on termination as holiday compensation. So you don't lose open leave; instead it is compensated financially if you could no longer take it beforehand.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “annual leave entitlement austria”
- “how many holiday days legal austria”
- “6 weeks leave 25 years austria”
- “leave expiry lapse austria”
- “agree leave with employer”
- “holiday compensation termination 2026”