How Many Vacation Days Do You Get in France?

By Robert Palmer

Are you planning a trip to France and wondering how many vacation days you’ll get? In this article, we’ll explore the vacation policies in France and help you understand how many days off you can expect.

The Legal Minimum Vacation Days

In France, the legal minimum vacation days are 5 weeks or 25 working days. This means that every employee in France is entitled to at least 25 working days of paid vacation per year. However, this is just the legal minimum, and many companies offer more than that.

Additional Vacation Days

In addition to the legal minimum, some companies offer additional vacation days as part of their benefits package. The number of additional days varies from company to company and can depend on factors such as seniority, job position, and performance.

Public Holidays

France also has several public holidays throughout the year. If a public holiday falls on a weekday when you would normally work, then you are entitled to take the day off. There are 11 public holidays in France:

  • New Year’s Day (January 1st)
  • Easter Monday
  • Labor Day (May 1st)
  • VE Day (May 8th)
  • Ascension Day (40 days after Easter)
  • Pentecost Monday (50 days after Easter)
  • National Day (July 14th)
  • Assumption Day (August 15th)
  • All Saints’ Day (November 1st)
  • Armistice Day (November 11th)
  • Christmas Day (December 25th)

If a public holiday falls on a weekend, then you may be entitled to an additional day off, but this varies depending on your company’s policy.

Vacation Planning

Vacation planning in France is typically done between the employer and employee. The employer can choose the dates for the main vacation period, which is usually in July or August. However, the employee has the right to request specific dates as long as they give sufficient notice.

Carryover

In France, vacation days cannot be carried over to the next year. If you don’t use your vacation days within the calendar year, you will lose them.

Conclusion

In summary, every employee in France is entitled to at least 25 working days of paid vacation per year. Additional vacation days may be offered by some companies as part of their benefits package.

Public holidays also provide additional time off throughout the year. Remember to plan your vacation with your employer and use all of your vacation days before the end of the calendar year.