Annual paid leave: entitlement, splitting, pay and common mistakes
The 14, 20 and 26-day rule, under-18s and over-50s, splitting leave, weekly rest and public holidays, leave pay and payment when the contract ends.
Annual paid leave is the employee's right to rest; it cannot be exchanged for pay, and pay cannot be given instead of leave even if the employee wants it (except when the contract ends).
Who gets how much?
For employees who have worked at least 1 year for the same employer, including probation: Annual leave calculator
| Seniority | Leave (working days) |
|---|---|
| 1 – 5 years (5 included) | 14 days |
| 5 – 15 years | 20 days |
| 15 years and over | 26 days |
Employees aged 18 or under and 50 or over get at least 20 days. In underground work, periods increase by 4 days each. Periods can be increased by contract or collective agreement, not reduced.
Calculation points
- Weekly rest days and public holidays falling during leave are not counted as leave.
- At workplaces closed on Saturdays, Saturday is not counted either (in practice working days are the basis).
- Leave can be split at the employee's request; one part cannot be shorter than 10 days.
- Travel leave: an employee spending leave elsewhere gets up to 4 days of unpaid travel leave in total on request.
Leave pay
Pay for the leave period is paid in advance before leave starts or given as an advance. Daily wage = monthly gross ÷ 30.
When the contract ends
Pay for unused leave is paid on the last gross wage whatever the reason for termination (including resignation and just cause). This payment is subject to SGK premiums, income tax and stamp duty.
Example: gross TRY 45,000, 12 days unused → 45,000 ÷ 30 × 12 = TRY 18,000 gross. Calculator
Leave records
The employer must keep a leave register for each employee; signed leave request forms and return dates must be kept. In a dispute, the employer must prove leave was given; without signed documents, it is treated as unused.
Fines (2026)
Not granting leave, splitting it against the rules or underpaying it: TRY 4,815 per employee. Administrative fines