Annual Leave and Statutory Holidays Lookup (with notice period and pay in lieu)

Enter years of service to find statutory paid annual leave, with basic workings for pro rata leave on termination, the notice period and payment in lieu of notice.

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Step 1: annual leave by years of service

Step 2: pro rata leave on termination

Optional: use the start date and last day of employment to estimate leave due on termination.

Step 3: notice period and payment in lieu

Optional: find the minimum notice and an estimate of payment in lieu from the contract terms and probation status.

How the rules work

  • An employee earns paid annual leave after every 12 months of continuous employment: 7 days after 1 and 2 years, one more day for each further year, up to 14 days from 9 years of service.
  • Leave must be taken within the following 12 months. The employer consults the employee and confirms the dates in writing at least 14 days ahead; rest days or statutory holidays falling in the leave are replaced. An employee may accept payment in lieu only for leave above 10 days.
  • On termination, an employee who has completed a leave year is paid for untaken leave. With at least 3 but under 12 months of service in the current leave year, and unless summarily dismissed for serious misconduct, pro rata leave applies: the leave entitlement for that year × days served ÷ 365.
  • Notice: none is required in the first month of probation. After the first month of probation, the contract's notice applies but not less than 7 days, or 7 days if the contract is silent. Outside probation, the contract's notice applies but not less than 7 days, or 1 month if the contract is silent.
  • Payment in lieu of notice equals average daily (or monthly) wages in the 12 months before notice is given × days (or months) of notice; a shorter period is used if employment is under 12 months.
  • Statutory holidays apply to every employee regardless of service; holiday pay needs at least 3 months of continuous employment. There are 15 statutory holidays from 2026 (Easter Monday added), 16 from 2028 and 17 from 2030.

Statutory leave and holidays

Paid annual leave by years of continuous employment
Years of serviceAnnual leave (days)
17
27
38
49
510
611
712
813
9 or more14

Statutory holidays (15 from 2026)

Every employee is entitled to these statutory holidays regardless of length of service (Labour Department list):

  1. The first day of January
  2. Lunar New Year's Day
  3. The second day of Lunar New Year
  4. The third day of Lunar New Year
  5. Ching Ming Festival
  6. Easter Monday (new from 2026)
  7. Labour Day (1 May)
  8. The Birthday of the Buddha
  9. Tuen Ng Festival
  10. Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day (1 July)
  11. The day following the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival
  12. National Day (1 October)
  13. Chung Yeung Festival
  14. Chinese Winter Solstice Festival or Christmas Day (employer's choice)
  15. The first weekday after Christmas Day

Good Friday is added from 2028 (16 holidays) and the day following Good Friday from 2030 (17 holidays).

Frequently asked questions

Do I only get annual leave after a full year?
Paid annual leave is earned after each 12 months of continuous employment, so the first 7 days come after the first leave year. If employment ends with at least 3 but under 12 months served in the current leave year, pro rata leave still applies (unless summarily dismissed for serious misconduct).
Can annual leave be paid out instead of taken?
Generally no. An employee may choose payment in lieu only for the part above 10 days. On termination, untaken leave is paid out.
What if notice cannot be given in full?
Either party can end the contract by paying wages in lieu of notice, calculated on average wages for the notice period. Check your contract and the Labour Department's guidance.
Do part-time and casual workers get annual leave?
Yes, if they are employed under a continuous contract: four weeks or more with the same employer, and either at least 17 hours in each week or at least 68 hours in the four-week period that includes that week (effective 18 January 2026; before that, at least 18 hours each week). The Labour Department explains the details.

Sources and data dates

Data as of
December 2025 (Labour Department Concise Guide); statutory holidays as from 2026
Checked on
2026-10-07

Every parameter was checked against the official pages listed here and will be revised when they change. Where an official page is silent or ambiguous, this page says to rely on the official source.

Disclaimer

These results are general information only. They are not tax, legal or financial advice and do not guarantee any outcome. Actual amounts and eligibility are decided by the Labour Department and the other bodies concerned.

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