Leave rules · 2026
Annual leave and sick leave rules in Brazil (2026)
Employees in Brazil get at least 22 days of paid annual leave a year on a 5-day week (4.4 weeks). Sick leave: paid.
Rules as of September 2026 · page built Monday, September 28, 2026Statutory minimums
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22 days a year (176 hours)
Statutory minimum 22 days on a 5-day week at 0 years of service.
This is the legal floor for Brazil; the contract can give more.
| Service | Minimum (5-day week) | In weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Starting entitlement | 22 days | 4.4 weeks |
30 calendar days after each 12 months of work (CLT art. 130), about 22 working days on a 5-day week. Unjustified absences reduce it.
Worked exampleA full-time employee on a 5-day week gets at least 22 days a year.
What the rules mean in practice
In Brazil, a full-time employee on a 5-day week is entitled to at least 22 days of paid annual leave a year, which is 4.4 weeks.
In Brazil, a full-time employee on a 5-day week is entitled to at least 22 days of paid annual leave a year, which is 4.4 weeks. The legal wording: 30 calendar days after each 12 months of work (CLT art. 130), about 22 working days on a 5-day week. Unjustified absences reduce it.
Compared with the other 37 jurisdictions LeaveCalc covers, that starting minimum is higher than 29, the same as 2 and lower than 6. Across all of them the range runs from 5 days (the Philippines) to 30 days (the United Arab Emirates). 22 days is about 8.5% of a 260-day working year.
No service-based step is recorded here, so the 22-day minimum applies at every length of service; the official source has the full rule.
National, state and municipal holidays apply. For 2026, the public holiday calendar for Brazil lists 10 holidays, 9 of them on working days.
Sick leave: The employer pays the first 15 days of sickness absence, then INSS; not an accrued balance. LeaveCalc rates this entry High confidence, based on the official sources listed below as of September 2026.
Public holidays
National, state and municipal holidays apply. See the 2026 and 2027 public holiday dates for Brazil, with .ics downloads.
Sources
As of September 2026. Statutory minimums only: contracts, collective agreements and local rules can give more.
Questions about leave in Brazil
The statutory minimum is 22 days a year for a full-time employee on a 5-day week (4.4 weeks).
How many days of annual leave do employees get in Brazil?
The statutory minimum is 22 days a year for a full-time employee on a 5-day week (4.4 weeks). 30 calendar days after each 12 months of work (CLT art. 130), about 22 working days on a 5-day week. Unjustified absences reduce it.
Does annual leave increase with length of service in Brazil?
No service-based step is recorded here for Brazil: the statutory minimum stays at 22 days a year. Check the official source for the full rule.
Is sick leave paid in Brazil?
Yes. The employer pays the first 15 days of sickness absence, then INSS; not an accrued balance.
Are public holidays part of annual leave in Brazil?
National, state and municipal holidays apply. In 2026 the calendar for Brazil has 10 public holidays, 9 of them on working days.