Leave rules · 2026
Annual leave and sick leave rules in Canada (2026)
Employees in Canada (federally regulated employers) get at least 10 days of paid annual leave a year on a 5-day week (2 weeks). Sick leave: 10 paid days a year.
Rules as of September 2026 · page built Monday, September 28, 2026Statutory minimums
High confidenceYour number
10 days a year (80 hours)
Statutory minimum 10 days on a 5-day week at 0 years of service.
Paid sick leave: 10 days a year (80 hours).
This is the legal floor for Canada (federal); the contract can give more.
| Service | Minimum (5-day week) | In weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Starting entitlement | 10 days | 2 weeks |
| After 5 years | 15 days | 3 weeks |
| After 10 years | 20 days | 4 weeks |
2 weeks after 1 year, 3 weeks after 5 consecutive years, 4 weeks after 10 consecutive years (Canada Labour Code s. 184).
Worked exampleA full-time employee on a 5-day week gets at least 10 days a year; after 5 years, 15 days, rising to 20 days after 10 years.
What the rules mean in practice
In federally regulated workplaces in Canada, a full-time employee on a 5-day week is entitled to at least 10 days of paid annual leave a…
In federally regulated workplaces in Canada, a full-time employee on a 5-day week is entitled to at least 10 days of paid annual leave a year, which is 2 weeks, rising to 20 days after 10 years of service. The legal wording: 2 weeks after 1 year, 3 weeks after 5 consecutive years, 4 weeks after 10 consecutive years (Canada Labour Code s. 184).
Compared with the other 37 jurisdictions LeaveCalc covers, that starting minimum is higher than 4, the same as 11 and lower than 22. Across all of them the range runs from 5 days (the Philippines) to 30 days (the United Arab Emirates). 10 days is about 3.8% of a 260-day working year.
Length of service raises the floor two times: 15 days after 5 years and 20 days after 10 years.
Federal general holidays apply to federally regulated employers. Most employers are provincially regulated: pick your province for its rules. For 2026, the public holiday calendar for Canada lists 5 holidays, 5 of them on working days.
Sick leave: Up to 10 days of medical leave with pay per calendar year: 3 days after 30 days of employment, then 1 day at the start of each month (Canada Labour Code s. 239). LeaveCalc rates this entry High confidence, based on the official sources listed below as of September 2026.
Provinces and territories
Most employers in Canada are provincially regulated, so the province or territory sets the minimum.
Most employers in Canada are provincially regulated, so the province or territory sets the minimum. Of the 11 covered here, 10 start at 10 days and 1 starts at 15 days. The first step up comes after 3 years in Quebec and after 15 years in Newfoundland and Labrador. Two give paid sick days under the statute: British Columbia and Quebec. Not covered here: Northwest Territories: official page could not be read to confirm the current rule. Yukon: official pages block automated access; rule not confirmed.
British Columbia
High10days / year
10 days; 15 days after 5 years. Sick leave: 5 paid days a year.
British Columbia rules in fullManitoba
High10days / year
10 days; 15 days after 5 years. Sick leave: not paid.
Manitoba rules in fullNew Brunswick
Medium: verify10days / year
10 days; 15 days after 8 years. Sick leave: not covered here, see the source.
New Brunswick rules in fullNewfoundland and Labrador
Medium: verify10days / year
10 days; 15 days after 15 years. Sick leave: not covered here, see the source.
Newfoundland and Labrador rules in fullNova Scotia
Medium: verify10days / year
10 days; 15 days after 8 years. Sick leave: not paid.
Nova Scotia rules in fullNunavut
Medium: verify10days / year
10 days; 15 days after 6 years. Sick leave: not covered here, see the source.
Nunavut rules in fullPrince Edward Island
Medium: verify10days / year
10 days; 15 days after 8 years. Sick leave: not covered here, see the source.
Prince Edward Island rules in fullQuebec
High10days / year
10 days; 15 days after 3 years. Sick leave: 2 paid days a year.
Quebec rules in fullSaskatchewan
High15days / year
15 days; 20 days after 10 years. Sick leave: not paid.
Saskatchewan rules in fullPublic holidays
Federal general holidays apply to federally regulated employers. Most employers are provincially regulated: pick your province for its rules. See the 2026 and 2027 public holiday dates for Canada, with .ics downloads.
Sources
- https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/l-2/page-26.html
- https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/l-2/page-33.html
- https://www.canada.ca/en/services/jobs/workplace/federal-labour-standards/vacation.html
As of September 2026. Statutory minimums only: contracts, collective agreements and local rules can give more.
Questions about leave in Canada
The statutory minimum is 10 days a year for a full-time employee on a 5-day week (2 weeks).
How many days of annual leave do employees get in Canada?
The statutory minimum is 10 days a year for a full-time employee on a 5-day week (2 weeks). 2 weeks after 1 year, 3 weeks after 5 consecutive years, 4 weeks after 10 consecutive years (Canada Labour Code s. 184).
Does annual leave increase with length of service in Canada?
Yes. The minimum starts at 10 days a year and steps up with completed years of service: 15 days after 5 years and 20 days after 10 years.
Is sick leave paid in Canada?
Yes. The minimum is 10 paid days a year. Up to 10 days of medical leave with pay per calendar year: 3 days after 30 days of employment, then 1 day at the start of each month (Canada Labour Code s. 239).
Are public holidays part of annual leave in Canada?
Federal general holidays apply to federally regulated employers. Most employers are provincially regulated: pick your province for its rules. In 2026 the calendar for Canada has 5 public holidays, 5 of them on working days.