Leave rules · 2026
Annual leave and sick leave rules in Mexico (2026)
Employees in Mexico get at least 12 days of paid annual leave a year on a 5-day week (2.4 weeks). Sick leave: paid.
Rules as of September 2026 · page built Monday, September 28, 2026Statutory minimums
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12 days a year (96 hours)
Statutory minimum 12 days on a 5-day week at 0 years of service.
This is the legal floor for Mexico; the contract can give more.
| Service | Minimum (5-day week) | In weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Starting entitlement | 12 days | 2.4 weeks |
| After 2 years | 14 days | 2.8 weeks |
| After 3 years | 16 days | 3.2 weeks |
| After 4 years | 18 days | 3.6 weeks |
| After 5 years | 20 days | 4 weeks |
| After 6 years | 22 days | 4.4 weeks |
| After 11 years | 24 days | 4.8 weeks |
| After 16 years | 26 days | 5.2 weeks |
| After 21 years | 28 days | 5.6 weeks |
| After 26 years | 30 days | 6 weeks |
| After 31 years | 32 days | 6.4 weeks |
12 days after 1 year, 2 more each year to 20 days in year 5, then 2 more every 5 years (Ley Federal del Trabajo art. 76, 2023 reform).
Worked exampleA full-time employee on a 5-day week gets at least 12 days a year; after 2 years, 14 days, rising to 32 days after 31 years.
What the rules mean in practice
In Mexico, a full-time employee on a 5-day week is entitled to at least 12 days of paid annual leave a year, which is 2.4 weeks, rising to…
In Mexico, a full-time employee on a 5-day week is entitled to at least 12 days of paid annual leave a year, which is 2.4 weeks, rising to 32 days after 31 years of service. The legal wording: 12 days after 1 year, 2 more each year to 20 days in year 5, then 2 more every 5 years (Ley Federal del Trabajo art. 76, 2023 reform).
Compared with the other 37 jurisdictions LeaveCalc covers, that starting minimum is higher than 16, the same as 0 and lower than 21. Across all of them the range runs from 5 days (the Philippines) to 30 days (the United Arab Emirates). 12 days is about 4.6% of a 260-day working year.
Length of service raises the floor ten times: 14 days after 2 years, 16 days after 3 years, 18 days after 4 years, 20 days after 5 years, 22 days after 6 years, 24 days after 11 years, 26 days after 16 years, 28 days after 21 years, 30 days after 26 years and 32 days after 31 years.
Mandatory rest days (dias de descanso obligatorio) are in addition to vacation. For 2026, the public holiday calendar for Mexico lists 7 holidays, 7 of them on working days. An employee who has all 7 weekday holidays off on top of the 12-day minimum is away from work on at least 19 weekdays in 2026.
Sick leave: IMSS pays a sickness allowance from the 4th day; no employer-paid sick days. LeaveCalc rates this entry High confidence, based on the official sources listed below as of September 2026.
Public holidays
Mandatory rest days (dias de descanso obligatorio) are in addition to vacation. See the 2026 and 2027 public holiday dates for Mexico, with .ics downloads.
Sources
As of September 2026. Statutory minimums only: contracts, collective agreements and local rules can give more.
Questions about leave in Mexico
The statutory minimum is 12 days a year for a full-time employee on a 5-day week (2.4 weeks).
How many days of annual leave do employees get in Mexico?
The statutory minimum is 12 days a year for a full-time employee on a 5-day week (2.4 weeks). 12 days after 1 year, 2 more each year to 20 days in year 5, then 2 more every 5 years (Ley Federal del Trabajo art. 76, 2023 reform).
Does annual leave increase with length of service in Mexico?
Yes. The minimum starts at 12 days a year and steps up with completed years of service: 14 days after 2 years, 16 days after 3 years, 18 days after 4 years, 20 days after 5 years, 22 days after 6 years, 24 days after 11 years, 26 days after 16 years, 28 days after 21 years, 30 days after 26 years and 32 days after 31 years.
Is sick leave paid in Mexico?
Yes. IMSS pays a sickness allowance from the 4th day; no employer-paid sick days.
Are public holidays part of annual leave in Mexico?
Mandatory rest days (dias de descanso obligatorio) are in addition to vacation. In 2026 the calendar for Mexico has 7 public holidays, 7 of them on working days.