Iraq Leave Laws & Holidays

Last updated on June 28, 2026.

Paid Time Off (PTO) in Iraq

Vacation Leave Quota (Annual Leave)

At least 21 days.

Employees in Iraq are entitled annually to at least 21 days of vacation. Full entitlement to vacation days is granted after completing 1 year of service in the company. During the first year of work, an employee is entitled to annual leave proportional to the number of months worked.

Vacation days increase following an employee’s seniority. After 5 years of employment, the number of vacation days increases by 2, and it increases like that every 5 years after that; after 10 years by 4 days, after 15 years by 6 days, etc.

Employees engaged in hazardous work are entitled to 30 days of vacation.

Part-Time Employees

Employees working part-time are also entitled to vacation benefits, but the number of vacation days is adjusted according to the employee’s number of hours worked and their corresponding pay (prorated).

Unpaid Leave

Employees also have the right to take unpaid leave for:

• urgent and important personal matters;
• a religious pilgrimage (once during their employment).

Payment of Unused Vacation Days Upon Termination

During employment, the law forbids any agreement to forfeit or give up vacation time, in full or in part, in exchange for money or any other benefit.

If employment ends for any reason, the employee will receive payment for any unused vacation days, calculated based on their most recent salary.

Sick Leave in Iraq

30 days of leave per year, paid by the employer.

Employees in Iraq are entitled to 30 days of paid sick leave per year. If an employee doesn’t use all their sick leave in one year, they can save the unused days for future use, up to a maximum of 180 days.

If an employee uses up all their paid sick leave and is still not healthy, they then come under the rules of pensions and social security law. Additionally, if an employee’s sick leave goes over 30 days in a year, the Social Security Office will pay back the employer for the wages they gave the employee during this extra sick leave time.

If a worker is sick for more than 8 days, they must submit a medical certificate or a report from a doctor in order to have an authorized leave and be eligible for sick pay.

Maternity and Paternity Leave

Maternity Leave in Iraq

14 weeks

All pregnant female employees are entitled to 14 weeks of fully paid maternity leave.

An expectant mother can start her maternity leave up to 8 weeks before her expected delivery date. After the baby is born, she may take the remaining 6 weeks of leave. If there are health issues or complications before, during, or after the birth, maternity leave is increased to 9 months.

Additionally, with agreement from their employer, an employee may take unpaid leave for up to one year to care for her newborn, up until the child’s first birthday.

An official medical certificate must be provided to have authorized maternity leave.

Paternity Leave in Iraq

There is no mandatory paternity leave required by law in Iraq.

Leave to Care for a Sick Child

Both parents of a newborn child have the right to take up to 3 days of unpaid leave to attend to a sick child under the age of six.

Other Types of Leave in Iraq

Employees are entitled to take leave for personal matters or obligations, such as:

• Their own wedding ceremony (a marriage leave)
• Their child’s marriage
• The death of a close family member
• To carry out public or official rights and duties.

Bereavement Leave in Iraq

3 - 5 days

Bereavement leave is required by law. An employee is entitled to 3 to 5 days of fully paid bereavement leave in the unfortunate event of a first-degree relative passing away.

Muslim women are entitled to 130 days (four months and ten days) of paid leave in the unfortunate event of the death of their husband.

Jury Duty Leave in Iraq

Jury duty and participating in public or official duties are required by law.

Military Leave in Iraq

Iraq leave laws do not specify paid or unpaid military leave for local nationals.

Voting Leave in Iraq

Online data unavailable; check official or offline legal materials.

Public Holidays in Iraq

An employer may demand that an employee work on public holidays. However, for working these days, employees must be compensated with double their usual pay.

A complete list of official holidays celebrated in Iraq:

(*) - Dates movable each year according to the Islamic lunar calendar.

(^) Rebellion Anniversary Day is celebrated in the Iraqi autonomous region of Kurdistan.

Sources

1. Local Laws & Regulations, https://www.atlashxm.com/en/countries/iraq

2. Payroll and Benefits Guide Iraq, https://www.atlashxm.com/en/countries/iraq

3. Definitive Guide to Hiring in Iraq, https://www.globalexpansion.com/countrypedia/Iraq

4. Iraq Labor Code, https://www.ilo.org/dyn/travail/docs/746/Labour%20Code%20of%201987.pdf

5. Iraqi Labor Law and the Rights of Workers, https://www.simaetbhatha.com/en-us/articles/4409760154775

Check out our Leave Laws page to learn more about laws in various countries.