Last updated on February 2, 2024.

Paid Time Off (PTO) in Turkey

Vacation Quota (Annual Leave)

At least 14 days.

Employees who have completed a minimum of one year of service in the establishment since their recruitment, including the trial period, are entitled to take paid annual leave.

Employees who have been employed between one and five years (the fifth year included) are entitled to 14 days of paid leave per year.

Employees who have been employed for more than five and less than fifteen years are entitled to 20 days of paid leave per year.

Employees with 15 or more years of service are entitled to 26 days of leave per year.

For employees below the age of eighteen and above the age of fifty, the length of paid annual leave must not be less than twenty days.

The length of annual leave with pay may be increased by employment contracts and collective agreements.

The employer must pay the employee using his annual leave the remuneration corresponding to his leave period either as a lump sum or as an advance payment prior to the beginning of the leave.

Payment of Unused Vacation on Termination

Any annual leave remuneration due to but not yet drawn by an employee must be paid to him, her or to other persons entitled on his or her behalf, upon the termination of his or her employment contract for any reason, at the wage rate prevailing on the date of termination.

Sick Leave in Turkey

Employees are entitled to a maximum of one week of paid sick leave upon production of the confirmative medical reports. Sick leave might be extended. Extended sick leave is unpaid. In the case of sick leave that exceeds six weeks beyond the notice periods determined in Labor Law, an employment contract may be terminated without notice.

Maternity and Paternity Leave

Maternity Leave in Turkey

16 weeks

Female employees are entitled to up to 16 weeks of paid maternity leave. Eight weeks before the childbirth and eight weeks after the birth of a baby. Employees are entitled to additional 2 weeks of leave before the confinement in case of multiple pregnancies. Employees are allowed to work until three weeks before the delivery. The unused leave period will be added to leave granted after the delivery.

Employees may be granted to work part-time depending on the number the employee has. 

• First child – 60 days of leave
• Second child – 120 days of leave
• More than 2 children – 180 days of leave

In case of disability or adoption, the leave period is up to 360 days. 

Employees are entitled to up to 6 months of unpaid maternity leave.

Paternity Leave in Turkey

5 days

Male employees are entitled to up to 5 days of paid paternity leave.

Parental Leave

If both parents are employed, one of them is entitled to work part-time until the child starts primary school. The employee is required to provide an employer with written notice at least a month in advance.

Parents are entitled to up to 10 days of leave to attend the treatment of a child with at least 70 percent of disability or chronic disease.

Bereavement Leave in Turkey

3 days

Employees are entitled to three days of paid leave in the event of the death of the employee’s mother, father, spouse, brother or sister, and child.

Jury Duty Leave in Turkey

Jury duty leave is not specified by law.

Military Leave

Employees are entitled to up to 90 days of paid leave per year when having been called up for military exercises or for the performance of a statutory obligation, other than compulsory military service.

Voting Leave in Turkey

Voting leave is not specified by law.

Public Holidays in Turkey for 2024

Employees are entitled to a full day’s wages for the national and public holidays on which they have not worked. If they work instead of observing the holiday, employees are entitled to an additional full day’s wages for each day worked.

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