Understanding Employee Leave Entitlements in Hungary

For international HR professionals managing teams in Hungary, understanding the country's comprehensive leave regulations is essential for compliance and effective workforce management. Hungarian labor law provides employees with various types of protected leave, each with specific eligibility criteria and compensation structures.

Annual Leave Provisions in Hungary

The foundation of Hungarian leave policy begins with a statutory minimum of 20 annual leave days. Unlike many countries that base additional leave on seniority, Hungary uses age as the primary determinant for extra vacation time.

Employee Age	Additional Leave Days
25	1 day
28	2 days
31	3 days
33	4 days
35	5 days
37	6 days
39	7 days
41	8 days
43	9 days
45	10 days

Beyond age-based entitlements, specific circumstances warrant additional leave days:

Employee Category	Additional Leave
Employees under 18	5 days
Parents of children under 16 or disabled dependents	2-7 days (depending on number of children)
Underground workers or those exposed to ionizing radiation	5 days
Employees with at least 50% disability	5 days

Annual leave must include at least 14 consecutive days per calendar year. If operational constraints prevent leave scheduling, employees must receive their entitlement within 60 days of the obstacle's removal.

Maternity Leave Framework

Hungarian law mandates 24 weeks of maternity leave for pregnant employees. Leave must commence four weeks before the expected delivery date, with at least two weeks taken pre-birth. During this period, employees receive infant care allowance equivalent to 100% of their average daily earnings for up to 168 days.

Employees attending at least four prenatal checkups (or one in case of premature birth) qualify for a maternity grant worth 225% of the social security base amount (64,125 HUF in 2024), increasing to 300% for twins. Applications must be submitted within six months postpartum.

Maternity leave termination exceptions include:

Stillbirth circumstances
Child death occurring during leave period
Child institutionalization exceeding 30 days

Paternity Leave Regulations

Fathers receive up to 10 working days of paid paternity leave, applicable even in cases of stillbirth or infant death. This leave must be utilized within two months of birth or adoption approval. Compensation structure differs by period:

Days 1-5: 100% of regular salary
Days 6-10: 40% of regular salary

Parental Leave Options

Employees with at least one year of service qualify for up to 44 working days of parental leave per child until the child reaches three years. Both parents can utilize this entitlement separately. Employees must provide 15 days' notice before taking leave, during which they receive 10% of their regular salary.

Sick Leave Provisions

Employees receive 15 working days of sick leave annually at 70% of their regular pay. After exhausting this entitlement, the social security system provides sickness benefits for up to one year, after which disability benefits may apply.

Public Holidays in Hungary

Hungary observes 12 public holidays in 2025. While generally non-working days, certain industries may require holiday work with specific compensation:

Holiday	Date
New Year's Day	January 1
Revolution Memorial Day	March 15
Good Friday	April 18
Easter Sunday	April 20
Easter Monday	April 21
Labor Day	May 1
Pentecost Monday	June 9
Foundation Day	August 20
Republic Day	October 23
All Saints' Day	November 1
Christmas Day	December 25
Second Day of Christmas	December 26

Holiday work entitles employees to either 100% overtime pay or 50% premium plus compensatory time off.

Unpaid Leave Categories

Hungarian law recognizes two unpaid leave types: mandatory employer-approved leave and mutually agreed absence. Mandatory unpaid leave includes:

Adoption preparation: 10 annual working days with 5-day advance notice
Bereavement leave: 2 working days
Sick family care: 5 annual working days (maximum two installments)

Mutually agreed unpaid leave covers extended circumstances including child care until age 3, adoption-related care, and voluntary military service. Employees must submit written requests at least 15 days in advance.

For multinational companies navigating Hungary's complex leave regulations, SailGlobal offers comprehensive solutions to ensure compliance and accurate payroll calculations across all leave categories.

Hungarian Employee Leave Guide: Annual, Maternity, and Public Holidays