Whether you're starting a new job, planning a family, or dealing with a personal emergency, understanding your leave rights in Cyprus is essential. This guide breaks down everything you need to know about annual leave, sick leave, parental leave, and all the other time-off entitlements available to employees in Cyprus.
Annual Leave and Public Holidays
How Much Annual Leave Do You Get?
Every employee in Cyprus is entitled to paid annual leave from their first day of work. The amount depends on your work schedule:
5-day work week: 20 days per year
6-day work week: 24 days per year
This works out to four weeks of paid holiday annually. The good news is that since 2023, you start earning this leave immediately — there's no longer a waiting period before you can take your first holiday.
To receive your full annual entitlement, you need to work 48 weeks in a calendar year. If you work less than this (perhaps because you started mid-year), your leave is calculated proportionally. Part-time employees also receive annual leave on a pro-rata basis.
Can You Carry Over Unused Leave?
Ideally, you should use your annual leave within the same calendar year. However, if you and your employer agree, you can carry over unused days for up to two years. There's a cap though:
Maximum 40 days carried over (for 5-day work week)
Maximum 48 days carried over (for 6-day work week)
If you leave your job, your employer must pay you for any unused annual leave you've accrued.
How Are You Paid During Annual Leave?
You'll receive your regular salary during annual leave. This payment comes either directly from your employer or through the Central Holiday Fund (which your employer contributes 8% of your earnings to).
Public Holidays in 2026
Cyprus observes 14-16 public holidays each year. Here's the complete list for 2026:
January 1 – New Year's Day
January 6 – Epiphany
February 23 – Green Monday (Clean Monday)
March 25 – Greek Independence Day
April 1 – Cyprus National Day
April 10 – Good Friday (Orthodox)
April 12 – Easter Sunday (Orthodox)
April 13 – Easter Monday (Orthodox)
May 1 – Labour Day
June 1 – Orthodox Whit Monday (Pentecost Monday)
August 15 – Assumption of the Virgin Mary
October 1 – Cyprus Independence Day
October 28 – Greek National Day (Ochi Day)
December 25 – Christmas Day
December 26 – Boxing Day
Important: Check your employment contract to see whether public holidays are in addition to your 20-24 days of annual leave, or included within that entitlement. This varies by employer.
Sick Leave
How Sick Leave Works in Cyprus
If you're too ill to work, you're entitled to sick leave for up to 156 days per period of illness. In serious cases, this can be extended to 312 days.
Here's what you need to know about payment:
Days 1-3: These are unpaid (self-employed individuals have unpaid leave from days 1-9)
Day 4 onwards: You receive sick pay from the Social Insurance Fund at these rates:
60% of your salary (base rate)
80% if you have one dependent
90% if you have two dependents
100% if you have three dependents
What You Need to Do
To receive sick pay, you must:
Get a medical certificate from your doctor from day one of illness
Submit this certificate to a District Social Security Office within 48 hours
Have worked for at least 26 weeks to be eligible
If you use up your sick leave entitlement, you'll need to have paid sufficient social insurance contributions before you can qualify again.
Leave for New Parents
Cyprus has significantly strengthened leave protections for parents over the past few years. Here's what you're entitled to if you're expecting or adopting a child.
Maternity Leave
Since March 2024, maternity leave has been extended significantly:
For your first child: 22 weeks of paid leave
You must take 11 weeks (including 2 weeks before your due date)
The remaining 11 weeks can be taken flexibly
For your second child: 22 weeks
For your third and subsequent children: 26 weeks
Special circumstances:
If you're having twins or multiples, add 4 weeks for each additional baby
If your newborn needs hospitalization right after birth, you get 1 extra week for every 14 days they're in hospital (up to 8 additional weeks maximum)
Surrogacy and adoption also qualify for maternity leave
How Much Will You Receive?
Maternity leave is paid by the Social Insurance Fund, and the percentage increases with each child:
First child: 72% of your salary
Second child: 80% of your salary
Third child: 90% of your salary
Fourth and subsequent: 100% of your salary
You'll also receive a one-time childbirth grant:
First child: €1,059.40
Second child: €1,589.10
Third child: €2,118.80
Fourth and beyond: €2,648.50
To qualify, you need at least 26 weeks of social insurance contributions. Apply after your 25th week of pregnancy, and make sure to submit within 21 days of when you need the benefit to start.
Job Protection During Pregnancy
Your employer cannot fire you from the moment you notify them of your pregnancy until 5 months after your maternity leave ends (except in cases of serious misconduct or if the business closes).
Once you return to work, you're also entitled to a 1-hour break each day for breastfeeding or childcare until your baby is 9 months old. This hour is paid and can be taken as arriving late, leaving early, or a break during the day.
Paternity Leave
Fathers get 2 consecutive weeks of paid paternity leave at 75.20% of their regular salary, paid by the Social Insurance Fund. This must be taken within 16 weeks of your child's birth.
Since 2022, all fathers are entitled to this leave regardless of marital status, as long as you've contributed to the Social Insurance Fund for at least 6 months.
Parental Leave
Both parents can take parental leave to care for their children:
18 weeks per parent, per child
Can be used until your child turns 15 (previously 8)
Maximum 5 weeks can be taken per calendar year
For children with disabilities, this extends until they turn 18 or 21
Recent improvement: As of October 2022, the first 8 weeks of parental leave are now paid by the Social Insurance Fund. The remaining 10 weeks are unpaid (unless your employer offers additional benefits).
You need at least 6 months of continuous employment to qualify, and you must give your employer 3 weeks' notice. The leave can be taken in blocks of at least one day.
If one parent takes at least 2 weeks of parental leave, they can transfer 2 weeks of their remaining entitlement to the other parent.
Adoption Leave
If you're adopting a child under 12, you're entitled to:
First child: 20 weeks (increased from 16 in 2024)
Second child: 20 weeks
Third and beyond: 24 weeks
This leave begins from when you start caring for the adopted child.
Emergency and Compassionate Leave
Life doesn't always go according to plan. Cyprus law recognizes this with several types of emergency leave.
Force Majeure Leave
You're entitled to 7 days of unpaid leave per year for urgent family emergencies like:
A family member's sudden illness
Accidents requiring immediate care
Other urgent situations requiring your presence
You can take this leave in parts (it doesn't have to be consecutive), but you must notify your employer as soon as the emergency occurs. Since 2022, this leave is no longer restricted to just family dependents.
Carer's Leave
If you need to provide personal care to a relative or someone living in your household who has a serious medical condition, you can take 5 days of unpaid carer's leave per year.
You'll need to provide a medical certificate and give your employer sufficient notice. This leave can be taken consecutively or split up as needed.
Bereavement Leave
When a family member passes away, you're entitled to paid bereavement leave:
5 days for the death of a child or spouse
3 days for a parent or sibling
1 day for other family members
Military Leave
Cypriot male citizens must complete 14 months of compulsory military service at age 18. Women can also volunteer for 6 months of service. Employees called for military service are protected and covered by Social Insurance Services during this time.
Flexible Working Arrangements
Since 2022, parents with children up to 8 years old and designated carers have the right to request flexible working arrangements. This can include:
Remote working
Flexible schedules
Reduced working hours
You need at least 6 months of continuous employment to make this request. Your employer must respond within 1 month and can approve, postpone, or reject the request (but they must provide valid reasons for postponement or rejection).
Understanding Social Insurance
Most paid leave in Cyprus (maternity, paternity, sick leave) is funded through the Social Insurance Fund. Here's how contributions work as of 2024:
Employer pays: 8.8% of your salary
You pay: 8.8% of your salary
The state pays: 4.6%
This social insurance is what funds your sick pay, maternity benefits, paternity leave, and the paid portion of parental leave.
Important Documents to Keep
To access your leave benefits, you'll need proper documentation:
Medical certificates (must be submitted within 48 hours for sick leave)
Pregnancy certificates (from your 25th week)
Birth certificates (for maternity/paternity benefits)
Medical certificates for carer's leave
Keep these documents organized and submit them promptly to avoid delays in receiving your benefits.
Common Questions About Leave in Cyprus
Can my employer refuse my holiday request? Yes, employers can deny specific holiday requests for business reasons, but they cannot reduce your total statutory entitlement of 20-24 days per year.
What happens to my unused annual leave when I resign? Your employer must pay you for any accrued but unused annual leave. This should be included in your final paycheck.
Can I work a second job while on maternity leave? No. If you receive your full salary from your employer during maternity leave, you cannot also claim the maternity allowance from Social Insurance. The two are mutually exclusive.
How much of my parental leave is paid? 8 weeks of your 18-week parental leave entitlement is paid by the Social Insurance Fund at approximately 75-80% of your salary. The remaining 10 weeks are unpaid unless your employer offers additional benefits.
Do I need permission to take sick leave? No, you don't need permission, but you must follow proper procedures: notify your employer as soon as possible and submit a medical certificate within 48 hours to the Social Insurance office.
Are public holidays counted as part of my annual leave? It depends on your employment contract. Some employers provide public holidays in addition to your 20-24 days of annual leave, while others include them within that entitlement. Check your contract.
Quick Reference: Your Leave Entitlements
Here's a quick summary of what you're entitled to in Cyprus:
Annual leave: 20-24 days paid (depending on work schedule)
Public holidays: 14-16 days per year
Sick leave: Up to 156 days at 60-100% pay (via Social Insurance)
Maternity leave: 22-26 weeks paid at 72-100% (depending on child number)
Paternity leave: 2 weeks paid at 75.20%
Parental leave: 18 weeks per child (8 weeks paid, 10 unpaid)
Adoption leave: 20-24 weeks (depending on child number)
Force majeure leave: 7 days unpaid for emergencies
Carer's leave: 5 days unpaid for caring responsibilities
Bereavement leave: 1-5 days paid (depending on relationship)
Remember, these are minimum statutory requirements. Many employers offer more generous packages, so always check your employment contract and collective agreements.
This guide reflects Cyprus employment law as of 2026 and is provided for informational purposes. For specific legal advice about your situation, consult a qualified employment lawyer or contact the Cyprus Department of Labour Relations.
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