Simple answer
If you are covered by the Employment Act and have worked for your employer for at least 3 months, you are generally entitled to paid annual leave. The minimum entitlement starts from 7 days in the first year and increases up to 14 days from the eighth year onwards.
Who is entitled to annual leave?
Annual leave entitlement usually depends on whether you are covered by the Employment Act and how long you have worked for your employer.
Covered employee
You should be covered by the Employment Act to enjoy statutory annual leave entitlement.
At least 3 months
You generally need to work for your employer for at least 3 months before taking paid annual leave.
Based on service
Your annual leave days increase based on your years of service with the same employer.
Minimum annual leave entitlement in Singapore
The table below shows the statutory minimum annual leave entitlement by year of service.
| Year of Service | Minimum Annual Leave | Simple Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1st year | 7 days | Minimum annual leave after completing the qualifying period. |
| 2nd year | 8 days | One additional day compared with the first year. |
| 3rd year | 9 days | Leave entitlement continues to increase with service. |
| 4th year | 10 days | Minimum statutory entitlement for the fourth year. |
| 5th year | 11 days | Minimum statutory entitlement for the fifth year. |
| 6th year | 12 days | Minimum statutory entitlement for the sixth year. |
| 7th year | 13 days | Minimum statutory entitlement for the seventh year. |
| 8th year and thereafter | 14 days | Minimum entitlement reaches 14 days from the eighth year onwards. |
Some employers may offer more annual leave than the statutory minimum. Your employment contract or company policy may provide better benefits.
How pro-rated annual leave is calculated
Pro-rated annual leave is commonly used when you join or leave during the year.
Formula:
Number of completed months of service ÷ 12 × annual leave entitlement
Rounding:
If the fraction is less than 0.5 day, round it down. If it is 0.5 day or more, round it up to 1 day.
Important:
The calculation is based on completed months of service, not simply calendar months.
Pro-rated annual leave examples
These examples show how annual leave may be estimated for common situations.
| Situation | Calculation | Estimated Leave |
|---|---|---|
| 4 completed months, 7 days annual entitlement | 4 ÷ 12 × 7 = 2.33 days | 2 days |
| 6 completed months, 7 days annual entitlement | 6 ÷ 12 × 7 = 3.5 days | 4 days |
| 9 completed months, 10 days annual entitlement | 9 ÷ 12 × 10 = 7.5 days | 8 days |
| 7 completed months, 12 days annual entitlement | 7 ÷ 12 × 12 = 7 days | 7 days |
Annual leave during probation, unpaid leave and notice period
These situations are commonly asked by employees who join, resign or take unpaid leave during the year.
During probation
Annual leave can still be pro-rated if you have worked at least 3 months, even if you are still on probation.
Unpaid leave
Approved unpaid leave may be excluded when calculating completed months for annual leave entitlement.
Notice period
If you resign, your notice period is generally included when calculating pro-rated annual leave.
Can unused annual leave be encashed?
Unused annual leave is often considered when an employee resigns or leaves employment.
Related Singapore calculators
Use these calculators to estimate leave, salary and take-home pay.
Related Singapore guides
Learn more about employment, salary and payroll topics in Singapore.
Why use this guide?
This guide is written for simple annual leave planning.
Simple explanation
Understand annual leave without reading long legal text.
Calculator friendly
Designed to work together with the Singapore Annual Leave Calculator.
Singapore focused
Focused on Singapore employment and leave planning for employees and HR users.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days of annual leave do employees get in Singapore?
The statutory minimum starts from 7 days in the first year of service and increases by 1 day each year, up to 14 days from the eighth year onwards.
When can I take annual leave in Singapore?
You are generally entitled to paid annual leave after working for your employer for at least 3 months.
How is pro-rated annual leave calculated?
Pro-rated annual leave is calculated as completed months of service divided by 12, multiplied by your annual leave entitlement.
Does probation count for annual leave?
Yes, pro-rated annual leave can still apply during probation if you have worked at least 3 months.
Does notice period count when calculating annual leave?
If you resign, your notice period is generally included when calculating your pro-rated annual leave entitlement.
Can unused annual leave be paid out?
It may depend on your contract, company policy and final salary arrangement. Check with HR when resigning or leaving employment.