How many days of annual leave do I get?
The minimum is four working weeks in a leave year, usually 20 days for someone who works five days a week. The precise calculation can depend on hours and time worked.
Am I legally allowed to carry over annual leave?
Yes, statutory leave may be carried into the next leave year with the employee's consent. An employer policy may set out how requests and balances are handled.
How many days of annual leave can I carry over?
There is no separate statutory cap in days. The unused statutory balance may be carried over, although a company policy can set rules for additional contractual leave.
Does carried-over annual leave expire?
Yes, it should normally be taken within the first six months of the following leave year. Leave not taken because of illness has a longer 15-month window.
What happens to unused annual leave after it expires?
It is normally lost once the applicable window ends. The 15-month sickness exception must be considered before treating a balance as expired.
What the legislation says
Sections 19 and 20 of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 provide four working weeks of annual leave and allow it to be taken within six months after the leave year where the employee consents. The statutory leave year runs from 1 April to 31 March, even though many employers use a different year for their own records. Where certified illness prevented an employee from taking annual leave, the available carry-over period can extend to 15 months.