How many days of annual leave do I get?
The 2026 entitlement is 216 hours for an employee on a standard 40-hour week. That equals 27 eight-hour days and includes the year's replacement leave for public holidays falling on rest days.
Am I legally allowed to carry over annual leave?
Yes, but the employer must agree to the carry-over. It is not an unrestricted automatic right.
How many days of annual leave can I carry over?
Up to 50% of the annual entitlement may be carried over. In 2026 that is 108 hours, or 13.5 eight-hour days, for a standard 40-hour week.
Does carried-over annual leave expire?
Yes, it must be used during the following calendar year. It cannot be carried forward for a second time.
What happens to unused annual leave after it expires?
It is normally lost after the applicable period, although an employee may have a claim if the employer prevented the leave from being taken. Outstanding vacation leave is paid when employment ends.
What the legislation says
Malta's Organisation of Working Time rules provide a base entitlement of 192 hours for a 40-hour week. Extra hours are added when public holidays fall on an employee's weekly rest day, which brings the standard total to 216 hours in 2026. With the employer's agreement, no more than 50% of the entitlement may move into the next calendar year. Carried hours should be used first and cannot be carried over again.