Carry Over Vacation
In Denmark, taking time off is a right — but sometimes work or personal circumstances mean not all holiday can be used within the same year.
Carry over vacation helps make sure employees do not lose earned holiday days by allowing unused time to move into the next holiday period.
What is carry over vacation?
Carry over vacation (overførsel af ferie) is the right to transfer unused paid vacation days from one holiday year to the next under the Danish Holiday Act (Ferieloven).
In simple terms, it acts as a holiday safety net: if someone cannot use all of their leave within the normal timeframe, the law allows certain days to be preserved for later instead of being lost.
Why is carry over vacation important?
Carry over vacation matters because it protects the purpose of holiday in the first place: rest, recovery and wellbeing.
It also helps employers and employees plan more realistically by allowing holiday to be postponed where appropriate, rather than rushed or missed altogether.
In practice, it helps businesses by:
Protecting employee rights so earned holiday is not lost because of workload or exceptional circumstances.
Supporting wellbeing by allowing time off to be taken meaningfully, not squeezed in at the last minute.
Creating flexibility through written agreements between employee and employer.
Supporting compliance with Danish holiday rules and their focus on recovery time.
Building trust through transparent holiday planning.
What are the Danish carry over vacation rules?
The Danish Holiday Act sets out when and how unused holiday can be carried over.
Holiday entitlement
Employees earn 2.08 vacation days per month, which adds up to 25 days (5 weeks) per holiday year.
The holiday year runs from 1 September to 31 August, and the related holiday period runs until 31 December of the following year.
Standard rule
As a general rule, up to 4 weeks of holiday should be taken within the current holiday period.
The fifth week can be carried over or paid out, but this must be agreed in writing between employer and employee.
Deadline for agreement
Any carry-over agreement for the fifth week must be made before 31 December of the relevant holiday period.
Illness, leave and exceptional circumstances
If an employee cannot take holiday because of illness, maternity or paternity leave, or force majeure, unused holiday can be carried over automatically to the next period.
Collective agreements
Some workplaces or sectors may allow more generous carry-over arrangements through collective agreements or local terms, especially in public employment.
Who benefits from carry over vacation?
In short: everyone.
Employees gain reassurance that earned holiday is not lost, while employers benefit from clearer planning and a more rested workforce.
More broadly, it supports the Danish approach to working life: balance, wellbeing and mutual respect.
Because in Denmark, vacation is not just a perk — it is a protected right, and carry over rules help make sure that right is not lost when life gets in the way.