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Bildungsurlaub (educational leave): what applies in your state

Bildungsurlaub is paid time off for further training, on top of your annual leave. 14 states regulate it with their own state law, and from 1 January 2027 Saxony does too. How many days you get and by when you apply depends on the state you work in.

Compiled by Bildungszeit from the statutes · Last updated 24 October 2026 · Spotted a mistake? Write to us

Bildungsurlaub in all 16 states

StateIn the lawEntitlementWaiting periodNotice periodNo reply
Baden-WuerttembergBildungszeitEntitlement 5 days a yearWaiting period 12 monthsNotice period 9 weeksNo reply deemed approved, not in every case*
BavariaEntitlement no law
BerlinBildungszeitEntitlement 5 days a yearWaiting period 6 monthsNotice period usually 6 weeksNo reply deemed approved
BrandenburgBildungszeitEntitlement 10 days in 2 yearsWaiting period 6 monthsNotice period 6 weeksNo reply not approved automatically
BremenBildungszeitEntitlement 10 days in 2 yearsWaiting period 6 monthsNotice period usually 4 weeksNo reply not approved automatically
HamburgBildungsurlaubEntitlement 10 days in 2 yearsWaiting period 6 monthsNotice period usually 6 weeksNo reply not approved automatically
HesseBildungsurlaubEntitlement 5 days a yearWaiting period 6 monthsNotice period 6 weeksNo reply deemed approved, not in every case*
Lower SaxonyBildungszeitEntitlement 5 days a yearWaiting period 6 monthsNotice period 8 weeksNo reply deemed approved, not in every case*
Mecklenburg-Western PomeraniaBildungsfreistellungEntitlement 10 days in 2 yearsWaiting period 6 monthsNotice period usually 8 weeksNo reply not approved automatically
North Rhine-WestphaliaArbeitnehmerweiterbildungEntitlement 5 days a yearWaiting period 6 monthsNotice period 6 weeksNo reply deemed approved
Rhineland-PalatinateBildungszeitEntitlement 10 days in 2 yearsWaiting period 6 monthsNotice period 6 weeksNo reply not approved automatically
SaarlandBildungsfreistellungEntitlement 5 days a yearWaiting period 6 monthsNotice period 6 weeksNo reply deemed approved, not in every case*
SaxonyQualifizierungszeitEntitlement from 2027: 3 days a yearWaiting period 6 monthsNotice period 12 weeksNo reply deemed approved, not in every case*
Saxony-AnhaltBildungsfreistellungEntitlement 5 days a yearWaiting period 6 monthsNotice period usually 6 weeksNo reply not approved automatically
Schleswig-HolsteinBildungsfreistellungEntitlement 5 days a yearWaiting period 6 monthsNotice period 6 weeksNo reply not approved automatically
ThuringiaBildungsfreistellungEntitlement 5 days a yearWaiting period 6 monthsNotice period 8 weeksNo reply deemed approved

* Does not apply in every case. Details under the §.

How Bildungsurlaub works

  1. Entitlement

    After the waiting period at your employer, usually 6 months.

  2. Course

    A course recognized in your state.

  3. Application

    A few weeks before the start, to your employer, 4 to 12 weeks depending on the state.

  4. Reply

    In 8 states the application counts as approved if your employer does not refuse in time, in 5 of them not in every case.

Recognized courses

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