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Urlaubsanspruch Ausbildung: How Many Vacation Days Do You Get as a Trainee in Germany?

2024-12-02

Learn how many vacation days you're entitled to during your Ausbildung in Germany, how collective agreements can increase that number, and how to plan time off.

Starting your Ausbildung in Germany is exciting — but after weeks of early mornings, Berufsschule schedules, and new workplace routines, you're going to need a break. Understanding your Urlaubsanspruch (vacation entitlement) as a trainee is not just about knowing when you can rest; it's about knowing your legal rights so no employer can shortchange you. The rules around vacation days during an Ausbildung are more generous than many trainees expect, and they vary depending on your age, your industry, and your specific training contract.

What Does Urlaubsanspruch Mean for Ausbildung Trainees?

Urlaubsanspruch simply means your legal entitlement to paid vacation days. During your Ausbildung, you are covered by the Berufsbildungsgesetz (BBiG) — Germany's Vocational Training Act — which guarantees you paid leave just like any regular employee.

The key thing to understand is that your vacation days are paid. Your training allowance (Ausbildungsvergütung) continues to be paid while you're on vacation. You don't lose money by taking time off — it's your right.

Who Sets the Rules?

Three layers determine how many days you actually get:

• The BBiG (federal law): Sets the statutory minimum based on your age.
• Tarifvertrag (collective bargaining agreement): Your industry's union agreement, which often gives you more days than the legal minimum.
• Your individual Ausbildungsvertrag (training contract): Must be at least as generous as the law — never less.

The Statutory Minimum: 24 Days for Young Trainees

Under § 19 BBiG, your minimum vacation entitlement during Ausbildung depends on your age at the start of the calendar year:

• Under 16 years old: 30 vacation days per year
• 16 years old: 27 vacation days per year
• 17 years old: 25 vacation days per year
• 18 years old and older: 24 vacation days per year

These are working days, not calendar days. Since most Ausbildung schedules run Monday to Friday (5 working days per week), 24 working days equals about 4.8 weeks of vacation per year. That's already solid — but many trainees end up with even more.

Important: The age that counts is how old you are on January 1st of that year. If you turn 18 in March, you still get the 25-day entitlement for the full calendar year because you were 17 on January 1st.

What Counts as a Vacation Day?

Only days you would normally have been working count against your vacation quota. This means:

• Berufsschule days do not use up your vacation days (more on this below)
• Public holidays do not count as vacation days
• Sick days (with a doctor's note after the third day) do not reduce your vacation entitlement
• Weekends are never deducted

How a Tarifvertrag Can Increase Your Vacation Days

If your training company is bound by a Tarifvertrag (a collective agreement negotiated between employers' associations and trade unions), you likely get more than the legal minimum. This is where it gets interesting.

Here are real examples from common Ausbildung sectors:

| Sector | Typical Vacation Days | |---|---| | Retail (Einzelhandel) | 28–30 days | | Banking & Finance | 30 days | | Construction (Bau) | 30 days | | Healthcare (Pflege) | 29–30 days | | IT & Tech | 27–30 days | | Public sector (TVöD) | 30 days |

For example, if you're doing an Ausbildung as a Bankkaufmann/-frau in Frankfurt, your Tarifvertrag will typically give you 30 vacation days — that's 6 full weeks per year, far above the legal minimum.

To find out if your employer is bound by a Tarifvertrag, check the website of the relevant trade union. For retail, that's ver.di (verdi.de). For metalworking and IT, it's IG Metall (igmetall.de). For construction, check IG BAU (igbau.de).

Planning Your Vacation Around Berufsschule

One of the most confusing parts of taking vacation during an Ausbildung is figuring out when you can actually take it, given that you split your time between your training company and the Berufsschule (vocational school).

The Basic Rule

Your employer is responsible for granting your vacation. You should always check your company's policies, but here's the general framework:

• Vacation is ideally taken during school holidays (Schulferien) when possible, because your absence from the workplace is easier to manage.
• However, your employer cannot force you to take all vacation during school holidays. You have a right to take vacation at other times too, as long as it doesn't conflict with urgent business needs.
• If Berufsschule days fall within your approved vacation period, those school days are not counted as vacation days. For example, if you take a week off and two of those days are Berufsschule days, only three days are deducted from your vacation quota.

How to Request Vacation

1. Submit a written vacation request (Urlaubsantrag) to your Ausbilder or HR department — many companies have a standard form or an online system.
2. Give as much notice as possible — at least 2–4 weeks, more if you want time off during popular periods like summer.
3. Coordinate with colleagues and fellow trainees to avoid everyone being absent at once.
4. Get written confirmation of your approved vacation before booking any flights or accommodation.

City-Specific Tip: School Holiday Dates Differ by State

Germany's school holidays vary by Bundesland. If you're doing your Ausbildung in München (Bavaria), summer holidays typically run from late July to early September. In Hamburg, they often fall in June and July. Check the official holiday calendar for your state at kmk.org (the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education).

Carrying Over Unused Vacation Days

What happens if you don't use all your vacation days by December 31st? The rules are stricter than many people assume.

• In principle, vacation must be taken within the same calendar year.
• Carrying days over to the following year is only allowed if you had a legitimate reason for not taking them — such as illness or employer refusal.
• If carried over, these days must generally be taken by March 31st of the following year, after which they legally expire.
• Your employer cannot simply pay you out for unused vacation days while the employment (or training) relationship is ongoing.

Exception: If your Ausbildung ends mid-year (for example, you finish in July after passing your exams), you are entitled to a pro-rated number of vacation days for the months you worked. If you couldn't take them before the contract ended, your employer must pay them out at your daily training allowance rate.

What People Get Wrong About Vacation During Ausbildung

This is where many trainees — especially those new to German workplace culture — run into problems.

Mistake 1: Assuming Berufsschule days are vacation. Many trainees mistakenly believe that if they're not at the company, they're "off." Berufsschule is part of your Ausbildung — it's not free time, and it doesn't count as vacation.

Mistake 2: Not requesting vacation in writing. A verbal agreement from your Ausbilder is not enough. Always get approval in writing. If a dispute arises later, you need documentation.

Mistake 3: Booking travel before vacation is approved. This one is costly. Never buy non-refundable flights or book hotels before you have written confirmation. Your employer can reject your request if business needs require it.

Mistake 4: Not knowing your Tarifvertrag rights. Many trainees don't realize their industry agreement gives them more than 24 days. Check your contract and ask your company's HR or works council (Betriebsrat) whether a Tarifvertrag applies.

Mistake 5: Letting days expire. If you reach late November with 10 unused vacation days, don't wait — request them immediately. Employers sometimes resist, but you have a legal right to take them within the calendar year.

Mistake 6: Thinking sick days reduce your vacation. If you become ill during your approved vacation and have a medical certificate (Krankschreibung) from a doctor, those sick days must be restored to your vacation account. You don't lose them.

Your Vacation Rights Are Protected — Know Them

Your Urlaubsanspruch during your Ausbildung is protected by federal law. No training contract can give you fewer days than the BBiG requires, and no employer can pressure you into forfeiting earned days. If you ever feel your rights are being violated, you can contact the Agentur für Arbeit, the relevant trade union, or a free legal advice service like Caritas or AWO, which many cities offer to immigrants and newcomers.

Understanding these rules before you start your Ausbildung puts you in a much stronger position — you know what to expect, what to ask for, and when to push back.

If you're still in the process of applying for your Ausbildung and need help crafting the perfect cover letter or CV, Book a consultation with our specialist and use our CV builder to move one step closer to starting your career in Germany.