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Employee Leave in Colombia: Guide to PTO, Sick & Parental Leave

maio 17, 2024

Understanding employee leave in Colombia is essential for any company hiring locally. Colombian labor law is protective and detailed, offering paid vacation, public holidays, sick leave, maternity and paternity benefits, and several special entitlements. For employers, managing leave correctly ensures compliance, accurate payroll, and a positive employee experience.

This guide covers every type of leave: from PTO in Colombia to public holidays, sick leave, parental leave, and special leave. You will also learn how to calculate entitlements, handle carryover rules, and pay employees properly during their time off.

Let’s discover more about PTO and Paid Leave in Colombia: Complete Guide for 2025 ⬇️

Discover more insights on leave in Colombia

Annual Leave in Colombia (Paid Vacation)

Holiday Entitlement Overview

Employees in Colombia receive 15 business days of paid annual leave after completing twelve months of service. This period represents the full vacation quota under Colombian labor law and applies to all workers, regardless of their job type or seniority. Annual leave is separate from public holidays, which are also paid and do not reduce the vacation balance.
The purpose of annual leave is to give employees uninterrupted rest while ensuring a stable income. Because of this, employers need clear tracking systems to avoid non-compliance. Vacation is considered a mandatory benefit, and companies cannot replace it with compensation during employment. Understanding these rules helps employers plan staffing needs and set accurate budgets. It also supports positive employee experience, especially for teams distributed across Latin America.

Accrual Rules for PTO in Colombia

Annual leave accrues at 1.25 days per month, which totals fifteen business days after a full year. Accrual begins on the first day of employment. Vacation during the first year cannot be taken until the twelve-month period has ended.
For example, if an employee starts on March 2, 2025, the accrual period runs until March 1, 2026. Only after this date can the employee take their vacation. Colombian law does not provide additional vacation days for long service, but companies may offer more generous plans as part of their benefits strategy.

Taking Vacation Leave in Colombia

Employees earn 15 business days of annual leave. For counting purposes, Colombia uses business days (Monday to Friday), not calendar days. Leave must begin on the date agreed between the employer and employee. Employers must notify workers of their approved vacation dates at least 15 days in advance.
Vacation can be split, but the worker must take at least 6 consecutive business days each year. The remaining days can be scheduled later, provided both parties agree. The goal is to ensure real rest periods and avoid excessively fragmented leave.

Vacation Payment Rules

During annual leave, the employment contract is considered “suspended,” but the employee still receives pay. This vacation allowance equals the employee’s regular base salary on the first day of leave.
If the employee earns variable pay, employers must calculate the average salary of the previous 12 months. Payment must be made no later than the first day of vacation.

Public Holidays in Colombia

Colombia recognizes 18 paid public holidays, one of the highest totals in Latin America. In Colombia, law 51 of 1983, better known as the “Emiliani” law, regulates public holidays.

If employees work on a holiday, they are entitled to premium pay under labor law. This makes holiday planning essential for scheduling, payroll forecasting, and workforce allocation.

Public holidays

Mandatory holiday are:

New Year’s Day (Jan 1)
Epiphany Holiday (Jan 6)
Saint Joseph’s Day (March 19)
Maundy Thursday (Thursday before Easter Sunday)
Good Friday (Friday before Easter Sunday)
Labour Day (May 1)
Ascension Day (39 days after Easter Sunday)
Corpus Christi (60 days after Easter Sunday)
Sacred Heart (68 days after Easter Sunday)
Saint Peter and Saint Paul (June 29)
Declaration of Independence (July 20)
Battle of Boyaca (Aug 7)
Assumption Day (Aug 15)
Columbus Day (Oct 12)
All Saints’ Day (Nov 1)
Independence of Cartagena (Nov 11)
Immaculate Conception (Dec 8)
Christmas Day (Dec 25)

Sick Leave in Colombia

Entitlement

Employees are entitled to up to 180 days of sick leave for non-occupational illnesses. Sick leave is granted upon presentation of a valid medical certificate from Colombia’s Social Security system. The rules are designed to offer strong protection to employees while ensuring that employers follow proper documentation processes.

Payment

Payment depends on the length of the sick leave:

Days 1–2: Paid by the employer.
Days 3–90: Paid at 66.67% of salary (reimbursed by Social Security).
Days 91–180: Paid at 50% of salary (also reimbursed).

For work-related injuries or occupational diseases, employees receive 100% of their salary. To avoid delays, employers must ensure the documentation is submitted correctly so reimbursements are processed without complications.

Parental leave

Parental leave in Colombia offers paid time off for new parents, allowing families to recover from childbirth and adjust to life with a newborn.

MATERNITY LEAVE

Mothers are entitled to 18 weeks of fully paid maternity leave. One week is taken before childbirth and seventeen afterward. Premature births or multiple births extend this entitlement. After a miscarriage, employees receive two to four weeks of paid leave. During the first six months after birth, employers must also allow two paid breastfeeding breaks per day. Maternity benefits are paid through Social Security, with employers reimbursed for the cost.

PATERNITY LEAVE

Fathers, including adoptive fathers, receive two weeks of fully paid paternity leave. The employer pays the salary and is later reimbursed by the Social Security system. A reform proposes extending paternity leave to eight weeks in 2024, ten weeks in 2025, and twelve weeks in 2026, but it has not yet been approved.

Other Leave in Colombia

BEREAVEMENT LEAVE

Employees may take five working days of paid leave following the death of a close family member. The employee must provide official documentation within thirty days.

MARRIAGE LEAVE

Employees may take five working days of paid leave for their wedding. This leave counts as statutory time off and must be processed accordingly.

Summary Table: PTO and Leave Types in Colombia

Leave Type	Duration	Paid By	Notes
Annual Leave	15 business days	Employer	Earned after 12 months.
Public Holidays	18 days	Employer	National mandatory holidays.
Sick Leave	Up to 180 days	Employer + Social Security	66% then 50%.
Maternity Leave	18 weeks	Social Security	1 week prenatal + 17 postnatal.
Paternity Leave	2 weeks	Social Security	Proposed increases pending.
Shared Parental Leave	6 weeks	Social Security	Shared portion of maternity leave.
Adoption Leave	Same as maternity/paternity	Social Security	Applies to adoptive parents.
Bereavement Leave	5 days	Employer	Documentation required.
Marriage Leave	5 days	Employer	For employee wedding.
Voting Leave	½ day	Employer	Proof required.
Military Leave	Length of service	Unpaid	Job reinstatement required.

Manage Employee Holiday & Leave in Colombia With Europortage

Managing employee leave in Colombia can be complex, especially when balancing accrual rules, public holidays, sick leave procedures, and parental entitlements. That’s why we recommend working with a direct local partner like Europortage.
Our team of Colombian HR and payroll experts supports you throughout the entire employee lifecycle, including time-off management. We help you stay compliant with Colombian labor law, avoid payroll errors, and ensure smooth HR operations while you focus on growing your team and business.

Get in touch to learn more and start hiring top talent in Colombia today.