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Holiday Allowance for Part-Time Domestic Workers in Portugal (2026)

Published Updated by Nelson Lima
holiday allowance vacation pay expats in portugal 2026

Employers hiring a part-time cleaner or nanny in Portugal frequently assume that the holiday allowance (subsídio de férias) should be halved or reduced proportionally. However, under Portuguese employment law, the holiday allowance always equals one full month’s regular salary — and a part-time worker’s monthly salary already reflects their reduced hours. Applying a second reduction to the allowance is illegal double-deduction.

This guide explains how to calculate vacation days and holiday pay in 2026 and outlines special rules for the first year of employment. To check statutory minimum salaries by schedule, see our 2026 domestic worker salary table.

On a 3-morning weekly contract paying €400.00 per month, the holiday allowance is €400.00 (one full month of regular part-time pay). The worker is entitled to 13 vacation days per year, and the allowance remains €400.00 whether 13 or 22 vacation days are taken.

Why doesn’t the holiday allowance decrease with fewer vacation days?

Portuguese labor law strictly distinguishes the duration of annual leave from the amount of the holiday allowance:

  • Vacation days: Calculated in days and reduced proportionally for part-time schedules. A worker who works 3 days a week needs only 13 working days off to enjoy the same number of full rest weeks as a full-time 5-day worker.
  • Allowance amount: Always equals one full month’s regular monthly pay.

Whether a part-time worker is entitled to 13 or 22 vacation days, they receive the exact same holiday allowance: one month’s salary (€400.00 in the example above). The Christmas allowance (subsídio de Natal) follows the same rule and must be paid by 15 December.

How many vacation days does a part-time schedule grant?

The statutory vacation days calculation is proportional to the days worked per week (not daily hours):

Days Worked per Week Proportional Calculation Annual Vacation Days
1 day / week 22 × 1 ÷ 5 4 days
2 days / week 22 × 2 ÷ 5 9 days
3 days / week 22 × 3 ÷ 5 13 days
4 days / week 22 × 4 ÷ 5 18 days
5 days / week — 22 days

Common mistake to avoid: Multiplying 22 vacation days by weekly hours produces an incorrect figure. For a 12-hour week, that erroneous formula yields only 7 days. The correct formula recognizes that each vacation day for this worker represents 4 working hours (not 8 hours), correctly yielding 13 actual vacation days.

How does paying allowances in monthly twelfths work?

The holiday allowance can be paid as a lump sum prior to the vacation period or distributed across the 12 calendar months in monthly twelfths (duodécimos). On a €400.00 monthly salary, each monthly twelfth equals €33.33 (€400.00 ÷ 12 months).

If you choose to pay both allowances (holiday and Christmas) in monthly twelfths, €66.67 is added to base monthly pay. Occasional absences reduce base salary, but do not reduce the monthly twelfth allowance payment. See our guide on salary deductions for absences.

Let the calculator do the maths

Enter salary and schedule in the Domicilia calculator to review full monthly payroll, with twelfths and Social Security calculated automatically.

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What changes during the first year of employment?

In the calendar year employment begins, a special rule applies: 2 working days of annual leave per full month of contract execution (up to a maximum of 20 days in that calendar year):

  • Important: First-year vacation days can only be taken after 6 full months of contract execution.

For a contract starting on 1 September 2026 (3 mornings/week at €400.00/month):

Concept Calculation Amount
Contract months in 2026 September to December 4 months
Vacation days accrued in Year 1 2 × 4 months 8 days
Holiday allowance twelfths received €400.00 ÷ 12 × 4 €133.33
Christmas allowance twelfths received €400.00 ÷ 12 × 4 €133.33

From the second calendar year onward, the worker is entitled to the full annual 13 days and complete holiday allowance.

How is payment handled during the month vacation is taken?

The month in which a worker takes annual leave is paid as normal, maintaining regular monthly salary. The holiday allowance is an autonomous extra payment made in addition to regular pay.

Upon contract termination, each unused vacation day is paid at the rate of one regular working day for the employee: monthly pay × 12 ÷ (52 × working days per week), under Article 271 of the Labor Code. With a salary of €400.00 per month and 3 days per week, this comes to €30.77 per day. For more details, see our guide on final settlement at end of contract or our domestic worker rights guide.

Notice: This guide is for informational purposes and is based on the legal standards cited above. To confirm specific requirements for your household, consult Social Security or the ACT.