How long is annual leave in Costa Rica?

Employees in Costa Rica are entitled to no less than 2 weeks of paid vacation time for every 50 weeks of continuous work with the same employer. The right to take vacation time is acquired once the employee completes 50 weeks of continuous employment with the same employer.

In principle, vacation time must not be divided into more than 2 separate periods. However, in practice, it is common for employees to request individual days of vacation to attend to personal matters. This does not present a considerable risk if the employer keeps written proof of the granted vacation time.

How is annual leave accrued in Costa Rica?

In Costa Rica, every employee is entitled to paid annual leave. The standard accrual is a minimum of two weeks for every 50 weeks of continuous employment with the same employer. If an employment agreement ends before the employee reaches the 50-week mark, they are entitled to receive at least one day of leave for each month worked. This leave is to be paid at the time the employee leaves their job.

What is the carry-over policy for annual leave in Costa Rica?

In Costa Rica, it is prohibited to carry over annual leave.

Exception: Annual leave can be carried over only once under the following conditions:

• The supported employee performs technical, managerial, trust, or similar tasks, making replacement especially difficult.
• The residence of the supported employee's family is located in a province different from the place where they perform their services.

How is paid time off (PTO) calculated in Costa Rica?

In Costa Rica, paid time off (PTO) is calculated as follows:

1. The calculation is based on the average of the ordinary and extraordinary salaries received during the last 50 weeks from the moment the supported employee acquires the entitlement to vacation.

2. Supported employees are entitled to 14 days of PTO.

3. To calculate the PTO, the monthly salary is divided by 30, and the result is then multiplied by 14.