Saved Annual Leave in Finland: What Changes in 2027

On 7 October 2026, the Finnish Parliament approved changes to the rules governing saved annual leave (säästövapaa). According to Government Proposal HE 118/2026, the changes are due to enter into force on 1 January 2027. They will remove an employee’s right to determine the timing of saved leave unilaterally when no agreement with the employer can be reached. The employer will be able to refuse the requested dates under certain conditions laid down by law.

The changes concern saved annual leave specifically, not the right to paid annual leave in general. Employees who plan to use saved days to take a longer break should discuss the dates with their employer well in advance.

What is säästövapaa (saved annual leave)?

Säästövapaa is a portion of annual leave that an employee saves to use at a later date. For example, saved days can be used during the next holiday season or later to take a longer period of leave.

What will change?

The employee and employer must still seek to agree on when the saved leave will be taken.

If they cannot reach an agreement:

• The employee must request the leave no later than four months before the intended start date.
• The employer must provide a reasoned response within one month of receiving the request and state the reason if they refuse to grant the leave on the requested dates.
• The employer may refuse if the leave would disrupt the company’s operations or service provision in a way that cannot be resolved through normal work arrangements, or if it would prevent annual leave and saved leave from being distributed evenly.

This means that giving four months’ notice will no longer, by itself, guarantee that an employee can take saved leave on the dates requested.

What happens to days already saved?

Transitional rules will apply to leave saved before the changes take effect:

• If the employee and employer explicitly agreed on the dates before the changes enter into force, the previous rules will apply to that leave.
• If the dates have not been agreed, previously saved leave may be taken under the previous rules, provided the employee gives four months’ notice. However, the leave must end no later than 31 October 2027.

What does this mean for employees?

The changes do not remove the right to annual leave or the possibility of saving part of it for later. They change how the dates for saved leave are determined, giving employers more scope to take business needs into account and distribute leave more evenly among employees.

If you are planning a longer break using saved leave, it is advisable to agree on the dates with your employer well in advance. A written agreement can help document the agreed dates.