Notice Period for Terminations by Country

Updated 2 months ago

With terminations, the notice period is the amount of notice an Employer needs to give an employee before terminating their contract.

There are several dependencies that determine how much notice an Employer needs to give an employee before terminating their contract, such as:

The required notice period in the employee’s country of residence
Type of contract
Employee’s duration of service
If the employee is still within their probation period
The payroll cutoff. The proposed termination date depends on the payroll cutoff for that country. This cutoff date puts a restriction on the employee's termination date as this gives us adequate time to process the employee's termination. When filling out the termination request, we show you the next available termination date.

Each termination is unique and our offboarding team reviews each termination request thoroughly before advising on the next steps. The notice period outlined below is a guide and applies to permanent contracts. It’s advisable to get confirmation from our team first before informing an employee about their termination.

Country	Notice Period (Employer)
EUROPE
Albania	• Employment up to 6 months: 2 weeks • Employment with 6 months - 2 years: 1 month • Employment with 2 - 5 years: 2 months • Employment with > 5 years: 3 months
Austria	• Employment < 2 years: 6 weeks • Employment with 2 - 5 years: 2 months • Employment with 5 - 15years: 3 months • Employment with 15 - 25 years: 4 months • Employment with > 25 years: 5 months
Belarus	Depends on the reason for termination. Minimum: 1/2 month Maximum: 3 months
Belgium	• Employment < 3 months: 2 weeks • Employment 3 – 6 months: 4 weeks • Employment 6 – 9 months: 6 weeks • Employment 9 – 12 months: 7 weeks • Employment 12 – 15 months: 8 weeks • Employment 15 – 18 months: 9 weeks • Employment 18 – 21 months:: 10 weeks • Employment 21 – 24 months: 11 weeks • Employment 24 – 36 months:12 weeks • Employment 35 – 48 months: 13 weeks • Employment 48 – 60 months: 15 weeks • Employment 5 – 19 years: 15 weeks plus 3 weeks for every year exceeding 5 years • Employment with 20 – 21 years: 60 weeks plus 2 weeks for every year of employment • Above 21 years of employment: 62 weeks plus 1 week for every year of employment
Bosnia and Herzegovina	7 - 15 days
Bulgaria	30 days - 3 months
Croatia	• Employment with 1 year: 2 weeks • Employment with 2 years: 6 weeks • Employment with 5 years: 8 weeks • Employment with 10 years: 10 weeks • Employment with > 20 years: 12 weeks
Cyprus	• Employment with less than 26 weeks: 0 week • Employment with 26 – 52 weeks: 1 week • Employment with 52 – 104 weeks: 2 weeks • Employment with 104 – 155 weeks: 4 weeks • Employment with 156 – 208 weeks: 5 weeks • Employment with 208 – 259 weeks: 6 weeks • Employment with 260 – 311 weeks: 7 weeks • Employment with > 312 weeks: 8 weeks
Czech Republic	2 months
Denmark	• Employment < 6 months: 1 month • Employment 6 months - 3 years: 3 months • Employment with 3 – 6 years: 4 months • Employment with 6 – 9 years: 5 months • Employment with > 9 years: 6 months
Estonia	• During probation: 15 days • Employment < 1 year: 15 days • Employment with 1 – 5 years: 30 days • Employment with 5 – 10 years: 60 days • Employment with > 10 years: 90 days
Finland	• Employment < 1 year: 14 days • Employment with 1 – 4 years: 1 month • Employment with 4 – 8 years: 2 months • Employment with 8 – 12 years: 4 months • Employment with > 12 years: 6 months
France	During Probationary Period • 1 to 7 days : 24h • 8 days to less than 1 month : 48h • 1 month to less than 3 months : 2 weeks • 3 months and more : 1 month After Probationary Period • 3 months
Germany	• 0-6 months (Probationary Period): 2 weeks to any day (not restricted to the 15th or end of the month) • 7+ months but less than 2 years: 4 weeks effective to the 15th or to the end of a calendar month • Employment with 2 years: 1 month effective to the end of a calendar month • Employment with 5 years: 2 months effective to the end of a calendar month • Employment with 8 years: 3 months effective to the end of a calendar month • Employment with 10 years: 4 months effective to the end of a calendar month • Employment with 12 years: 5 months effective to the end of a calendar month • Employment with 15 years: 6 months effective to the end of a calendar month • Employment with 20 years: 7 month effective to the end of a calendar month
Georgia	30 days
Greece	• Employment with 12 months - 2 years: 1 month • Employment with 2 – 5 years: 2 months • Employment with 5 – 10 years: 3 months • Employment with > 10 years: 4 months
Hungary	15 days
Iceland	3 - 6 months depending on the length of service
Ireland	• Employment with 13 weeks - 2 years: 1 week • Employment with 2 – 5 years: 2 weeks • Employment with 5 – 10 years: 4 weeks • Employment with 10 – 15 years: 6 weeks • Employment with > 15 years: 8 weeks
Italy	The notice period depends on what Level the employee has been classified under. The notice period count can only start from the 1st or the 16th of each month. • Quadro: 60 days (under 5 years)\| 90 days (5-10 years) \| 120 days (10+years) • Level 1: 60 days (under 5 years)\| 90 days (5-10 years) \| 120 days (10+years) • Level 2: 30 days (under 5 years)\| 45 days (5-10 years) \| 60 days (10+years) • Level 3: 30 days (under 5 years)\| 45 days (5-10 years) \| 60 days (10+years) • Level 4: 20 days (under 5 years)\| 30 days (5-10 years) \| 45 days (10+years) • Level 5: 20 days (under 5 years)\| 30 days (5-10 years) \| 45 days (10+years) • Level 6: 15 days (under 5 years)\| 20 days (5-10 years) \| 20 days (10+years) • Level 7: 15 days (under 5 years)\| 20 days (5-10 years) \| 20 days (10+years)
Latvia	Depends on the reason for termination. Breach of the contract or law, or loss of trust: 0-10 days
Lithuania	• Employment with < 1 year: 2 weeks • Employment with > 1 year: 1 month • Less than 5 years to retirement age: 2 months • Employees who raise a child under 14 years old or disabled child under 18 years old, disabled Employees, Employees due to retire in two years or less: 3 months
Luxembourg	• Employment with < 5 years: 2 months • Employment with 5 – 10 years: 4 months • Employment with > 10 years: 6 months
Malta	During probation period, an employee may be dismissed with one weeks’ notice if they have completed at least 1 month of employment. • Employment with 1-6 months: 1 week • Employment with 6 months – 2 years: 2 weeks • Employment with 2 – 4 years: 4 weeks • Employment with 4 – 7 years: 8 weeks • Employment with > 7 years: 8 weeks, plus 1 week for each additional year
Netherlands	• Employment with < 5 years: 1 month • Employment with 5 - 10 years: 2 months • Employment with 10 – 15 years: 3 months • Employment with > 15 years: 4 months
Norway	1 months notice period must be provided for all employees regardless of their tenure. • During probationary period: 14 days • Employment with > 5 years: 3 months: 2 months • Employment with > 10 years: 3 months • Employee over age of 50: 4 months • Employee over the age of 55: 5 months • Employee over the age of 60: 5 months
North Macedonia	1 - 3 months
Poland	• Employment up to 6 months: 2 weeks • Employment with 6 months – 3 years: 1 month • Employment with > 3 years: 3 months
Portugal	• Employment with < 1 year: 15 days • Employment with 1 year – 5 years: 30 days (if contract is within 1 - 2 years) or 60 days (if contract is 2 Years or more) • Employment with 5 year – 10 years: 60 days • Employment with > 10 years: 75 days
Romania	20 days
Serbia	Termination due to lack of knowledge and skills: 8 - 30 days
Slovakia	• Employment with < 1 year: 1 month • Employment with 1 – 5 years: 2 months • Employment with > 5 years: 3 months
Slovenia	• Employment with < 1 year: 15 days • Employment with 1 – 2 years: 30 days • Employment with > 2 years: 30 days at the 2 year mark plus an additonal two days for each completed year of service. Shall not exceed 60 days. • Employment with > 25 years: 80 days
Spain	Depends on the reason for dismissal and the collective bargaining agreement. For objective dismissals due to observed ineptitude, inability to adapt to technological changes or economic, technical or organization grounds, the company has to provide 15 days prior notice.
Sweden	Depend on the specifics of the employment contract. • Minimum 1-month notice period and the employee is entitled to minimum: • Employment 2 – 4 years: 2 months • Employment 4 – 6 years: 3 months • Employment 6 – 8 years: 4 months • Employment 8 – 10 years: 5 months • Employment more than 10 years: 6 months
Switzerland	While Switzerland has at-will employment, notice periods are common in employment contracts. Notice periods generally range from one to three months depending on seniority, tenure, and industry.
Turkey	• Employment 0 – 6 months: 2 weeks • Employment 6 – 18 months: 4 weeks • Employment 18 – 36 months: 6 weeks • Employment 36+ months: 8 weeks
United Kingdom	• Employment up to 4 years: 1 month • Employment with 5 – 11 years: 1 week per employment year • Employment with > 12 years: 3 months
Ukraine	• Organizational or economic reasons (bankruptcy, liquidation,...): 2 months • Unsatisfactory probatory performance: 3 days Other Reasons: • Employment up to 4 years: 1 month • Employment with 5 – 11 months: 1 week per each employment year • Employment with > 12 years: 3 months

NORTH AMERICA
Canada	Employees are usually entitled to notice (or pay in lieu of notice) when being terminated. Notice periods vary based on age, experience, tenure, and availability of other work options. See: What is the notice period for terminations in Canada?
Mexico	There is no officially stipulated notice period.
United States	There is no officially stipulated notice period.

LATIN AMERICA
Argentina	• During the probationary period: 15 days • Employment with < 5 years: 1 month • Employment with > 5 years: 2 months
Bolivia	There is no officially stipulated notice period.
Brazil	• Employment with < 1 year: 30 days • Employment with > 1 year: Increase 3 days per year, up to a maximum of 90 days
Chile	30 days
Colombia	• Termination with Just Cause: 0 • Termination Fixed-term expiration: 30 days • Permanent Employment with poor performance dismissal: 15 days
Costa Rica	• Employment with < 3 months: 0 • Employment with 3 – 6 months: 1 week • Employment with 6 – 12 months: 15 days • Employment with > 1 year: 1 month
Dominican Republic	• Employment with 3 – 6 months: 7 days • Employment with 6 – 12 months: 14 days • Employment > 1 year: 28 days
Ecuador	There is no officially stipulated notice period
Honduras	Termination with just cause: 0 Termination without cause: Employees with less than 2 months of employment (during Notice period) – not applicable; 2 - 3 months: 24-hour notice 3 - 6 months: 1 week 6 months - 1 year: 2 weeks 1 - 2 years: 1 month More than 2 years: 2 months
Panama	Termination with just cause: 0 Termination without cause: 30 days
Paraguay	1 day
Peru	Termination with Just Cause: 0 Termination Without Cause: 30 days
Puerto Rico	There is no officially stipulated notice period
Uruguay	There is no officially stipulated notice period

AFRICA
Egypt	For indefinite employment: • Employment with up to 10 years: 2 months • Employment with more than 10 years: 3 months
Kenya	At least 28 days of notice, or payment can be made in lieu of notice.
Morocco	For executive staff: • Employment with < 1 year: 1 month • Employment with 1 – 5 years: 2 months • Employment with > 5 years: 3 months Non-executive staff: • Employment with < 1 year: 8 days • Employment with 1 – 5 years: 1 month • Employment with > 5 years: 2 months
Nigeria
South Africa	• Employment with < 6 months: 1 week • Employment with 6 months - 1 year: 2 weeks • Employment > 1 year: 4 weeks
Tunisia	• Employment with 3 months: 1 day • Employment with 3 months - 2 years: 1 week • Employment with 2-5 years: 2 weeks • Employment with more than 5 years: 1 month
Uganda	• Employment with 6 months - 1 year: 2 weeks • Employment with 1 year - 5 years: 1 month • Employment with 5 years - 10 years: 2 months • Employment with more than 10 years: 3 months

ASIA PACIFIC
Australia	• Employment with < 1 year: 1 week • Employment with 1-3 years: 2 weeks • Employment with 3-5 years: 3 weeks • Employment with > 5 years: 4 weeks Employees over the age of 45 who have been employed for at least two years are entitled to an additional week’s notice.
Bangladesh	Depends on the reason for dismissal
China	• Within probation period: 3 days • Post probation period: 30 days
Hong Kong	During Probation period: • Employment with < 1 month: 0 • Employment with > 1 month (Contract makes provision of notice): Notice is as per agreement • Employment with > 1 month (Contract doesn't makes provision of notice): Not less than 7 days After Probation Period: • Contract makes provision: Notice period is as per agreement, not less than 7 days • Contract does not make provision: Notice period not less than 1 month
India	15 days to 3 months
Indonesia	There is no notice stipulated notice period but employers are generally expected to provide 30-days advance notice.
Japan	Employer‑initiated termination: 30 days (statutory minimum). Employee resignation: 2 weeks (statutory minimum).
Malaysia	The length of notice is the same for both employer and employee and shall not be less than: four weeks if the employee has been employed for less than two years; six weeks if the employee has been employed for two years or more but less than five years; eight weeks if the employee has been employed for five years.
Mongolia	Depends on the nature of the termination but in general, a minimum of 30 days notice is required.
New Zealand	Employers must give an appropriate amount of notice as listed in the employment agreement. Depending on the nature of the role, 4 weeks' notice is often considered fair.
Pakistan	Workers may be terminated on notice, or without notice for misconduct.
The Philippines	1 month
Singapore	• Employment with < 26 weeks: 1 day • Employment with 26 weeks - 2 years: 1 week • Employment with 2 years - 5 years: 2 weeks • Employment > 5 years: 4 weeks
South Korea	30 days
Sri Lanka	Contract makes provision
Taiwan	• Employment with 3 months - 1 year: 10 days • Employment with 1 - 3 years: 20 days • Employment with > 3 years: 30 days
Vietnam	• Indefinite contract: at least 45 days • Definite contract: at least 30 days

MIDDLE EAST
Armenia	• During Probationary period: 3 days • Termination Mutual Agreement: 7 days • Termination due to change in the essential terms of the employment: 14-60 days of notice, depending on tenure. • Termination Fixed-term end: 10 days
Israel	• Employment with < 6 months: 1 day per each month • Employment with 6 months - 1 year: 2.5 days per each month (In addition to the six days accumulated) • Employment > 1 year: 30 days
United Arab Emirates	• During Probationary period: 14 days • Maximum notice period: 90 days • Termination Fixed-term end (minimum): 30 days

Disclaimer:

Please be advised that the information provided is for general guidance only and should not be considered legal advice. Clients are strongly encouraged to first contact the Offboarding Team for expert guidance and assistance in navigating the intricate landscape of termination requirements before speaking to the employee. Consulting with our offboarding team is imperative to ensure compliance with local employment standards legislation and clearly understand the stipulated termination payout requirements. Your proactive engagement with our Offboarding Team is vital to making informed decisions and adhering to all relevant regulations.

Notice Period for Terminations by Country

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