Leave
Find out about your annual leave entitlement and some of the other types of leave that may be available to you.
Time off work
In the Armed Forces all full-time Service Personnel are eligible for 38 days off work each year and we offer some further flexibility if you need additional leave to support Service and personal life.
- No eligibility information available
Annual Leave
Take time away from duty with annual leave
- No eligibility information available
Call Forward of Leave
Bring forward up to 10 days of your Leave Allowance from the next leave year.
- No eligibility information available
Enhanced Leave
Take an extended block of 50 days' leave in one continuous period in lieu of 30 days of your Annual Leave Allowance.
- No eligibility information available
Transfer of Leave
Transfer up to 10 days of leave from your personal allowance during a leave year to your spouse, civil partner, long-term partner, or to a Service person who you have shared parental responsibility with (to assist with the care of your child), if they are also in the Armed Forces.
Parenthood
We understand that introducing a new member to the family is a life changing commitment and we provide a range of leave schemes to help you take time off work to support your parental responsibilities.
- No eligibility information available
Armed Forces Occupational Maternity Scheme
As a member of the Armed Forces you are entitled to 52 weeks maternity leave and may be eligible for 39 weeks statutory maternity pay - this applies to servicewomen giving birth, and those adopting or entering a surrogacy arrangement.
- No eligibility information available
Paternity Leave
You can take up to two weeks of paid time off following the birth or adoption of a child - in line with the statutory paternity leave provision.
- No eligibility information available
Shared Parental Leave
You can share maternity leave with your partner following the birth or adoption of a child - this is available to servicewomen giving birth, and those adopting or entering a surrogacy arrangement.
- No eligibility information available
Adoption Leave Scheme
If you adopt a child and are the primary adopter, you get 52 weeks adoption leave and may be eligible for 39 weeks statutory pay.
- No eligibility information available
Parental Leave
Allows 18 weeks of unpaid leave for each parent of each child and adopted child, up to the child’s 18th birthday.
Other types of leave
Sometimes personal circumstances arise where we need to take some time off work to focus on what's most important.
- No eligibility information available
Special Paid Leave
Get paid time off to cover circumstances not covered by other types of leave available.
- No eligibility information available
Compassionate Leave
If there’s a crisis at home, you can get time off without using your Annual Leave – this includes one working week of fully paid Carer’s Leave, available in each leave year for situations where normal caring arrangements fail, or the need arises to undertake further caring duties that impact on usual working hours.
- No eligibility information available
Special Unpaid Leave
You may be able to take up to 93 days off at any one time when you are faced with circumstances that don’t meet Special Paid or Compassionate Leave criteria.
The Armed Forces also offers time off work to support specific career and life events.
- No eligibility information available
Relocation Leave
Extra leave to help you and your family settle in to a new location - this is routinely five days for in-theatre moves and 10 days for inter-theatre moves.
- No eligibility information available
Domiciled Collective Leave and Domiciled Collective Leave Substitute
If you were permanently resident in a country other than the UK or Ireland immediately before you joined the Armed Forces, Domiciled Collective Leave (DOMCOL) and Domiciled Collective Leave Substitute allow you to visit that country for an extended period of leave.
- No eligibility information available
Rest and Recuperation Leave and Post Operational Leave
If you've been on continuous operational service for four months or more, you could be eligible for time off to recover and, on return from the operation, reconnect with family and friends.
- No eligibility information available
Seagoers Leave
Seagoer’s Leave compensates you for the separation from family and friends when you are serving in a seagoing unit.
- No eligibility information available
Career Intermission
Take unpaid time out of your Service career for reasons such as personal or professional growth
- No eligibility information available
Terminal Leave
Get paid time off to help you resettle when you complete your service