Vacation pay · Nunavut
Nunavut vacation pay.
How much vacation pay you are owed in Nunavut, and how many weeks of vacation time your years of service entitle you to.
Nunavut gives two weeks of vacation with 4% vacation pay for the first five years of employment, rising to three weeks and 6% for the years after that.
Years count toward the threshold whether or not they are continuous, within a ten-year period. Vacation pay accrues from the start even though vacation time requires a completed year.
Inputs
Your vacation entitlement
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How Nunavut vacation entitlement steps up
| Length of service | Vacation time | Vacation pay |
|---|---|---|
| From the first year up to 5 years | 2 weeks | 4% |
| 5 years and over | 3 weeks | 6% |
Section 16(1)(b) applies the three-week entitlement to the years following the first five, and says expressly that it applies whether or not that period of employment is made up of continuous years or of years accumulated within the past ten. Vacation must begin no later than ten months after the year it was earned for, and vacation pay is paid at least one day before it starts. All employees are entitled to vacation pay however long they have been employed, even though vacation time requires a completed year.
Source, last verified 2 September 2026: Nunavut Labour Standards Act (official consolidation).
Frequently asked questions
How much vacation pay does Nunavut require?
4% of wages for a year in which you are entitled to a two-week vacation, and 6% for a year in which you are entitled to three weeks.
The two-week entitlement covers the first five years of employment and the three-week entitlement the years after that.
When do I get three weeks of vacation in Nunavut?
For the years of employment following the first five, under section 16(1)(b) of the Labour Standards Act.
The Act says expressly that this applies whether or not the period of employment is made up of continuous years, or of years accumulated within the past ten.
Do I get vacation pay in my first year in Nunavut?
Yes. The Government of Nunavut states that all employees are entitled to be paid vacation pay no matter how long they have been employed.
Vacation time is different: that requires a completed year of employment. On termination before completing a year, section 19 requires 4% of wages for the completed portion, or 6% if you were entitled to three weeks.
When must Nunavut vacation be taken?
Vacation must begin no later than ten months following the completion of the year of employment it was earned for, under section 17(a).
Vacation pay must be paid at least one day before the vacation begins, and it is deemed to be wages for all purposes.
Estimate only — not legal advice
This calculator produces an estimate from the published employment-standards minimums. It is not legal advice and it is not a determination of what you are owed. Vacation entitlement in Nunavut is set by the Nunavut Labour Standards Office.
Collective agreements, employment contracts, exemptions for your occupation, averaging agreements and permits can all change the answer. For a binding answer, contact the employment-standards office named above or a lawyer.