Holiday & Christmas Allowance Calculator 2026
Portugal pays 14 salaries a year : 12 monthly wages plus a holiday allowance and a Christmas allowance , each worth one month of base salary. By agreement, they can be paid in monthly twelfths (50% or 100%) instead of in full. The annual total and the net are the same either way — only the timing changes . Compare the three options in the calculator.
The three payment options
14 payments (traditional) — holiday allowance before your holidays; Christmas allowance by 15 December.50% twelfths — half of each allowance monthly; the other half on the normal dates.100% twelfths — everything monthly: +1/6 of salary in each month, no extra payments in summer or December.
Moving to Portugal? See our relocation tax guide and the net salary simulator .
Frequently asked questions
What are the holiday and Christmas allowances?
Two extra salary payments, each worth one month of base pay — the Portuguese "14 salaries" system.
What are twelfths?
Monthly instalments of the allowances (50% or 100% of each), by agreement with the employer.
Do twelfths change the annual total?
No — always 14 gross salaries; the annual net is identical.
Can I demand twelfths?
No, they require an agreement, unless the collective agreement says otherwise.
First year of a contract?
Both allowances are proportional to time worked.
Holiday & Christmas Allowance Calculator 2026
Portugal pays 14 salaries a year : 12 monthly wages plus a holiday allowance and a Christmas allowance , each worth one month of base salary. By agreement, they can be paid in monthly twelfths (50% or 100%) instead of in full. The annual total and the net are the same either way — only the timing changes . Compare the three options in the calculator.
The three payment options
14 payments (traditional) — holiday allowance before your holidays; Christmas allowance by 15 December.50% twelfths — half of each allowance monthly; the other half on the normal dates.100% twelfths — everything monthly: +1/6 of salary in each month, no extra payments in summer or December.
Moving to Portugal? See our relocation tax guide and the net salary simulator .
Frequently asked questions
What are the holiday and Christmas allowances?
Two extra salary payments, each worth one month of base pay — the Portuguese "14 salaries" system.
What are twelfths?
Monthly instalments of the allowances (50% or 100% of each), by agreement with the employer.
Do twelfths change the annual total?
No — always 14 gross salaries; the annual net is identical.
Can I demand twelfths?
No, they require an agreement, unless the collective agreement says otherwise.
First year of a contract?
Both allowances are proportional to time worked.
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HVR Business Consulting — Avenida da Boa Esperança, Loja 4A, 1990-043 Lisboa, Portugal
+351 965 463 618 · info@hvr.pt
Certified Accountant Hugo Velez Ribeiro · OCC no. 64356
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