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Bildungsurlaub in Spain

Choose the German federal state you work in: we show you what applies there for your Bildungsurlaub (paid educational leave) and which Spanish courses in Spain qualify.
Everything about applying and deadlines →

Where do you want to study?
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Our Bildungsurlaub courses

Choose your federal state above – then you can see whether a course is approved where you work.

Your preferred course is not listed? We can have the approval checked for your federal state.

Ask us

How Bildungsurlaub works

Bildungsurlaub is paid leave for further education under German law, called Bildungszeit in some federal states – usually five working days a year. A Spanish course in Spain can count as well: your employer keeps paying your salary, and you pay for the course and the trip yourself.

Important: the course has to be approved in the federal state where you work. Every course above shows where an approval exists. If your federal state is missing, we ask the school.

How to apply for your Bildungsurlaub

  1. Find out your federal state: Where you work decides, so choose your federal state above.
  2. Choose a course and dates: Depending on the federal state, you apply to your employer 4 to 12 weeks before the course starts.
  3. Get the documents: We get the approval notice and the course programme from the school.
  4. Submit your application: Hand it in to your employer in writing, with the documents.
  5. Pay the reservation fee: You only pay once the school has confirmed your place. Get your employer’s approval first.
  6. Take part: Attend all course days and hand in the attendance certificate afterwards.

Good to know

  • Your place of work decides, not where you live.
  • An approval from another federal state is usually not enough. Your employer can still release you voluntarily – but you have no entitlement to it.
  • The course needs enough teaching per day, usually at least 6 lessons. A standard course with 20 lessons a week is usually not enough.
  • You attend all course days. Only the teaching counts: excursions and leisure activities are not part of Bildungsurlaub.
  • In some federal states a language course needs a link to your job, in others it does not – above you can see it for your federal state.

We help you

  • We check with the school whether an approval exists for your federal state or can be applied for.
  • We send you the approval notice, the course programme and the booking confirmation.
  • We answer questions from you and from your HR department – in English or German.
  • You only pay once the school has confirmed your place. Get your employer’s approval first.

The decision on the approval is made by the responsible state authority, and the decision on the leave by your employer. We cannot guarantee either.

Questions and answers

Who is entitled to Bildungsurlaub?

Employees in all federal states except Bavaria; in Saxony the law only applies from 2027. Usually you must have worked for the same employer for six months.

How many days do I get?

Usually 5 working days a year, in some federal states 10 working days in two years. You can see the rule for your federal state above.

Does my place of residence or my place of work count?

Your place of work. If you live in Hamburg and work in Schleswig-Holstein, the law of Schleswig-Holstein applies.

Does Bildungsurlaub work for a course in Spain?

Yes, if the course is approved in your federal state. North Rhine-Westphalia (Nordrhein-Westfalen) excludes courses more than 500 km away.

The course is only approved in another federal state. What now?

That approval is usually not enough. Ask us, and we clarify an approval for your federal state with the school. Your employer can also release you voluntarily, but you have no entitlement to it.

When and how do I apply for Bildungsurlaub?

In writing to your employer, 4 to 12 weeks before the course starts depending on the federal state, with the approval notice and the course programme. After the course you hand in the attendance certificate you receive from the school to your employer.

Who pays for what, and can I claim it against tax?

Your employer keeps paying your salary; you pay for the course, accommodation and travel. If the course is job-related, you may be able to claim the costs against tax – it is best to ask your tax office or a tax adviser.

Learning Spanish with Bildungsurlaub?

Tell us which federal state you work in and when you would like to go. We check the approval and send you suitable courses.

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