Can a public official be absent on the day of a non-public holiday?

Verified 23 January 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

If the requirements of the normal functioning of the public service so permit, public officials may be granted leave to participate in religious festivals, corresponding to their denomination, other than legal religious festivals.

Administrations may grant absence permissions public officials to participate in religious festivals other than legal religious festivals.

These absence authorizations may be granted if the requirements of the normal functioning of the public service so permit.

For members of the Armenian, Buddhist, Jewish, Muslim or Orthodox denominations, leave of absence may be granted for the following religious holidays:

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Armenian holidays

  • Feast of Nativity
  • Feast of Saints Vartanants
  • Commemoration of April 24

Buddhist Festival

Vesak Festival (Buddha Day).

The date of this holiday being fixed to the nearest day, the absence authorizations can be granted with an offset more or less.

Jewish holidays

  • Shavuot (Pentecost)
  • Roch Hachana (New Year's Day: 2 days)
  • Yom Kippur (Great forgiveness).

The parties start the night before.

Muslim holidays

  • Eid El Adha
  • Al Mawlid Ennabi
  • Eid El Fitr.

Since the dates of these holidays are fixed to the nearest day, the absence authorizations can be granted with a delay of one day more or less. These parties start the night before.

Orthodox holidays

  • Theophany according to the Gregorian calendar or according to the Julian calendar
  • Great Good Friday
  • Ascent