Public holidays

Chile observes between 15 and 16 public holidays annually, comprising religious, civil, and mandatory observances. These include New Year's Day, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Labor Day, Navy Day, Army Day, Saint Peter and Saint Paul's Day, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Assumption Day, Meeting of Two Worlds Day, National Day of Indigenous Peoples, National Holiday, Independence Day, Reformation Day, All Saints' Day, Immaculate Conception, and Christmas Day. The exact number varies year to year depending on how certain moveable religious holidays align with weekends and bridging provisions.

Public holidays in Chile are governed by the Labor Code (Código del Trabajo) and supplementary legislation administered by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security. The official calendar of legal holidays is maintained and published annually by the Chilean government to ensure consistency across all regions and sectors.

Recent statutory changes have expanded the calendar to reflect greater cultural diversity. The National Day of Indigenous Peoples was formally recognized as a public holiday in 2021, reflecting Chile's commitment to indigenous representation. Additionally, the Reformation Day (October 31) was added to the official holiday calendar in recent years to acknowledge religious pluralism.

Employers must grant all employees paid time off on declared public holidays unless the business operates in an essential service sector with specific exemptions. When a public holiday falls on a weekend, compensation rules vary—some holidays trigger a replacement day off during the following week, while others do not. Payroll teams should consult the annual official calendar published by the Ministry of Labor to confirm exact dates and any bridging day entitlements for the relevant fiscal year.