🇸🇬 Singapore Public Holidays 2025

How Many Public Holidays Does Singapore Have in 2025?

Singapore observes 11 gazetted public holidays in 2025, as defined by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) under the Employment Act. These holidays span Singapore's four major communities — Chinese, Malay, Indian, and the broader national and Christian calendar — reflecting the country's multicultural identity. Employees covered by the Employment Act are entitled to these days off on full pay. Where a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is typically observed as a substitute holiday.

The 11 holidays cover key religious observances and national milestones: New Year's Day, Chinese New Year (two days), Hari Raya Puasa, Good Friday, Labour Day, Vesak Day, Hari Raya Haji, National Day, Deepavali, and Christmas Day. Planning around these dates — especially the ones that create long weekends — is a popular strategy for Singaporeans looking to maximise their annual leave entitlements.

Long Weekends in Singapore 2025

Four of Singapore's 2025 public holidays create genuine long weekends — three-day breaks that give residents an opportunity to recharge or travel without spending annual leave. Here is a quick breakdown of each opportunity:

Good Friday, 18 April 2025 (Friday): The public holiday lands on a Friday, pairing naturally with the weekend to create a three-day break from Friday to Sunday. This is a popular window for short trips to Batam, Penang, or Bangkok.

Vesak Day, 12 May 2025 (Monday): Vesak falls on a Monday, extending the standard weekend into a Sat–Mon three-day break. Budget-friendly regional destinations like Bintan or Johor Bahru are easy options that do not require burning additional leave.

Hari Raya Haji, 6 June 2025 (Friday): Another Friday holiday means another automatic three-day weekend. Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi, and Bali are perennial favourites for this window. Book flights at least six to eight weeks in advance, as seats fill quickly.

National Day, 9 August 2025 (Saturday → Monday substitute): National Day itself falls on a Saturday, so Monday 11 August is gazetted as the substitute holiday. This extends the weekend to Sat–Mon. Many Singaporeans choose to stay home and enjoy the NDP celebrations, fireworks, and community events rather than travel.

Tips for Planning Your Leave

Knowing the public holiday calendar well in advance allows employees to time their leave applications strategically. Here are practical tips for getting the most out of Singapore's 2025 holiday calendar:

Bridge days: Some holidays fall mid-week. Chinese New Year 2025 is on a Wednesday and Thursday (29–30 Jan). Taking Friday 31 January as annual leave turns this into a five-day break — a popular move every CNY cycle.

Labour Day bridge: Labour Day on Thursday 1 May can be extended with a single day of leave on Friday 2 May to create a four-day weekend. Combine this with the Vesak Day on Monday 12 May by spreading leave across the gap weeks for a productive holiday planning strategy.

Christmas break: Christmas falls on Thursday 25 December. Taking Friday 26 December as leave gives you a four-day weekend, perfect for a year-end holiday before offices reopen in January.

Early applications: HR departments experience high demand for leave during long weekend periods. Submit applications at least four to six weeks in advance, especially around Chinese New Year and the June holiday window.

Track school holidays: If you have school-age children, coordinating public holidays with the MOE school holiday calendar helps maximise family travel time. Singapore school holidays in 2025 align partially with CNY, June school holidays (mid-May to end June), and the year-end November–December break.

Substitute Holiday Rule

Under Singapore's Employment Act, when a gazetted public holiday falls on a rest day (Sunday for most workers, or the employee's scheduled rest day), the next working day becomes the substitute public holiday. In 2025, this rule is triggered for National Day on 9 August (Saturday): since Saturday is a non-working day for the standard five-day work week, Monday, 11 August 2025 is observed as the substitute holiday.

Employers are legally required to grant the substitute holiday. Employees who are required to work on either the original holiday or the substitute day are entitled to additional compensation as stipulated in the Employment Act — typically an extra day's pay or a replacement day off in lieu. Always check with your HR department or refer to the MOM website for the most current guidelines on your specific employment contract.

For workers on shift schedules or non-standard rest days, the substitute holiday calculations may differ. The Employment Act specifies that the substitute day should be the next working day following the holiday that fell on the rest day. Part-time and contract workers should verify their entitlements directly with their employer or the MOM Employment Standards helpline.

中文简介 — 2025年新加坡公共假期