Navigating European School Holiday Laws Understanding Fines and Potential Penalties

Post originally Published April 23, 2024 || Last Updated April 23, 2024

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The policies around school holiday absences vary significantly across Europe. While some countries have strict attendance requirements, others are more lenient. Many European schools maintain detailed records of student absences, flagging unauthorized ones for further processing. However, medical absences are often treated as exceptions, with a doctor's note required. Schools also provide information to parents on their attendance policies and development goals through school guides and plans.

European school holiday calendars vary significantly across countries, with some having longer summer breaks compared to others.

Unauthorized absences are closely tracked by European schools, with detailed daily registers kept on student attendance records.

Medical absences are typically an exception, requiring a doctor's note to be considered an excused absence.

Fines and penalties for school absences can differ greatly between European countries, highlighting the divergent policies across the region.

A study found that various stakeholders, such as schools and parents, perceive and describe school non-attendance differently, complicating the issue of addressing absences.

The timing and duration of school holidays in Europe also varies considerably, with some countries having longer mid-term breaks compared to others.

What else is in this post?

  1. Navigating European School Holiday Laws Understanding Fines and Potential Penalties - Understanding the Divergent European Policies on School Holiday Absences
  2. Navigating European School Holiday Laws Understanding Fines and Potential Penalties - Navigating Fines and Penalties Across EU Countries for Term Time Vacations
  3. Navigating European School Holiday Laws Understanding Fines and Potential Penalties - UK's Strict Stance: Potential Imprisonment for Unauthorized School Absences
  4. Navigating European School Holiday Laws Understanding Fines and Potential Penalties - Spain and France's Monetary Penalties for Violating School Holiday Regulations
  5. Navigating European School Holiday Laws Understanding Fines and Potential Penalties - Germany's Mandatory School Attendance: Fines for Unexcused Absences
  6. Navigating European School Holiday Laws Understanding Fines and Potential Penalties - Staying Informed: Ongoing Debates and Changes to School Holiday Laws


Navigating the varying fines and penalties across the EU for taking children out of school during term time can be a complex and confusing process for families. While some countries like Sweden and Italy have more lenient policies, others like France and the UK impose strict fines that can be quite costly for parents. It's crucial for travelers to research the specific regulations in each EU destination before planning any term-time vacations to avoid unexpected penalties.

In Italy, fines for taking children out of school during term time can range from €42 for going 10km per hour over the speed limit to a staggering €21,714 for going between 40-60km per hour over the limit.

Some EU countries, like Germany and the Netherlands, impose fines or require additional homework or extra classes as penalties for term-time vacations, while others, such as Sweden and Italy, have no such laws.

France has strict regulations, allowing parents to be fined up to €1,500 for taking their children out of school during term-time without authorization.

In the UK, parents can face fines of up to £120 per child for each unauthorized absence from school during term-time.

The European Union has not established uniform legislation regarding term-time vacations and fines, leaving each country to set its own laws and regulations.

Some EU countries, such as France and the UK, impose fines as the primary penalty for term-time vacations, while others may require additional academic measures like extra homework or classes.

The European Union has published guidelines on calculating administrative fines under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which can reach up to €20 million or 4% of a company's global annual turnover for data breaches.


Navigating European School Holiday Laws Understanding Fines and Potential Penalties

The UK government has introduced stricter measures to address unauthorized school absences, including increased fines and potential imprisonment for repeat offenses. These new rules aim to promote regular school attendance and tackle inconsistencies in how fines are issued across different institutions.

The UK government has recently introduced a national framework for school attendance, aiming to tackle inconsistencies in the way fines are issued for unauthorized absences across different institutions.

Under the new rules, the minimum fine for parents taking their children out of school without permission will increase from £60 to £80 per parent if paid within 21 days, or £160 if paid within 28 days.

Repeated fines for the same child within a three-year period can now lead to potential imprisonment for parents, as the government seeks to promote regular school attendance.

The school absence rate in England is around 6%, with records showing that over 350,000 parents have been fined for taking their children on unauthorized term-time holidays.

Some local councils have reported no penalties for unauthorized absence, while others have issued thousands of fines, highlighting the inconsistencies the new national framework aims to address.

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has stated that most fines are issued for unauthorized term-time holidays, as the government targets this practice to reduce overall school absences.

The new rules include a provision for schools and local authorities to offer support to parents before issuing fines, with the aim of changing parental behavior and improving attendance.

While the increased fines and potential for imprisonment may seem strict, the government's goal is to promote regular school attendance and ensure a consistent approach across England.


In Spain, taking children out of school during designated holiday periods without permission can result in fines, as well as potential prison sentences of three to six months. The specifics of these monetary penalties are not clearly defined, but they can range from minor to significant amounts depending on the severity and repetition of the offense.

Similarly, in France and other European countries, violations of school holiday regulations can lead to substantial fines. Under the EU AI Act, European Union agencies, bodies, and institutions can face penalties of up to 15 million Euros for noncompliance with certain prohibitions, and up to 1 million Euros for violations of Article 10 obligations. The U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act also imposes hefty fines for non-compliance, with criminal penalties for entities reaching up to 2 million Dollars.

In Spain, the new education law LOMLOE, which came into force in 2021, gives school administrators the authority to limit students' constitutional rights if they expect disruption of school activities or infringement of others' rights.

The Catalan government has urged schools to defy the Spanish Supreme Court by not increasing the number of hours of education given in Spanish, highlighting regional tensions around language of instruction.

Under the EU AI Act, European Union agencies, bodies, and institutions can face fines of up to 15 million Euros for noncompliance with certain prohibitions, and up to 1 million Euros for noncompliance with Article

The U.S.
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) imposes penalties for violations, with fines for entities reaching up to 2 million Euros for criminal penalties and up to 100,000 Euros for civil penalties.

Domestic concerns under the FCPA may face fines up to 2 million Euros, and false or misleading statements in FCPA-related reporting requirements can result in even heavier penalties.

Violations of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) regulations can result in penalties ranging from 90,000 to 12 million Euros, with an average penalty of 300,000 Euros.

In Spain, taking kids out of school during school holiday periods without permission can result in fines, prison sentences of three to six months, and other penalties, though the exact amounts of these fines are not specified.

The monetary penalties for violating school holiday regulations in Spain are not as clearly defined as the penalties for other types of violations, such as anti-money laundering sanctions, which can be more substantial.

School holidays in Spain differ slightly depending on the region, and families typically spend this time celebrating festivities, taking family vacations, or planning activities for kids, rather than focusing on the potential penalties for unauthorized absences.


Germany's mandatory school attendance laws come with strict penalties for unexcused absences. Parents can face fines of up to €1,000 if they take their children out of school without permission. Authorities may even report persistent truants to the police, who can issue further penalties. While exceptions exist for students with certain physical or mental disabilities, compulsory education laws apply to most children aged 6 to 18 in Germany.

Germany's mandatory school attendance laws apply to most students between the ages of 6 and 18, with some flexibility for those with certain physical or mental disabilities.

Parents can face fines ranging from €5 to €1,000 if they take their children out of school without a valid reason, and may also be required to attend a counseling session or parenting course.

Authorities can even report persistent truants to the police, who can issue additional fines and potentially stop parents and children at airports to enforce attendance laws.

The specific fines and penalties for unexcused absences vary across Germany's 16 federal states, so parents must be aware of the regulations in their state of residence.

Despite the strict laws, German educators prioritize supporting struggling students rather than simply punishing them for poor attendance.

Germany's compulsory education laws are governed by the country's Education Act, which makes school attendance mandatory for children between the ages of 6 and

School holiday schedules also differ across Germany's federal states, so families planning vacations must carefully comply with the relevant state's regulations to avoid fines.

In some cases, parents have been fined up to €1,000 for taking their children out of school for a family vacation during term time.

While national holidays are consistent across Germany, the timing of state-level school breaks can vary significantly, creating challenges for families trying to plan travel.

The strict enforcement of Germany's mandatory attendance laws reflects the country's emphasis on ensuring all children receive a comprehensive education, even if it means imposing penalties on parents.


The ongoing debates and changes surrounding school holiday laws in Europe, particularly in countries like Belgium, France, and Spain, continue to be a topic of discussion. These evolving regulations aim to balance the needs of education, tourism, and family life, leading to potential fines or penalties for non-compliance. Meanwhile, in the United States, international students face strict immigration laws, and education policy debates have also been shaped by state-level restrictions on curriculum and pronoun usage.

The ongoing debate around school holiday laws in Europe aims to balance the needs of education, tourism, and family life, with some countries considering reducing the length of summer breaks.

A 2022 study found that summer holidays can exacerbate inequalities in mental health and verbal cognitive ability, particularly in younger children, across all socioeconomic backgrounds.

Researchers at the University of Glasgow discovered that school holidays as they are currently structured do not lead to significant additional educational disadvantage.

The length of summer holidays varies across Europe, ranging from around six weeks in Germany and the UK to eight weeks in Spain, Italy, and Finland.

In the United States, international students must adhere to strict immigration laws, such as the F1 visa requirement, proof of financial support, and full-time enrollment.

State laws in the US restricting curriculum and pronoun use have caused confusion in education policy debates.

When conducting business globally, companies need to understand and comply with complex and challenging international laws and regulations.

Event organizers must also understand international event laws to mitigate risks and avoid potential legal disputes.

A study found that summer holidays can lead to a decline in younger children's verbal cognitive ability across all socioeconomic backgrounds.

The debate around school holiday lengths has included suggestions to reduce the summer break to help learners catch up on lost learning, but educational experts argue that both learners and teachers need a long summer break to recharge.

Researchers have looked into the potential impact of reducing summer holidays, with some arguing that it could help learners catch up on lost learning, while others maintain that the current holiday structure does not lead to significant additional educational disadvantage.

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