⏱️ Probation periods by country: a comparison for employers
Updated July 2026 · General information, not legal advice
Probation is where international offers most often go wrong: a clause that is perfectly normal in one country is void — or illegal — in the next. The table below summarises the maximum probation periods in ten popular hiring destinations, with the traps worth knowing.
| Country | Maximum probation | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| 🇨🇾 Cyprus | 6 months (extendable up to 2 years by written agreement) | Extension must be agreed in writing |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | 6 months | 2 weeks' notice during probation; dismissal protection starts after 6 months regardless |
| 🇵🇱 Poland | 3 months | Probation is a separate contract type, not a clause |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | 2 months (6 for university-qualified specialists) | Collective agreement (convenio) can change the limits |
| 🇵🇹 Portugal | 90 / 180 / 240 days by role level | Tier must match the actual role |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 1–2 months depending on contract length | An over-long clause is entirely VOID, not shortened |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | No statutory limit (3–6 months typical) | Statutory notice rights apply from 1 month of service |
| 🇦🇪 UAE | 6 months | 14 days' written notice to terminate during probation |
| 🇷🇸 Serbia | 6 months | Termination during probation needs ≥5 working days' notice and reasons |
| 🇬🇪 Georgia | 6 months | Must be written and paid |
Three rules of thumb
First: never copy a probation clause between countries. The Netherlands voids over-long clauses entirely; Poland requires a different contract type; Portugal ties the length to the role's seniority.
Second: probation changes notice, not rights. In most jurisdictions statutory minimums (leave accrual, written terms, protection against discriminatory dismissal) apply from day one.
Third: put the notice-during-probation rule in the offer. Candidates ask about it, and it differs everywhere — two weeks in Germany, 14 days in the UAE, five working days in Serbia.
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Create a free offer →Frequently asked questions
Which country has the shortest maximum probation?
Among the compared countries, the Netherlands: at most one to two months depending on contract length, and none at all for contracts under six months.
Can probation be extended if it 'isn't going well'?
Rarely, and only where the law allows an extension agreed in writing (e.g. Cyprus, within limits). In countries like Germany or the Netherlands the statutory maximum cannot be stretched.
Related guides
This guide is general information for employers, not legal advice. Employment rules change and collective agreements may set different terms — confirm the specifics with local counsel before sending an offer.