OFW leave guide · 2027
Christmas 2027: US to PH
File 27–30 December for 10 days off, from 24 December to 2 January. Christmas and New Year's Day both land on a Saturday, so both are observed on the Friday before.
For Monday–Friday employees with Saturday–Sunday off, the federal observed holidays on 24 and 31 December, and approved leave. Private employers don't have to follow the federal calendar, so check yours first.
Which dates should you file?
| Working days to request | Time off in 2027 |
|---|---|
| None | 24–26 December · 3 days |
| 27–30 December · 4 days | 24 December–2 January · 10 days |
| 20–23 and 27–30 December · 8 days | 18 December–2 January · 16 days |
The two longer options return to work on Monday, 3 January 2028.
No federal day off on 24 or 31 December? Add both to your leave request. The 10-day option then needs six leave days.
How many days will you actually be home?
Fewer than the table says. Flying west across the date line, you land at NAIA one or two calendar days after you leave the US, depending on your departure time and layover. The flight back gives you most of that day back, but plan for jet lag on your first day at work.
So the 10-day option is closer to a week at home. Leaving on 24 December puts you in Manila on the 25th or 26th: in time for Media Noche, too late for Noche Buena. For Noche Buena at home, take the 16-day option.
What lines up back home?
Christmas Eve (24 December), Rizal Day (30 December) and the Last Day of the Year (31 December) fall on weekdays in the Philippines and are all holidays. Christmas Day and New Year's Day fall on weekends. Relatives with office jobs are off 24–26 December and 30 December–2 January, but back at work 27–29 December.
That lines up the dates, not everyone's schedule. Relatives in hospitals, BPOs, malls and other shift jobs may still be on duty.
For other dates, see the US 2027 calendar.
Sources
Checked .