A prisoner can be granted a prison leave (also known as permission of leave) when two thirds of the prison term has been served or when there is a particularly important reason for it.

A prison leave can be granted if it is likely that the prisoner complies with the conditions of the prison leave. When deciding on the application, all known factors, which might be relevant to the assessment whether the prisoner would comply with the conditions, have to be taken into consideration. If compliance with the conditions cannot be regarded sufficiently likely, the prisoner can be granted a prison leave under escort.

A prisoner can be granted a maximum of three days of prison leave within a two-month-period.

Most prison leave applications are decided in the prisons. The decision on a prison leave of a prisoner serving a life sentence or a full sentence is made by the Criminal Sanctions Agency.

The travel costs of a prison leave can be paid from State funds in certain cases.

If the prisoner complies with the prison leave conditions, the duration of the prison leave is calculated as term of sentence.

In 2010, a total of 13 997 prison leaves were applied, 10 669, i.e. 76%, of those were granted and 10 427 of the granted prison leaves were actually used. The conditions of 495 prison leaves were breached which is 4,7% of all leaves.