How It Works?
Get your medical certificate online in just 3 simple steps. No clinic visits required. Complete online process.
Fill out the form
Fill out a quick and secure questionnaire-your details, health issues, purpose and submit.
Doctor reviews your case
A licensed health professional reviews your case and reaches out for additional details.
Receive certificate in minutes
Once approved, get the PDF of your digital medical certificate within minutes in your email.
Get Sick Leave Certificates Online in Germany
An official medical note issued by a licensed doctor, confirming that you’re unfit for work, school, or other responsibilities due to illness, injury, or stress. It provides the proof you need for employers, educational institutions, or authorities.
Short-Term Illness Certificates
For flu, fever, or brief illnesses
Long-Term Illness Certificates
For extended recovery periods
Stress & Burnout Certificates
For mental health-related absences
Injury-Related Certificates
For accidents, fractures, surgeries
Types of Medical Certificates We Offer Germany
Medical Certificate
A versatile general medical certificate issued by a licensed doctor online, accepted for German employment, travel, insurance, and official purposes.
From €34.99Fitness Certificate
Confirm your physical and mental fitness with a doctor-issued certificate online, ideal for German employment, gym memberships, or travel requirements.
From €34.99Sports Fitness Certificate
Obtain a sports fitness certificate from a licensed doctor online, accepted by German sports clubs, federations, schools, and event organisers.
From €34.99Good Health Certificate
Receive a verified good health certificate from a licensed doctor online, accepted by German employers, institutions, and authorities worldwide.
From €34.99Marathon Medical Certificate
Get a marathon medical certificate from a licensed doctor online, confirming you are medically fit to complete a marathon event safely.
From €34.99Cycling Medical Certificate
Receive a cycling medical certificate online, providing medical clearance for competitive or recreational cycling events and clubs across Germany.
From €34.99Triathlon Medical Certificate
Get doctor-approved triathlon medical clearance online, confirming you are physically fit to compete safely across swim, cycle, and run disciplines.
From €34.99Fit to Play Certificate
A fit-to-play certificate confirms medical clearance to return to sport after injury, illness, or an extended break from physical activity.
From €34.99Who Needs a Sick Leave Certificate in Germany?
Employees
To justify time off to HR or employers
Freelancers & Professionals
For client or project commitments
Students
To explain absence from classes or exams
Travellers
For cancellations, rescheduling, or visa purposes
Registered practitioners, not a call centre.
Every doctor is independently verified against their national medical council before they see a single patient - across Ireland, Germany, France and beyond.
Dr. Sinéad Whelan
General Medicine · IE
IMC Reg. #114892Dr. Lukas Brandt
Family Medicine · DE
ÄK Reg. #BE-33210
Dr. Camille Dubois
Psychiatry · FR
RPPS #10029384
Dr. Anna Kowalska
Occupational Health · PL
NIL Reg. #7741029Your Advantages With Us
Certified & Trusted Doctors
All Sick Leave Certificates are issued by experienced medical professionals with active registration to practice medicine.
Fast & Hassle-Free
Get your Sick Leave Certificates in minutes of approval from a certified health professional via email.
Accepted Across Europe & Globally
Our Sick Leave Certificates are recognized by employers, government, and private schools, colleges, and universities.
Available In Multiple Languages
Our Sick Leave Certificates are available in all major European languages, like French, Spanish, German etc.
Real Stories From Across Germany
"These guys help me nail my job. I needed a fitness certificate. While I was at my interview they helped me get it within an hour with a seamless service."
"Within few minutes of submitting my application, the doctor reviewed my case and reachout. I applied for a sick note and while I finished my lunch It had it in my inbox. No delays."
"The service is fast, reliable and seamless. Not only the doctor reviewed my case in detail, they also helped me understand the right course of treatment."
"I got my fit to fly certificate during a long layover in Frankfurt. Submitted info on my phone, and had the PDF before boarding. Lifesaver!
Your data, and your privacy.
Only your doctor sees the details
The reviewing doctor is the only person with access to your medical information.
GDPR-grade encryption
Your data is encrypted and handled under UK & EU GDPR and ISO 27001 standards.
Verify without exposing notes
The reference code confirms a certificate is valid without revealing any medical detail.
Delete on request
Ask us to erase your data at any time. Your signed PDF still arrives within the hour.
Get Your Sick Leave Certificate in Germany
Online Sick Leave Certificate in Germany (Krankschreibung) - Licensed Doctor, PDF in 30 Minutes
Germany’s sick leave framework is among the most structured in Europe. The Entgeltfortzahlungsgesetz (EFZG) - the Continued Pay Act - requires employees to certify their incapacity for work with a medical document known as the Arbeitsunfähigkeitsbescheinigung (AU-Bescheinigung), commonly called a Krankschreibung or simply a sick note. This document is not optional: it is a statutory requirement that protects both the employee’s right to continued pay and the employer’s right to documentation of absence.
GetMedicalCertificate.com provides online sick leave certificates for residents, workers, and international employees across Germany - issued by licensed doctors and delivered as a professionally formatted, signed PDF within 30 minutes of approval. No German GP appointment (Termin beim Hausarzt) required. For our full Germany medical certificate offering, see the medical certificate Germany page.
The Krankschreibung in German Employment Law - What You Need to Know
Legal Element
Detail
Governing law
Entgeltfortzahlungsgesetz (EFZG) - Continued Pay Act 1994 (with amendments)
Statutory requirement
§5 EFZG: Employee must notify employer immediately and provide AU-Bescheinigung after 3rd day of absence at latest
Employer’s right to request earlier
Many employment contracts require AU-Bescheinigung from day 1 - permitted under §5(1) EFZG
Continued pay duration
Up to 6 weeks full pay per disease episode under §3 EFZG
Post-6-week sick pay
Krankengeld from statutory health insurer at ~70% gross / max 90% net - requires separate AU
Electronic sick note (eAU)
Germany’s digital sick note framework: doctors transmit AU electronically to Krankenkasse from 2023
Important for Germany: Under Germany’s electronic AU (eAU) system, your Krankenkasse receives the sick note electronically from 2023 onwards. Our certificate is formatted for employer submission as a physical or digital document. For statutory health insurance notification purposes, please consult your Krankenkasse.
Germany’s Major Employment Sectors and Sick Leave Certificate Requirements
Germany’s economy - the largest in the EU - spans a wide range of sectors, each with its own approach to sick leave management:
- Manufacturing and automotive (Bayern, Baden-Württemberg, NRW): Germany’s manufacturing heartland - BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Siemens, Bosch - operates under collective agreements (Tarifverträge) negotiated with trade unions including IG Metall. These agreements often require AU-Bescheinigung from day one and may include company-specific absence management protocols.
- Public sector (Öffentlicher Dienst): Federal, state (Länder), and municipal government employees are covered by Tarifvertrag für den öffentlichen Dienst (TVöD), which sets specific sick leave documentation requirements. Documentation is typically required from day three but employers may require earlier submission.
- Technology and startups (Berlin, Munich, Hamburg): Germany’s growing technology sector - centred in Berlin’s Silicon Allee, Munich’s technology corridor, and Hamburg’s digital economy - is increasingly populated by international employers with global HR standards that may require documentation from day one.
- Healthcare (Gesundheitswesen): Healthcare workers in Germany - employed by hospital trusts (Krankenhausträger), Gesundheitsämter, and private health facilities - are subject to specific occupational health documentation requirements, particularly for communicable diseases.
- Construction (Baugewerbe): Germany’s construction sector operates under the BRTV-Bau (Bundesrahmentarifvertrag) collective agreement, which includes specific sick leave documentation requirements and may involve the Sozialkasse (SOKA-BAU) for benefit administration.
How to Get Your Certificate Online - 3 Steps, No GP Visit Required
Step
What Happens
1. Complete the Secure Online Questionnaire
Fill in your personal details, describe your symptoms or health situation, state your employer or purpose, and submit. The form takes under five minutes and is fully secure.
2. Licensed Doctor Reviews Your Case
A licensed medical professional reviews your submission. If clarification is needed, they will contact you through our secure platform. No in-person visit at any point.
3. Receive Your Certificate by Email
Once approved, your signed, professionally formatted certificate is emailed as a PDF - typically within 30 minutes. Forward it to your employer digitally or print it.
Sick Leave Certificate for International Workers and Expats in Germany
Germany is home to a large international workforce - EU citizens exercising free movement rights, non-EU workers on skilled worker visas under the Fachkräfteeinwanderungsgesetz (Skilled Immigration Act), and posted workers from other EU member states. For all of these workers, the EFZG sick leave framework applies regardless of nationality, and German employers expect the same documentation standards.
Our service is particularly suited to international workers in Germany who may not yet have a registered Hausarzt (family doctor) or who face language barriers when navigating the German GP appointment system. We provide English-language certificates that contain the information German employers require.
Conditions Commonly Covered by Sick Leave Certificates in Germany
- Viral infections: Erkältung (common cold), Grippe (influenza), COVID-19, Magen-Darm-Infekt (gastroenteritis)
- Rückenbeschwerden (back pain) - the most common reason for sick leave in Germany according to Krankenkasse statistics
- Mental health conditions: Burnout, Erschöpfungsdepression, arbeitsbedingte Erschöpfung (work-related exhaustion)
- Migraine and neurological conditions causing incapacity
- Post-operative recovery following minor surgical interventions
- Musculoskeletal injuries: sprains, strains, and soft tissue conditions
Sick Leave Certificate vs. Other German Medical Documents
Document
Purpose in Germany
AU-Bescheinigung / Krankschreibung
Certifies incapacity for work - the core sick leave document under EFZG
Fitness / Return-to-Work Certificate (Germany Fitness Cert)
Confirms fitness to resume work after illness - issued at end of sick leave period
Medical Certificate (Germany Medical Cert)
Broad-purpose health documentation for insurance, travel, visa, or employer administration
Good Health Certificate (Germany Good Health)
IHR-2005 compliant positive health declaration for visa, international employment, or travel
Sports Fitness Certificate (Germany Sports Fitness)
Medical clearance for organised sport - marathons, triathlons, cycling events in Germany
Frequently Asked Questions - Sick Leave Certificate Germany
Is an online Krankschreibung valid in Germany?
Yes. German employment law recognises sick certificates issued by licensed medical practitioners regardless of whether the consultation occurred in-person or online. Our certificates contain the required clinical information for employer submission under the EFZG framework.
When do I need to submit my sick note to my German employer?
Under §5(1) EFZG, you must submit the AU-Bescheinigung no later than the start of the fourth day of absence. Many employment contracts require submission from day one - check your Arbeitsvertrag or collective agreement.
What happens after 6 weeks of sick leave in Germany?
After 6 weeks of continued pay under EFZG, you transition to Krankengeld from your statutory health insurer (Krankenkasse) at approximately 70% of gross earnings. This requires ongoing AU-Bescheinigung submission to your Krankenkasse.
How much does the certificate cost?
From €34.99 - significantly less expensive than a private Arzt consultation in Germany, with 30-minute PDF delivery.
Related Medical Certificate Services in Germany
Explore the full range of online medical certificate services available through GetMedicalCertificate.com for Germany and the wider region:
Good questions, straight answers.
A Sick Leave Certificate is a medical document from a licensed medical practitioner required for those who cannot attend work/ college/ university/ school due to an illness, injury, or mental wellness reasons. A Sick Leave Certificate captures a statement outlining the need to take rest/ time off in order to recover. It is usually needed to manage attendance at work/ educational institutions.
To get a Sick Leave Certificate online, all you need to do is- click on ‘Get Medical Certificate’ tab. Fill up a quick form and select the option of Sick Leave Certificate. A health professional will reach out to review your case, and once approved, your medical certificate will be issued to your email.
We abide by the WHO, GDPR, and EU telemedicine guidelines. Our Sick Leave Certificates are widely accepted across Europe.
Yes. We support most of the European languages, including English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Polish, Greek, Swedish, and more. While filling up the form, you can choose your preferred language.
We value your privacy. We abide by WHO, GDPR (EU Regulation 2016/679), and ISO 27001 standards for data security and privacy.
A Medical Certificate is an official document that is issued by a health professional based on the details shared by the patient. We advise you to fill up the form carefully as no changes can be incorporated once the document is issued.