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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

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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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

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

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:

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