Is an online medical certificate valid? Check acceptance in 42 countries

Here are examples from official guidance:

• United Kingdom. The assessment can be face to face, by video call, by telephone, or from a written report by another healthcare professional.
• Germany. By video, a doctor can certify up to 3 calendar days for a patient new to the practice, or up to 7 days for a known patient. By phone, only for known patients without severe symptoms, up to 5 days. You have no right to a remote certificate.
• France. A sick leave prescribed by teleconsultation is in principle limited to 3 days. It needs a live video or phone exchange, never a questionnaire or messages alone.
• Sweden. A physical exam is not strictly required, but the certificate must state the contact type, such as a video call.
• Finland. A statement made remotely must meet the same information and quality rules as one made in person.
• Montenegro. Incapacity is assessed with you present in person, unless your health prevents it.

Allowing remote consultations is not the same as accepting an online certificate from abroad. In most of these countries the remote rules apply to doctors inside the national system.

Hungary, Croatia, Andorra and several other countries go further. Only doctors contracted with the national insurer, or your chosen primary care doctor, can certify incapacity. In Hungary, private doctors cannot certify it, except private hospitals.

If your country is in this group, the tool says “National system needed”. That is the honest answer, even if an online doctor could see you.

It says a certificate of incapacity drawn up by a doctor in the EU country where you are staying or living has the same legal value as one from the country where you are insured. That helps if you fall ill on holiday and see a local doctor. It does not cover an online consultation with a doctor in another country while you stay at home.

Some countries have their own rules for certificates from abroad:

• Norway accepts a certificate from a doctor in another EEA country, if you send a copy and a personal declaration (form NAV 08 09.06) to Nav and your employer for each period.
• Luxembourg lets cross border workers get a certificate from a doctor in their country of residence.
• Estonia pays sickness benefit on a foreign document when you fall ill abroad and see a local medical institution.
• Latvia recognises a document issued abroad if it clearly shows the incapacity period and the facility details.

• ☐Do you accept a sick leave certificate from an online doctor?
• ☐Do you accept a certificate from a doctor registered in another country?
• ☐Is a certificate in English with a reference code you can check enough?
• ☐From which day of absence do you need a certificate?
• ☐Do you, or the national insurer, also need a certificate in the national system for sick pay or benefit?

The sick leave letter generator can help you write the email. If the absence is short, check first whether you need a certificate at all with the sick note checker.

Example 1: Sam works in the United Kingdom. Sam has been ill for 9 days, so the 7 day self certification period is over. Sam's employer replies by email that it accepts a private certificate. The tool starts at "Accepted with conditions" and moves to "Likely accepted" because the employer agreed. It still says to check with the employer that an English certificate is enough.

Example 2: Marta works in Poland. Marta's sick pay is paid on the eZLA, which only doctors with ZUS authorisation can issue. The tool shows "National system needed" whatever her employer says. She should contact a doctor in the Polish system. An online certificate from us will not replace the eZLA.

Example 3: Lars works in Norway and falls ill on holiday in Spain. He answers yes to "Are you abroad?". The tool shows "Accepted with conditions" with the Norway abroad note. A certificate from a doctor in another EEA country is valid if he sends it with form NAV 08 09.06. If he is still ill after he gets home, he must see a Norwegian doctor.

Example 4: Sophie works in Belgium. Her employer has not answered yet. The tool shows "Unclear" and tells her to ask her employer or insurer first. No price appears.

A doctor reviews your case and decides whether a certificate is right. You pay EUR 34.99 only after that review, with no added fees at checkout. If the doctor cannot issue a certificate, you get a full refund.

Approved certificates arrive as a signed PDF, usually within about 30 minutes of the doctor’s approval. Each has a reference code anyone can check through our certificate check page. We cover 42 countries in Europe, and certificates are issued in English.

Where your country needs a national certificate, we say so and do not offer ours.

Check with your employer first, then request a sick leave certificate if the tool says it may fit.