Sick leave rules in Belgium at a glance
Statutory rules for Belgium, checked against official government guidance on 15 October 2026.
| Tell your employer | Immediately, except force majeure; give your stay address if not at home |
|---|---|
| Self certification | First day without a certificate, 3 times per calendar year; firms under 50 workers may opt out by explicit agreement or work rules |
| Doctor's certificate needed from | Only when a collective agreement, the work rules or the employer requires it |
| Certificate deadline | Employer: within 2 working days unless rules differ. Health insurance fund: 14 calendar days (manual workers) or 28 calendar days (white collar) |
| Waiting days | None |
| Employer pays | Guaranteed salary: white collar workers 100% for 30 days; manual workers in phases |
| State sickness benefit | Health insurance fund: 60% of earnings, up to €183.1311 a day |
| Maximum duration | 1 year, then invalidity benefit |
| Day count | Working days (employer deadline) |
| Last checked |
Who pays sick pay in Belgium?
In Belgium, employer pay: guaranteed salary: white collar workers 100% for 30 days; manual workers in phases. State sickness benefit: Health insurance fund: 60% of earnings, up to €183.1311 a day.
- EmployerGuaranteed salary: white collar workers 100% for 30 days; manual workers in phases
- State sickness benefitHealth insurance fund: 60% of earnings, up to €183.1311 a day
Work out your own figures with the sick pay calculator.
When do you need a doctor's note in Belgium?
In Belgium, a doctor's certificate is needed: only when a collective agreement, the work rules or the employer requires it.
Self certification. First day without a certificate, 3 times per calendar year; firms under 50 workers may opt out by explicit agreement or work rules
Certificate deadline. Employer: within 2 working days unless rules differ. Health insurance fund: 14 calendar days (manual workers) or 28 calendar days (white collar)
Telling your employer. Immediately, except force majeure; give your stay address if not at home
Check your own dates with the "do I need a note" tool, or see how to get a doctor's note in Belgium.
Worked example: 10 days off sick in Belgium
How a 10 day absence runs in Belgium, step by step. No money is worked out here.
| When | What happens | The rule |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Tell your employer | Immediately, except force majeure; give your stay address if not at home |
| Days 1 to 10 | Employer | Guaranteed salary: white collar workers 100% for 30 days; manual workers in phases |
Maximum duration: 1 year, then invalidity benefit
For your own figures, use the sick pay calculator. It reads the same checked data as this page.
What is different about sick leave in Belgium?
You can skip the certificate for the first day of illness 3 times a year.
Send the certificate to your health insurance fund within 14 days (manual workers) or 28 days (white collar), or lose 10% of benefit a day.
What if you work in Belgium but live in another country?
If you work in Belgium and live in another country, you are usually covered by the social security system where you work, so the rules on this page apply.
Report sick by the rule in Belgium (immediately, except force majeure), and send any certificate to the body that pays you.
If your doctor is in another country, ask the paying body which format it accepts.
More on working in one country and living in another. Related tool: Fit to fly readiness checklist
Frequently asked questions
The rule for telling your employer in Belgium: immediately, except force majeure; give your stay address if not at home.
The certificate deadline in Belgium: employer: within 2 working days unless rules differ. Health insurance fund: 14 calendar days (manual workers) or 28 calendar days (white collar).
Waiting days in Belgium: none.
The maximum duration of sick pay in Belgium: 1 year, then invalidity benefit.
Self certification in Belgium: first day without a certificate, 3 times per calendar year; firms under 50 workers may opt out by explicit agreement or work rules.
Sick leave rules in neighbouring countries
Compare Belgium with the Netherlands and France, or see all 42 countries side by side.
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