Sick leave rules in Ireland at a glance
Statutory rules for Ireland, checked against official government guidance on 15 October 2026.
| Tell your employer | Ask your employer |
|---|---|
| Self certification | None found |
| Doctor's certificate needed from | Day 1, for statutory sick pay |
| Certificate deadline | No employer deadline found; Illness Benefit claim within 6 weeks of becoming ill |
| Waiting days | None for statutory sick pay; 3 days for Illness Benefit |
| Employer pays | 70% of pay, up to €110 a day, for 5 days a year, after 13 weeks of service |
| State sickness benefit | Illness Benefit, up to €254.00 a week (2026) |
| Maximum duration | 5 days of statutory sick pay; Illness Benefit for 1 or 2 years |
| Last checked |
Who pays sick pay in Ireland?
In Ireland, employer pay: 70% of pay, up to €110 a day, for 5 days a year, after 13 weeks of service. State sickness benefit: Illness Benefit, up to €254.00 a week (2026).
- Employer70% of pay, up to €110 a day, for 5 days a year, after 13 weeks of service
- State sickness benefitIllness Benefit, up to €254.00 a week (2026)
- Sickness benefit
- Illness Benefit
Work out your own figures with the sick pay calculator.
When do you need a doctor's note in Ireland?
In Ireland, a doctor's certificate is needed: day 1, for statutory sick pay.
Self certification. None found
Certificate deadline. No employer deadline found; Illness Benefit claim within 6 weeks of becoming ill
Telling your employer. Ask your employer
Check your own dates with the "do I need a note" tool, or see how to get a doctor's note in Ireland.
Worked example: 10 days off sick in Ireland
How a 10 day absence runs in Ireland, step by step. No money is worked out here.
| When | What happens | The rule |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Tell your employer | Ask your employer |
| Days 1 to 5 | Employer | 70% of pay, up to €110 a day, for 5 days a year, after 13 weeks of service |
| From day 1 | A doctor's certificate is normally needed | Day 1, for statutory sick pay |
Maximum duration: 5 days of statutory sick pay; Illness Benefit for 1 or 2 years
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 Ireland?
Two schemes run one after the other.
Your employer pays statutory sick pay after 13 weeks of service, then Illness Benefit may apply. Claim it within 6 weeks.
What if you work in Ireland but live in another country?
If you work in Ireland and live in another country, you are usually covered by the social security system where you work, so the rules on this page apply.
Ask your employer how and when to report sick, 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 certificate deadline in Ireland: no employer deadline found; Illness Benefit claim within 6 weeks of becoming ill.
Waiting days in Ireland: none for statutory sick pay; 3 days for Illness Benefit.
The maximum duration of sick pay in Ireland: 5 days of statutory sick pay; Illness Benefit for 1 or 2 years.
Self certification in Ireland: none found.
Sick leave rules in neighbouring countries
Compare Ireland with the United Kingdom and France, or see all 42 countries side by side.
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