How to Get a Sick Note Online in 2026 (Fit Notes, Doctor's Notes & the Rules)

A sick note — known as a fit note in the UK and a medical certificate in many other countries — is a document from a registered clinician confirming you are not fit for work and, where relevant, for how long. Getting one used to mean taking time off to physically visit a clinic, which is ironic when you are too unwell to travel. Online consultations have largely solved that, but there are rules worth understanding so you get a note that your employer will actually accept.

First: Do You Even Need a Note?

Before booking anything, check whether a note is required for your absence. The rules vary by country and employer, but a common pattern is:

• Short absences are often self-certified. In the UK, for example, you can self-certify for the first seven calendar days and only need a fit note after that. Many other countries and individual employers have similar thresholds.
• Longer or recurring absences usually need a doctor's note. Once you pass the self-certification window, or if your employer specifically requests it, you will need a note from a registered clinician.

Always confirm your employer's policy and your local rules first — it can save you a consultation you did not need.

How an Online Sick Note Actually Works

The legitimate process is simple and quick:

1. Book a video consultation with a registered doctor.
2. Describe your symptoms, how long you have been unwell, and the impact on your ability to work.
3. The doctor assesses you clinically — this is a real consultation, not a form.
4. If a note is appropriate, the doctor issues a digital fit note stating the dates and any advice (for example, a phased return).
5. You download the note and send it to your employer.

Because there is no travel and no waiting room, the whole thing often takes minutes once your appointment starts. For a full walkthrough of the booking process, see how to book your first consultation.

What a Doctor Can and Cannot Do

A registered doctor can issue a note when your condition genuinely warrants time off, advise on adjustments, and back-date within clinically defensible limits in some systems. A doctor cannot — and will not — issue a note for an absence that did not have a clinical basis, or for dates far in the past with no assessment. That is not bureaucracy; a fit note is a clinical document and the doctor's registration is on the line.

Avoid Fake Sick-Note Websites

Search results are full of sites promising an "instant sick note" with no consultation. Avoid them. A note that was never based on an assessment by a registered clinician is, at best, worthless and, at worst, fraud that could cost you your job. The checks that tell a legitimate service apart are the same ones we cover in how to choose a safe online doctor: a real video consultation, a registered doctor, verifiable regulation, and access to your own records.

Sick Notes and Mental Health

Mental-health conditions are a valid reason for a fit note. If stress, anxiety, or depression is affecting your ability to work, an online consultation can be a private, low-barrier way to be assessed and, where appropriate, receive a note and a treatment plan. Our guide to online mental-health consultations covers what to expect.

Getting a Sick Note Through GeraClinic

GeraClinic connects you with verified, registered doctors for same-day video consultations. If a fit note is clinically appropriate, your doctor can issue one digitally during or right after your appointment. You can browse and book a doctor on the find a doctor page, and see transparent prices in your local currency on the pricing page.