NoticeWe do not prescribe controlled medications, including Sleeping pills, Diazepam, Tramadol, Gabapentin, or similar substances. Consultation fees will not be refunded if appointments are booked to request controlled medications.
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EmergencyDoctor247 is not to be used for Medical or Surgical Emergencies. If you need urgent help in Ireland, contact emergency services on 999 or 112.
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NoticeWe do not prescribe controlled medications, including Sleeping pills, Diazepam, Tramadol, Gabapentin, or similar substances. Consultation fees will not be refunded if appointments are booked to request controlled medications.
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EmergencyDoctor247 is not to be used for Medical or Surgical Emergencies. If you need urgent help in Ireland, contact emergency services on 999 or 112.
Need a sick note for work, a medical cert for school, or a return-to-work letter for HR? Speak to an IMC-registered Irish doctor from home and get your digital sick certificate in your inbox the same day. Legally valid. Nationwide accepted.
One consultation fee covers everything you need for your absence paperwork. Here's what lands in your inbox after your call.
Official Digital Cert
Letterhead PDF with your IMC-registered doctor's signature. Accepted by Irish employers, HR, schools, and creches.
Emailed in Minutes
Your cert arrives in your inbox usually within minutes of the call ending. Forward straight to HR or attach to any absence form.
Diagnosis Stays Private
The cert only confirms the dates you are unfit to work. Your employer never sees the clinical reason. Full GDPR compliance.
No Extra Fees
E-prescription, referral letter, and cert extensions all included. One €29 consultation covers the lot.
Conditions We Cover for Sick Leave
Any medical condition that affects your ability to work or study. Six common reasons patients book with us.
Respiratory Infections
Common colds, influenza, chest infections, bronchitis, sinusitis, and COVID-19. Most people need 3 to 7 days off depending on severity.
Musculoskeletal Pain
Acute back pain, neck pain, muscle strains, sprained joints, and minor injuries that require rest. Cert plus physio referral where appropriate.
Gastrointestinal Issues
Food poisoning, stomach flu, vomiting and diarrhoea, severe indigestion. Public health guidance advises 48 hours symptom-free before returning to food handling roles.
Mental Health Concerns
Work-related stress, anxiety, burnout, low mood, or depression affecting your ability to function. Your cert does not disclose the clinical reason to your employer.
Migraines & Headaches
Acute migraines, tension headaches, and cluster headaches that prevent you from concentrating or working safely, especially around screens.
Other Health Conditions
Any acute illness, chronic condition flare-up, or minor injury that medically prevents you from working. Your doctor assesses and certifies where appropriate.
Your Cert in Four Steps, Same Day
Most patients are booked, consulted, and have the cert in their inbox inside 30 minutes.
01
Book a Time
Pick a slot — evenings and weekends available. Request a male doctor at checkout if you'd prefer.
02
Speak to Your Doctor
Video or phone. A proper conversation about your concern, medical history and what you're aiming for.
03
Get a Clear Plan
Diagnosis where possible, e-prescription to your pharmacy, lab referrals if needed, and practical next steps.
04
Ongoing Support
Follow-up bookings are quick. Same clinician where possible, so progress is tracked properly over time.
What Separates Our Certs From a Form-Filler Service
An online sick cert should be a real clinical decision, not a rubber stamp. Four things we do differently.
Proper Consultation, Not a Tick-Box Form
Every cert follows a proper GP consultation where your doctor assesses your symptoms, asks about risk factors, and decides if certification is clinically justified. No cert is issued without a conversation. That's what makes our certs clinically sound and accepted by every HR department in Ireland.
Honest About What We Can Cert
We don't issue certs for dates long past, we don't issue them without a consultation, and we don't issue them if the clinical picture doesn't justify it. If your situation needs something we can't handle online, we tell you straight and refer you to an in-person GP. Trust matters more than a one-time sale.
Privacy by Design
Our certs only confirm the dates you are unfit to work, along with the doctor's details. Your diagnosis never appears on the document. Your employer never sees the clinical reason. This matters especially for mental health certs, where you deserve to recover without workplace questions.
Care Doesn't End at the Cert
The cert is the paperwork. The point is getting you better. Your doctor issues an e-prescription if needed, arranges follow-up if symptoms persist, and extends the cert if your recovery takes longer than expected. Referrals for physio, mental health therapy, or specialist review are sent the same day.
Why Patients Pick Us for a Sick Cert
The clinical approach is the how. Here's the why. Four practical reasons Irish patients book with us.
IMC-Registered Only
Every doctor is Irish Medical Council-verified not overseas.
Same-Day, 7 Days a Week
Evenings and weekends. No three-week waits for a routine slot.
No Waiting Room Exposure
Stay home, avoid spreading the illness, and skip sitting next to other sick patients.
Straight answers about antibiotics, COVID-19 testing, inhalers, and what online respiratory care covers in Ireland.
01
Are online sick certificates legally valid in Ireland?
Yes. A sick certificate is legally valid in Ireland if it is issued by a doctor registered with the Irish Medical Council (IMC) and confirms that you are unfit to work for the specified dates. Irish law does not require the cert to be issued in person. Employers, HR departments, payroll, schools, creches, and the Department of Social Protection accept digital certs from IMC-registered doctors.
02
How many paid sick days am I entitled to in Ireland?
Since 1 January 2024, eligible employees in Ireland have the right to 5 paid sick days per calendar year under the Sick Leave Act 2022. Pay is 70% of your normal daily earnings up to a cap of €110 per day. You must have completed 13 weeks of continuous service with your employer to qualify. The entitlement applies to full-time, part-time, apprentices, trainees, and agency workers. Unused days do not carry over into the next year. Sources: Citizens Information, Workplace Relations Commission, gov.ie.
03
Do I need a sick cert from day 1 or after a few days?
To claim Statutory Sick Pay, you need to be certified as unfit to work from day 1. There are no waiting days for SSP in Ireland. However, many employers have a self-certification policy for short absences (typically 2 to 3 days) where a medical cert is not required. Check your employment contract or HR policy. If you want to claim the paid SSP entitlement, or your absence is longer than your self-cert allowance, you need a GP cert.
04
What is the Sick Leave Act 2022?
The Sick Leave Act 2022 is the Irish legislation that gave employees a legal right to paid sick leave. It came into effect on 1 January 2023 with 3 days, increased to 5 days from 1 January 2024, and remained at 5 days in 2025 and 2026. The Government paused the planned expansion to 7 and 10 days following an ESRI review of the scheme's impact on businesses. Enforcement is handled by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).
05
What is the difference between Statutory Sick Pay and Illness Benefit (MED1)?
Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is the first 5 paid sick days in a calendar year, paid by your employer. Illness Benefit is the Department of Social Protection payment that kicks in after your SSP days are used up. It is applied for through MyWelfare.ie using a MED1 certificate. Illness Benefit requires 104 weeks of PRSI contributions and is currently around €232 per week for a qualified adult. The first MED1 cert often needs an in-person GP visit depending on your circumstances. We issue the standard SSP sick cert online and advise you on the MED1 pathway when needed.
06
What happens if I need more than 5 sick days?
Once your Statutory Sick Pay days are used in the calendar year, you may be entitled to Illness Benefit from the Department of Social Protection via MyWelfare.ie, subject to PRSI contribution history. Your doctor can arrange a follow-up consultation to extend your cert and advise you on the Illness Benefit application process.
07
Can I get a sick cert for mental health without my employer knowing the reason?
Yes. Our sick certs only confirm the dates you are unfit to work, along with the doctor's details. Your diagnosis is never stated on the cert, so your employer does not see the clinical reason for your absence. This is fully in line with GDPR and medical privacy, and applies equally to mental health conditions, physical illness, and any other condition.
08
Can you issue a retrospective sick cert for days I was already off?
Retrospective certification is limited. Our doctors may be able to backdate a cert by 1 or 2 days where clinically reasonable, but longer backdating is generally not possible, and Irish employers are not legally required to accept retrospective certs. The best approach is to book as soon as you are unwell rather than waiting until you are back on your feet.
09
Can I use this service for my child's school absence?
Yes. For children aged 1 and older, a parent or guardian books through our Paediatric Consultation service. The doctor assesses the child during the video call and issues a digital cert for the school or creche the same day. Irish primary schools and creches accept digital certs from IMC-registered doctors.
10
Can I extend my sick cert if I am still unwell?
Yes. Book a follow-up consultation and your doctor reviews your recovery, extends the cert where clinically appropriate, and updates the return-to-work date. The extension is emailed the same day and no extra cert fee applies beyond the consultation.
11
Who accepts online sick certs issued by Doctor247?
Irish employers, HR departments, payroll, schools, creches, colleges, universities, and the Department of Social Protection. Our certs are issued on letterhead with an IMC-registered doctor's digital signature, which makes them accepted nationwide in Ireland.