Video or phone GP consultations with IMC-registered doctors across Ireland. Sick notes and certificates when suitable. If you need follow-up care, your GP will advise you on next steps. From €35.99, 7 days a week.

Sick Cert Online Ireland: How to Get a Medical Certificate from an Online GP

If illness or injury means you cannot work or study, you may need a sick cert. An online GP can assess you by phone or video and may issue a medical certificate when it is clinically appropriate.

A sick cert is also called a sick note or a doctor’s note.

If illness or injury means you cannot work, study, or manage your normal daily duties, you may need a medical certificate for work. Many people call this a sick cert, sick note, sick certificate, or doctor’s note.

With an online GP appointment, you can speak to a doctor by phone or video from home, work, or anywhere suitable in Ireland. The GP will assess your symptoms and decide whether a medical certificate is clinically appropriate. A certificate is not automatic, because the doctor must make an independent clinical decision after speaking with you.

What Is a Sick Cert or Sick Note?

A sick cert is a medical certificate issued by a registered medical practitioner. It confirms that, because of illness or injury, you are not fit to work for a stated period.

In Ireland, employees seeking statutory sick leave must provide a medical certificate from a registered medical practitioner confirming they are unfit for work due to illness or injury. Employees also need 13 weeks of continuous service with their employer before they can access statutory sick leave.

Your employer may have its own absence-reporting and sick-pay policy. It is sensible to check this policy as soon as possible, especially if you expect to be out of work for more than a day or two.

Can You Get a Sick Certificate Online?

Yes, an online GP can assess you remotely and may issue a medical certificate where this is safe and clinically appropriate. An online appointment can be useful when you are unwell, cannot easily travel, or need timely GP advice.

During the consultation, the GP may ask about:

  • Your symptoms and when they started
  • How your symptoms affect your ability to work
  • Any relevant medical history or medication
  • Whether you have tried treatment already
  • The type of work you do
  • The dates you have been unable to work

The GP may decide that an online consultation is appropriate, request more information, or advise an in-person examination instead. Doctors using telemedicine still need to follow professional standards for assessment, record-keeping, and patient safety.

How to Get a Sick Note or Sick Cert Online

Getting a sick cert online in Ireland is straightforward, but the final decision always rests with the GP.

1. Book an Online GP Appointment

Start by booking a phone or video GP consultation with BookMyDoc. Choose a time that works for you, and provide accurate contact details when booking. You can also follow how to book a GP appointment online.

An online consultation can save you from travelling while you are feeling unwell. It also gives you a private opportunity to discuss your symptoms with an IMC-registered GP.

2. Explain Your Symptoms Clearly

During your appointment, explain what has been happening and how it is affecting you. Be open about your symptoms, their duration, and any concerns you may have.

For example, if you have had vomiting and diarrhoea since the previous evening, tell the GP when it began, whether you can keep fluids down, and whether you have fever, severe pain, dizziness, or blood in your stool. This helps the doctor decide what care is appropriate.

3. The GP Assesses Your Situation

The GP will consider whether your symptoms can be safely assessed by phone or video. They may provide self-care advice, recommend treatment, discuss whether you need an in-person review, or advise urgent medical care if needed.

If the GP believes you are medically unfit for work, they may issue a medical certificate for an appropriate period. The certificate should reflect the clinical assessment, rather than simply the number of days requested.

4. Receive Your Certificate If Issued

Where a certificate is issued, you may receive it electronically so you can provide it to your employer, school, college, or other organisation that requested it.

Keep a copy for your own records. Check that your name and the relevant dates are correct before you send it on.

What Does a Medical Certificate for Work Include?

A medical certificate generally confirms that a person has been assessed and is unfit for work for a specified period. It may include the patient’s name, assessment date, recommended absence period, and the doctor’s professional details.

For statutory sick leave purposes, the certificate must state that the named employee is unfit to work because of illness or injury.

Medical information is private. Your employer should only receive the information needed to manage your absence, and you should not feel pressured to share detailed health information beyond what is necessary.

When Might You Need a Sick Certificate?

You may need a sick cert for several reasons, depending on your employer, course provider, or organisation.

  • You are unable to work because of a short-term illness or injury.
  • Your employer asks for medical evidence of absence.
  • You need a certificate for statutory sick leave.
  • You are unwell during annual leave and need medical evidence.
  • You need to explain an absence from college, university, or training.
  • You need written confirmation that you should not carry out your usual duties.

When you need a doctors note

A school, college, or employer often asks for a doctors note. Some still say doctor’s note. It is the same medical certificate as a sick cert: the GP writes it after assessing you, for the dates that fit.

An online doctor’s note is that certificate after a phone or video visit, when a remote visit is safe. Many people search for an online doctor sick note, which is the same certificate. Say who asked and which dates. The GP will not add days they have not assessed. Check the school or workplace rule before you book, because formats differ. Some Illness Benefit forms still have to come from your registered GP.

If HR wants a fit-to-work or workplace certificate, rather than time off, use medical and fit-to-work certificates online. A sick cert is not that document.

Those days off often follow a cough or cold, flu symptoms, or a sore throat. Going back to work uses a fit to work certificate, which is not this sick cert.

When an Online Consultation May Not Be Suitable

Online GP appointments can help with many everyday health concerns, but they are not suitable for every situation. The GP may advise you to attend a GP surgery, out-of-hours service, urgent-care centre, or hospital if you need a physical examination, tests, or immediate treatment.

Seek urgent help by calling 112 or 999 if you have severe chest pain, serious breathing difficulty, signs of stroke, severe allergic reaction, heavy bleeding, loss of consciousness, or another life-threatening emergency.

Do not delay urgent care while waiting for a sick certificate. Your health always comes first.

Tips Before Your Appointment

A little preparation can help the GP understand your situation quickly.

  • Write down when your symptoms started.
  • Note any fever, pain, medication, allergies, or relevant health conditions.
  • Have your employer’s absence requirements available if you know them.
  • Join a video appointment from a quiet, private place where possible.
  • Be honest about what you can and cannot manage at work.
  • Ask the GP what you should do if your symptoms worsen.

For instance, someone with a migraine may be unable to use screens, drive safely, or focus during a full shift. Explaining how symptoms affect your job helps the GP make a more useful assessment.

Book an Online GP Appointment

A weekday visit is from €35.99, and the exact price is shown before booking.

If you are unwell and need medical advice, you can book an online GP appointment with BookMyDoc. You can discuss your symptoms privately with an IMC-registered GP by phone or video.

If the GP decides that a sick cert is clinically appropriate, they can explain the next steps. If an online consultation is not suitable for your condition, the GP can advise you on the safest option for further care.

Book an online GP appointment with BookMyDoc today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a sick cert online in Ireland?

An online GP can assess your condition by phone or video and may issue a medical certificate, also called a sick certificate, where clinically appropriate. The GP makes the final decision after considering your symptoms and circumstances. Paying for the visit does not buy a note.

Is a sick cert the same as a sick note?

Yes. In everyday language, “sick cert,” “sick note,” “sick certificate,” “doctor’s note,” and “medical certificate for work” are commonly used to describe documentation confirming that someone is medically unfit for work or normal duties. The GP still decides whether one is appropriate.

Do I need a sick cert for one day off work?

Your employer’s policy may determine when you need to submit a certificate. However, statutory sick leave requires medical certification from day one, subject to the eligibility requirements under the legislation. A certificate is issued only if the GP decides it is clinically appropriate.

Will an online GP always issue a medical certificate?

No. A medical certificate, or sick note, is not guaranteed. The GP must assess whether it is clinically appropriate and whether remote consultation is suitable for your condition.

Can I use a medical certificate for Illness Benefit?

Illness Benefit has its own process and may require a Certificate of Incapacity for Work from your family doctor, alongside an application through the Department of Social Protection. A BookMyDoc medical certificate is not that form.

What if my symptoms get worse?

Contact a healthcare professional for advice. For severe or life-threatening symptoms, call 112 or 999 immediately. Do not wait for a sick certificate if you need urgent care.

Can I get a doctor’s note for school or college?

Yes, when an IMC-registered GP has assessed you and a certificate is clinically appropriate. It covers the person they spoke to, for dates that match that assessment. Paying for the visit does not buy the note.

Will my employer accept a doctor’s note from an online GP?

That depends on their policy. The GP can issue a medical certificate when it is clinically appropriate. They cannot promise a workplace will accept every format.

What is a doctors note?

People type doctors note when they mean a sick cert. An IMC-registered GP may issue one after a phone or video visit, when it is clinically appropriate. It covers the dates that match that assessment. The GP will not date it for days they have not assessed. Paying for the visit does not buy the note.

Can I get a sick note online in Ireland?

An Irish Medical Council registered GP can issue one after a video or phone consultation, only when they decide it is clinically appropriate. No backdating, no guarantees.

This article provides general information only and does not replace personal medical advice. Speak with a qualified healthcare professional about your individual symptoms. In an emergency, call 112 or 999.