Online sick certs · Ireland
Sick notes by condition
Issued online by IMC-registered Irish doctors. €33. Same-day in most cases. Pick your condition below and see exactly what we can certify.
IMC-registered doctors
Same-day in most cases
Refund if no cert issued
Employer-accepted under Sick Leave Act 2022
€33Flat fee. No hidden costs.
2–6 hrsTypical turnaround
30+Conditions covered
A sick cert isn’t a generic document. Migraine, food poisoning, and acute lower back pain need different clinical questions, different recovery windows, and different durations. This page exists because patients keep asking the same thing: “Will you issue a cert for X?”
Honest answer: it depends on what X is, how long you’ve had it, and whether your case needs an in-person exam to rule something serious out. Below is the directory of conditions our IMC-registered doctors routinely certify online, grouped by category. Every linked page explains the typical duration and, just as importantly, the cases where we’ll send you to your GP or to A&E instead.
At a glance
| Cost | €33 flat. Full refund if no cert is issued. |
| Turnaround | 2–6 hours typical. Same-day in most cases. |
| Who signs | IMC-registered doctor. Name and reg number on every cert. |
| Verification | Unique reference number + QR code for employers. |
| Legal basis | Sick Leave Act 2022 |
Conditions we certify
Select a category to see the dedicated condition page, typical cert duration, and clinical criteria.
Respiratory & ENT
Typical cert: 3–5 days
The most common short-duration certs we issue. Flu season in Ireland runs October–April, with the clearest spike between mid-November and February.
- Influenza (flu)
- Common cold
- Sore throat
- Acute sinusitis
- Acute bronchitis
- Persistent cough
- Laryngitis
- COVID-19
Digestive & Gastrointestinal
Typical cert: 1–3 days
For most gastroenteritis cases, 24–48 hours is what’s needed. If you work in food handling, healthcare, or childcare, Irish public health guidance recommends staying off for at least 48 hours after symptoms clear.
- Gastroenteritis
- Food poisoning
- Acute diarrhoea
- Nausea & vomiting
- IBS flare-up
- Acid reflux flare
Pain & Musculoskeletal
Typical cert: 2–5 days
Acute lower back pain is one of the most common reasons for short-term absence in Ireland. We certify mild to moderate cases where rest and home management is appropriate.
- Migraine
- Tension headache
- Acute lower back pain
- Neck pain
- Muscle strain
- Mild sprain
- Joint pain
Mental Health & Stress
Typical cert: 3–7 days
Under the Sick Leave Act 2022, mental health is treated identically to physical illness. 24% of Irish workers took mental health leave in 2024. Your employer is not entitled to know your diagnosis — the cert states “medical reasons”. That’s it.
- Work-related stress
- Burnout
- Anxiety
- Depression (mild, acute)
- Panic attacks
- Acute insomnia
Women’s Health
Typical cert: 1–3 days
Period pain and UTIs are two of the most under-certified conditions in Irish workplaces. Dysmenorrhoea severe enough to keep you from work is a clinical reason for absence — no different to a migraine or any other condition.
- Period pain
- Heavy periods
- UTI (uncomplicated)
- Menopausal symptoms
Skin, Allergies & Other
Varies by condition
From eczema flares to conjunctivitis and vertigo — conditions that don’t fit neatly into one category but are still valid, certifiable reasons for absence when they impact your ability to work.
- Eczema flare
- Psoriasis flare
- Severe hay fever
- Shingles
- Cold sores
- Conjunctivitis
- Vertigo
How condition-specific assessment works
The form adapts to what you tell us. It’s the clinical history a GP would take — from your phone, at 11pm on a Sunday.
1
Pick your condition
Select from the categories above. The form adjusts its questions to match your symptoms.
2
Complete the form
Takes 3–5 minutes. Secure, GDPR-compliant, and reviewed by a real doctor — not an algorithm.
3
Doctor reviews
An IMC-registered doctor reads your case. If more information is needed, they’ll call you.
4
Cert emailed to you
Signed, with the doctor’s name and IMC number. Includes a QR code for employer verification.
Who reviews your case
Sicknote.com is co-founded and clinically supervised by Dr. Viktor Simunović. Every certificate is signed by one of our IMC-registered doctors — name and reg number on every cert. Verify at medicalcouncil.ie.
Dr. Viktor Simunović, M.D.
Co-founder & Medical Director
10+ years GP experience · Clinical protocols & oversight
Dr. Simunović has more than ten years of GP experience running his own practice, is published as an author on health and longevity, and built the clinical protocols this platform runs on.
“Every patient deserves access to quality healthcare without barriers. We bring the doctor’s office to you — with the same professional standards, accuracy, and care you’d expect in person.”
Certificates signed by
Dr. Ammar Haider Malik, M.B.B.S.
IMC Reg. No. 507884
Senior Physician & Surgical Specialist with four years’ post-graduation experience across general surgery, hepatobiliary surgery, infectious diseases, and internal medicine.
Dr. Suranga Senanayake, M.D.
IMC Reg. No. 404782
Senior Medical Officer with the Health Service Executive (HSE) since 2021, with 13 years’ clinical experience across general practice, acute medicine, and hospital settings in Ireland and internationally.
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers to the things people actually want to know.
Yes. Under the Sick Leave Act 2022, employers must accept a medical certificate signed by a registered medical practitioner. The Act doesn't specify the consultation format — in person, by phone, or online — and Irish law has no requirement for a physical paper cert. If an employer rejects a valid IMC-signed cert, that's a matter for the Workplace Relations Commission.
No. Standard practice in Ireland is to state "medical reasons" or "illness". Your specific condition is private medical information protected under GDPR and the Medical Council's Guide to Professional Conduct and Ethics (9th edition, 2024). The cert confirms you're unfit for work for a defined period. That's all your employer is entitled to see.
Most online certs are issued for 1 to 5 days. Longer periods can be certified if the clinical picture justifies it, but a follow-up assessment is usually required to extend beyond a week. Chronic conditions and anything needing ongoing management belongs with your regular GP.
Online services in Ireland cannot issue the Department of Social Protection's Certificate of Incapacity for Work. For Illness Benefit, you need an in-person GP appointment, and your GP submits the cert electronically through the eCert system. The MyWelfare.ie portal lets you check claim status.
Probably yes. The categories above cover the most common requests but aren't exhaustive. Start an assessment, describe what's going on in your own words, and a doctor will decide whether your case is suitable for online certification. If it isn't, you'll be told why and refunded in full.
Start your assessment
€33 · Same-day in most cases · IMC-registered doctors · Full refund if no cert is issued
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Not for emergencies
Sicknote.com is not an emergency service. If you or someone else is in danger or needs urgent medical attention, call 112 (emergency services) or 999, or go to your nearest Emergency Department. For urgent but non-emergency GP advice, contact your GP practice or call GP Out of Hours (Caredoc / SouthDoc) depending on your region.
