Krankschreibung: Sick Leave Guide in Germany
Learn how to obtain a sick leave certificate (Krankschreibung), reporting deadlines, and the digital eAU system in Germany.
Getting sick while working in Germany requires following a strict legal protocol to ensure your job and salary are protected. A sick leave certificate, historically called an Arbeitsunfähigkeitsbescheinigung and commonly known as a Krankschreibung, is the official document issued by a doctor confirming that you are unfit for work. According to German labor law, you have a right to continued payment of your salary (Entgeltfortzahlung) by your employer for up to six weeks of illness, after which your health insurance provider takes over with sick pay (Krankengeld).
Under the German civil code, you must inform your employer about your illness immediately on the first day, before your scheduled working hours. While the law officially requires you to submit the medical certificate on the fourth day of absence, employers have the legal right to demand it from the very first day. You should check your employment contract (Arbeitsvertrag) to confirm your company's specific rule.
In recent years, Germany has modernized this process by introducing the electronic sick leave system (eAU). Doctors no longer issue multiple paper copies for your employer and health insurance. Instead, the medical practice transmits the data digitally to your statutory health insurance (Krankenkasse), and your employer must retrieve it directly from the insurance portal. You only receive a personal paper copy for your own records.
📋 How to Handle Sick Leave in Germany
- 1
Inform your employer immediately
Contact your supervisor or HR department by email or phone on the first morning of your illness.
- 2
Visit a doctor (Hausarzt)
Go to a primary care doctor or use an approved telemedicine app to get diagnosed and receive a Krankschreibung.
- 3
Verify digital transmission
Confirm that the doctor's office transmits the digital eAU to your statutory health insurance company.
- 4
Request employer collection
Notify HR that your digital sick leave is ready so they can retrieve it from the insurance database.
- 5
Recover at home safely
Rest at home. You are legally allowed to do activities that promote recovery, such as short walks or buying groceries.
- 6
Submit continuation if needed
If you remain sick, visit the doctor again before your current certificate expires to get a Folgebescheinigung.
✅ Steps and Rules to Follow
- ▸Immediate notification to employer on day one (unverzügliche Krankmeldung)
- ▸Doctor visit on or before the contractually required day of illness
- ▸Verification of digital eAU transfer to the statutory health insurance (Krankenkasse)
- ▸Keeping your personal paper copy (Ausfertigung für den Versicherten) safe
- ▸Monitoring the six-week limit for full salary payments (Entgeltfortzahlung)
- ▸Informing the insurer immediately if your illness is due to a workplace accident
⚠️ Common Sick Leave Pitfalls
- ✕Failing to notify your employer on the first morning of absence, which can lead to formal warnings (Abmahnung)
- ✕Assuming the doctor sends the eAU to private employers if you are privately insured, since eAU only works for statutory health insurance
- ✕Traveling abroad during sick leave without obtaining prior approval from your health insurance provider
- ✕Failing to get a follow-up certificate (Folgebescheinigung) before the current one expires, creating a gap in your sick pay
💶 Medical Fees & Salary Coverage
Obtaining a sick leave certificate from a doctor is completely free of charge (€0) if you are covered by statutory health insurance (Krankenkasse). Your employer pays 100% of your regular salary for up to 6 weeks of illness. After 6 weeks, the insurance company pays sick pay (Krankengeld) at approximately 70% of your gross salary, capped at a maximum of €120.75 per day (estimated for 2026). Always consult your health insurance provider for specific details.
📖 Sick Leave Vocabulary
- die Krankschreibung
- Sick leave certificate
- die Arbeitsunfähigkeit
- Inability to work
- die Krankmeldung
- Notification of illness to employer
- die Entgeltfortzahlung
- Continued payment of salary during illness
- das Krankengeld
- Sick pay (paid by health insurance after 6 weeks)
- die Krankenkasse
- Health insurance provider
- die Erstbescheinigung
- Initial sick leave certificate
- die Folgebescheinigung
- Follow-up sick leave certificate
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
When do I need to submit the sick leave certificate?+
By law, on the fourth day of illness, but your contract may require it on the very first day. Check your agreement.
Do I have to tell my employer what illness I have?+
No. You are legally protected; the diagnosis is confidential and not visible on the employer's copy of the certificate.
What is the eAU?+
It is the electronic sick leave certificate transmitted digitally from the doctor to your health insurance company.
How long does the employer pay my full salary when I am sick?+
Up to six weeks for the same illness. After that, your health insurance pays Krankengeld (sick pay).
Can I go outside while on sick leave?+
Yes, you can leave the house for recovery-friendly activities like walks, buying food, or visiting the pharmacy.
Can I be fired while on sick leave?+
Yes. German law does not fully protect you from dismissal during illness, though strict rules under the Protection Against Dismissal Act apply.
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