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How to Submit Sick Leave in Germany: Deadlines, Rules and Tips 2026

February 16, 2026

Sick Leave in Germany 2026: What Has Changed?

The process of reporting sick leave in Germany has undergone a fundamental transformation in recent years. Since 1 January 2023, the electronic certificate of incapacity for work (eAU) has been mandatory for all employees covered by statutory health insurance. The traditional yellow paper slip is a thing of the past. However, there are still important rules and deadlines in 2026 that employees need to know to avoid legal problems and loss of pay.

This comprehensive guide explains step by step how to correctly report sick leave in 2026, which deadlines apply and what consequences you may face for non-compliance.

The Electronic Certificate of Incapacity (eAU)

How the eAU Works

The eAU has replaced the former three-part yellow paper certificate. In 2026, the process works as follows:

1. Doctor's visit: You visit your doctor and receive a diagnosis 2. Digital transmission: The doctor transmits the certificate of incapacity electronically to your health insurance fund (Krankenkasse) 3. Employer retrieval: Your employer retrieves the eAU electronically from the health insurance fund 4. Patient printout: You receive a printout from the doctor for your own records

What This Means for You as an Employee

Although your employer can retrieve the eAU digitally, your obligations as an employee remain:

  • You must inform your employer immediately about your incapacity for work
  • You must visit a doctor in good time so that the eAU can be created
  • The patient printout serves as your personal proof

    • Important: Employees with private health insurance are exempt from the eAU system and must continue to submit a paper certificate.

    Deadlines for Reporting Sick: The 3-Day Rule

    The Legal Framework

    Under Section 5(1) of the Continued Remuneration Act (Entgeltfortzahlungsgesetz, EFZG), the following deadlines apply:

  • Immediate notification obligation: You must inform your employer on the first day of illness about your incapacity and its expected duration
  • Medical certificate: A medical certificate must be provided by the fourth day of incapacity at the latest (that is, if you are sick for more than three calendar days)

    • Special Provisions in Your Employment Contract

    Many employers have established stricter rules in their employment contract or company agreements:

  • Some require a medical certificate from the first day of illness
  • Others set the deadline at the second day
  • These stricter provisions are legally permissible

    • Tip: Check your employment contract carefully to know the deadline that applies to you.

    Calculating the Deadline: Calendar Days or Working Days?

    The 3-day deadline refers to calendar days, not working days. This means:

  • If you fall ill on Monday, you must present a certificate by Thursday at the latest
  • Weekends and public holidays count towards the deadline
  • If you fall ill on Friday, you must see a doctor by Monday at the latest

    • Obligations Towards Your Employer

    Immediate Notification

    The notification obligation requires you to inform your employer as early as possible:

  • Before the start of your shift or at the latest when your regular working hours begin
  • By telephone, email or through the company system, depending on what has been agreed
  • Including the expected duration of your absence

    • What You Must Tell Your Employer

    You are obliged to provide the following information:

  • The fact of incapacity: That you are ill
  • Expected duration: How long you are likely to be absent
  • Contact details: How you can be reached

    • You are not obliged to disclose:

  • The nature of your illness or diagnosis
  • Details about your state of health
  • Whether the illness is self-inflicted

    • Follow-Up Certificates for Extended Illness

    If your illness lasts longer than originally certified, you must:

  • Inform your employer again
  • Obtain a follow-up certificate (Folge-eAU) from your doctor
  • The follow-up certificate must connect seamlessly to the previous one, leaving no uncovered days

    • Obligations Towards Your Health Insurance Fund

    Reporting to Your Krankenkasse

    In addition to your employer, you have obligations towards your statutory health insurance fund:

  • The eAU is transmitted automatically from the doctor to the health insurance fund
  • For incapacity lasting more than six weeks, you must inform the Krankenkasse about your continued incapacity
  • If you miss this notification, your entitlement to Krankengeld (sickness benefit) may be suspended

    • Deadlines for the Krankenkasse

  • The notification must be made within one week of the start of incapacity
  • If the deadline is missed, the Krankengeld entitlement is suspended from the day of the missed deadline until the notification is submitted
  • Warning: Suspended days are not paid retroactively

    • Continued Pay and Krankengeld: What Happens After 6 Weeks?

    The First 6 Weeks: Continued Pay from Your Employer

    During the first six weeks (42 calendar days) of illness, your employer continues to pay your salary. This applies:

  • To all employees whose employment relationship has existed for at least four weeks
  • Regardless of whether you work full-time, part-time or in a Minijob
  • At the full amount of your regular gross salary

    • After 6 Weeks: Krankengeld from the Health Insurance Fund

    From the seventh week, your statutory health insurance fund takes over payments in the form of Krankengeld:

  • Amount: 70 per cent of gross salary, capped at 90 per cent of net salary
  • Upper limit 2026: Krankengeld is capped at the contribution assessment ceiling (2026: 5,512.50 EUR monthly gross as the calculation basis)
  • Maximum duration: 78 weeks (72 weeks of Krankengeld after the 6 weeks of continued pay) within three years for the same illness
  • Application: Krankengeld is generally initiated automatically once continued pay ends

    • Calculating Krankengeld

    Krankengeld is calculated as follows:

    1. Determine regular pay: Your average gross salary over the last three months 2. Calculate 70 per cent of gross salary 3. Check whether this amount exceeds 90 per cent of net salary (the lower figure applies) 4. Deduct social insurance contributions (pension, unemployment and long-term care insurance)

    Example: With a gross salary of 3,500 EUR, you would receive approximately 2,450 EUR gross Krankengeld (70 per cent), from which social insurance contributions are deducted. Your net amount would be roughly 2,150 EUR.

    Use the salary calculator on PayStat.de to calculate your net pay precisely.

    Rights During Sick Leave

    Protection Against Dismissal

    Many employees fear being dismissed while on sick leave. Here are the facts:

  • Dismissal during sick leave is fundamentally possible -- illness alone does not protect against dismissal
  • However, a dismissal on grounds of illness is only permissible under strict conditions:
    • - Negative health prognosis: It must be expected that the illness will continue - Significant impairment of business interests - Balancing of interests in favour of the employer

    Holiday and Illness

  • If you fall ill during your holiday, the sick days are not counted as holiday days (with a medical certificate)
  • Holiday entitlements do not expire because of illness but remain valid for up to 15 months after the end of the holiday year
  • You may not take holiday during sick leave, as holiday is intended for recreation and recovery is not possible during illness

    • Conduct During Sick Leave

  • You must not engage in activities that jeopardise your recovery
  • Bed rest is not automatically prescribed -- anything that does not harm your recovery is permitted
  • Shopping, walks and doctor's visits are generally allowed
  • A sick note does not mean you are confined to your home

    • Special Cases

    Sick Leave for Children

    When your child falls ill and you need to care for them:

  • Employees with statutory insurance are entitled to child sickness benefit (Kinderkrankengeld)
  • Each parent is entitled to 10 working days per child per year (single parents: 20 days)
  • With multiple children, a maximum of 25 working days (single parents: 50 days)
  • The child must be under 12 years old (no age limit for children with disabilities)
  • Also check the parental allowance regulations for 2026

    • Sick Leave During the Probation Period

  • The same sick leave obligations apply during the probation period
  • However, entitlement to continued pay only begins after four weeks of uninterrupted employment
  • The notice period during probation is only two weeks

    • Sick Leave Abroad

    If you fall ill while on holiday abroad:

  • Inform your employer immediately
  • Visit a local doctor
  • Provide your employer with your address abroad
  • Inform your health insurance fund about the illness abroad
  • Upon returning to Germany, visit your regular doctor promptly

    • Common Mistakes When Reporting Sick

    1. Late Notification to the Employer

    The most common mistake: failing to inform the employer in time. Always report sick before the start of your shift or as early as possible.

    Consequence: Late notification can lead to a written warning and, if repeated, even dismissal.

    2. Gaps in Follow-Up Certificates

    During extended illness, many people forget to have the follow-up certificate issued in time. There must be no single day without a valid certificate.

    Consequence: Gaps can cause the health insurance fund to suspend Krankengeld or the employer to withhold continued pay.

    3. Inappropriate Conduct During Sick Leave

    Activities that contradict your recovery can become problematic:

  • Exercising when signed off with flu
  • Working a side job during incapacity
  • Going out to parties and posting photos on social media

    • Consequence: The employer may issue a written warning or even summary dismissal.

    4. Visiting the Doctor on the Wrong Day

    Some employees wait too long before seeing a doctor and miss the certificate deadline.

    Tip: When in doubt, visit the doctor on the first day of illness, even if your employment contract only requires a certificate from the third day.

    5. Failing to Inform the Health Insurance Fund

    Particularly during extended illness, employees forget to inform their Krankenkasse about continued incapacity.

    Consequence: Your Krankengeld entitlement may be suspended -- meaning you temporarily receive no payments.

    6. Poor Documentation

    Many employees do not document their sick leave carefully:

  • Not keeping patient printouts
  • Not noting the time of notification to the employer
  • Not saving emails or text messages as proof

    • Tip: Keep all documents for at least three years.

    Step-by-Step Guide: Reporting Sick Correctly in 2026

    Step 1: Inform Your Employer Immediately

  • Call or send an email before your shift starts
  • State that you are ill and how long you expect to be absent
  • Record the time of your notification

    • Step 2: Visit Your Doctor

  • See your GP within the applicable deadline
  • Describe your symptoms fully
  • The doctor creates the eAU and transmits it to your health insurance fund

    • Step 3: Obtain Follow-Up Certificates for Extended Illness

  • Visit the doctor again in good time before your current certificate expires
  • Ensure the follow-up certificate connects seamlessly

    • Step 4: Inform Your Health Insurance Fund (for Illness Beyond 6 Weeks)

  • Contact your Krankenkasse and report your continued incapacity
  • Apply for Krankengeld if necessary
  • Use the service status page on PayStat.de to check the availability of your health insurance fund

    • Step 5: Behave in a Way That Supports Recovery

  • Follow your doctor's instructions
  • Avoid activities that could jeopardise your recovery
  • Remain reachable for enquiries from your employer or health insurance fund

    • Checklist: Sick Leave 2026

  • [ ] Employer informed before the start of the shift
  • [ ] Expected duration of illness communicated
  • [ ] Doctor visited within the applicable deadline
  • [ ] eAU transmitted by the doctor to the health insurance fund
  • [ ] Patient printout received for personal records
  • [ ] For extended illness: follow-up certificate obtained in time
  • [ ] For illness beyond 6 weeks: health insurance fund informed
  • [ ] All documents and records filed and stored

    • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

    Do I have to tell my employer why I am ill?

    No. You are not obliged to disclose the nature of your illness. You only need to report the fact of your incapacity and the expected duration.

    Can my employer contact me during sick leave?

    Yes, but only for urgent business matters. Regular check-up calls are not permissible unless there is a justified suspicion of abuse.

    What happens if I do not report sick in time?

    Late reporting can lead to a written warning. If repeated, it may justify dismissal for misconduct. Continued pay may be withheld until the certificate is provided.

    Can I be dismissed while on sick leave?

    Yes, dismissal during sick leave is possible. There is no absolute protection against dismissal due to illness in Germany. However, strict conditions must be met, particularly for illness-related dismissals.

    How does frequent illness affect my employment?

    Frequent short-term absences (more than 30 days per year over three years) may justify dismissal on personal grounds if there is a negative health prognosis and the absences cause significant operational disruption.

    What is changing in 2026 regarding sick leave?

    The main changes in 2026 concern the improved digital infrastructure of the eAU. The retrieval rate by employers now exceeds 95 per cent. The interfaces between medical practices, health insurance funds and employers are being further optimised.

    Conclusion: Submitting Sick Leave Correctly

    A correctly submitted sick leave notification protects you from employment law consequences and secures your entitlement to continued pay and Krankengeld. The key rules for 2026 at a glance:

    1. Report immediately: Inform your employer on the first day of illness 2. Observe deadlines: Medical certificate by the fourth day at the latest (or as per your employment contract) 3. Use the eAU: The electronic certificate is transmitted automatically 4. Maintain continuity: Obtain follow-up certificates in good time 5. Inform your Krankenkasse: Especially important from the seventh week 6. Support your recovery: Avoid activities that could harm your healing 7. Document everything: Keep all records carefully

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