Does a medical certificate issued via telemedicine have legal validity?
Yes — and that is the question we receive most often.
A medical certificate issued via telemedicine has exactly the same legal validity as one issued in an in-person appointment. This is guaranteed by:
- CFM Resolution 2.314/2022 — regulates telemedicine in Brazil and equates documents issued remotely with in-person documents
- Law 14.510/2022 (Telehealth Law) — federal law that regulates telehealth throughout the national territory
- CFM Resolution 2.382/2024 — standardizes the mandatory fields of medical certificates issued digitally
- CLT art. 473 — requires employers to accept valid medical certificates to justify absences from work
In 2024, the Regional Labor Court of São Paulo (TRT-SP) ruled against a company for refusing a certificate issued via telemedicine. The decision reinforced that the refusal constitutes a labor violation — regardless of whether the certificate was issued in person or by teleconsultation.
For what purposes is the certificate valid
The medical certificate issued by Global Health doctors is valid for:
- Absence from work — justification for absence for employers, pursuant to CLT art. 473
- School absence — justification for absence in public and private educational institutions
- Gym and physical activities — fitness certificate or temporary exemption from activities
- Health plan — clinical documentation for reimbursement or coverage of procedures
- Other purposes — public exams, selection processes, and other situations that require proof of a medical appointment
The certificate issued via telemedicine does not replace the INSS medical examination for the purposes of social security leave. INSS examinations require an in-person evaluation by a medical examiner.
What the employer is required to accept
CLT art. 473 is clear: the employee may be absent from work without loss of salary when the absence is justified by a valid medical certificate.
The validity of the certificate does not depend on it being issued in person. It depends on:
- Being issued by a doctor with an active CRM
- Containing the mandatory fields defined by CFM Resolution 2.382/2024 — patient identification, doctor's CRM, date, ICD when applicable, recommended leave period, and digital signature
- Complying with CFM standards
The certificate issued by Global Health doctors meets all these requirements. Refusal by the employer — whether because it was issued via telemedicine or for any other reason that is not a formal irregularity — constitutes a labor violation, according to the TRT-SP decision in 2024.
How the certificate is issued
1. Schedule your appointment
Book an online time slot — available the same day in most cases. Select the time that works for you.
2. Video call with the general practitioner
Join the appointment through a secure, encrypted video call from your cell phone, tablet, or computer. No app download required.
3. Clinical evaluation
The doctor evaluates your symptoms, health history, and current clinical condition. Issuance of the certificate depends on this evaluation — the doctor decides based on the clinical presentation, at the professional's sole discretion.
4. Digital certificate
When clinically indicated, the doctor issues the medical certificate with ICP-Brasil digital signature directly through the platform. You receive the document digitally — ready to send to HR, the school, or any other institution. Issuance of the certificate is always at the doctor's discretion after a complete clinical evaluation. No certificate can be guaranteed before the appointment.
Certificate for what types of leave
Leave due to acute illness
Flu, respiratory infection, urinary tract infection, gastroenteritis, sore throat, conjunctivitis — acute conditions in which temporary leave is clinically justified. The doctor evaluates the duration of the recommended leave based on the clinical presentation.
Certificate for medical appointment
Many employers require a certificate to justify absence due to a medical appointment — not only due to illness. The doctor may issue an attendance statement for the appointment.
Leave for mental health
Severe anxiety, panic attack, depression — when symptoms prevent work, leave is clinically justified. The doctor evaluates the situation and issues the certificate when indicated, with the corresponding ICD code.
Certificate for physical activity
Temporary leave from physical activities due to injury, illness, or post-procedure recovery — valid for gyms, sports teams, and other activities.
Certificate with ICD — when is it necessary
The ICD (International Classification of Diseases) is the code that identifies the diagnosis on the medical certificate. Inclusion of the ICD on the certificate is optional — it may be requested by the employer but is not mandatory for the validity of the document.
When the ICD is included, it appears on the certificate according to the standards of CFM Resolution 2.382/2024. If you prefer not to have the diagnosis specified on the document, you may request that during the appointment — the doctor will assess whether omitting the ICD is appropriate for your case.
Difference between a medical certificate and medical leave through INSS
This is a very common confusion — and it is important to understand the difference:
- What it is for: Medical certificate — justify absence from work for the employer. INSS leave — social security leave to receive an INSS benefit
- Who issues it: Medical certificate — any doctor with an active CRM. INSS leave — INSS medical examiner
- How it is done: Medical certificate — medical appointment, in person or via telemedicine. INSS leave — mandatory in-person medical examination
- Deadline: Medical certificate — immediate. INSS leave — scheduling via Meu INSS
- Duration: Medical certificate — defined by the doctor. INSS leave — defined by the INSS examiner
The medical certificate issued by Global Health is to justify absences from work with the employer — it does not replace the INSS examination for social security leave.
