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Medical Certificate for Sick Leave

Medical certificates for absence from work due to illness. Our doctors, registered with the Portuguese Medical Association, assess your symptoms by secure video consultation and, when clinically indicated, issue a medical certificate of absence — accepted by employers and educational institutions, available on the same day. For situations requiring a longer period of incapacity, with entitlement to sickness benefit, your doctor can assess this need during the consultation and, when clinically appropriate, issue a formal sick note with notification to Social Security.

We also have Medicare for this service.

Registered doctors · PortugalSecure video consultationConfidential & GDPR-compliant

Clinically reviewed by Dr Tiago Miguel Figueira· OM | 77986

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€35per consultation
  • 15-minute appointment
  • Doctor registered in Portugal
  • Instant confirmation by email
  • Consultation summary included
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About this service

What This Service Includes

This service is a complete medical assessment that results, when clinically indicated, in the issuance of the appropriate documentation for your situation:

Medical certificate of absence — a simple, straightforward document confirming your clinical assessment and justified absence due to illness, accepted by most employers and educational institutions in Portugal. Suitable for most short-term illness situations.

Formal sick note — when the clinical assessment justifies a longer period of incapacity, your doctor can issue the Temporary Incapacity for Work Certificate, with direct electronic notification to Social Security.

The decision on which document is clinically appropriate — certificate of absence, formal sick note, or neither — is made exclusively by the doctor, based on the assessment carried out.

Situations Commonly Assessed

Our doctors regularly assess patients with:

  • Flu, viral infections, and acute respiratory illness
  • Fever and acute illness
  • Chest infections and severe cough
  • Gastroenteritis — vomiting, diarrhoea, and abdominal symptoms
  • Migraine and severe headaches
  • Lower back pain and musculoskeletal injuries affecting ability to work
  • Acute stress, anxiety, and burnout symptoms
  • COVID-19 and respiratory symptoms
  • Worsening of chronic conditions — asthma, diabetes, hypertension
  • Minor injuries affecting functional ability to work

Each case is assessed individually to determine functional capacity and the clinically appropriate documentation.

What Your Consultation Includes

Complete Medical Assessment. Your doctor reviews your symptoms, clinical history, the demands of your job, and your general health status, building a complete clinical picture before any decision.

Determination of Fitness for Work. Based on the assessment, your doctor determines whether you are clinically fit to work, need short-term rest, or a longer recovery period.

Documentation Appropriate to Your Situation. If the assessment justifies it, your doctor issues the clinically appropriate documentation — a medical certificate of absence for most situations, or a formal sick note with notification to Social Security when the period of incapacity justifies it.

Referral or Follow-Up, When Necessary. If your situation requires further assessment, specialist support, or in-person observation, your doctor informs you clearly and coordinates the next steps.

Important Information Before Booking

  • The decision on which documentation to issue — and its duration — is a clinical decision made exclusively by the doctor, after a complete assessment, and cannot be guaranteed in advance
  • Requests without clinical justification cannot be approved
  • Retroactive documentation is not usually issued, due to the absence of direct clinical assessment at the time of the illness
  • When issued, the formal sick note is communicated electronically to Social Security as part of the standard procedure
  • If your situation is worsening, or you have concerns about a more serious underlying illness, your doctor will advise you on the appropriate referral

Why Choose Our Care

Same-day access. No days waiting for an appointment when you're already unwell. Same-day availability to be assessed and, if applicable, documented, when you need it.

Doctors registered with the Portuguese Medical Association. All assessments are carried out by doctors registered with the Portuguese Medical Association, at standard primary-care clinical level.

Documentation appropriate to your actual situation. We don't always issue the same type of document — your doctor assesses your situation and determines whether a simple certificate is sufficient, or whether your condition justifies a formal sick note.

Secure and confidential. Your consultation is carried out by encrypted video call, in full compliance with Portuguese data protection and telemedicine standards.

Assessed, not automatic. Every document we issue reflects a genuine clinical assessment. Our doctors take your health seriously — not just the documentation.

Doctors in Portugal

Licensed GPs available for online consultations. Each profile lists qualifications, languages, and registration.

  • Dra. Joana Branco Maia, General Practitioner / PsychologistPORTUGAL
    General Practitioner / Psychologist

    Dra. Joana Branco Maia

    Registration

    OM | 64572

    Languages

    Portuguese, English, Spanish

  • Dra. Margarida Domingues e Andrade, General DoctorPORTUGAL
    General Doctor

    Dra. Margarida Domingues e Andrade

    Registration

    OM | 78297

    Languages

    Portuguese, English, Spanish

Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a medical certificate of absence and a formal sick note?

A medical certificate of absence is a simple document confirming your clinical assessment and justified absence due to illness, accepted by employers and educational institutions. The formal sick note corresponds to the Temporary Incapacity for Work Certificate, with notification to Social Security, and is linked to sickness benefit for longer periods of incapacity. For most short-term illness situations, the medical certificate of absence is sufficient — but if your condition justifies a longer period, your doctor can issue a formal sick note.

Will my employer accept the medical certificate issued through this service?

Yes. Medical certificates issued by our doctors, registered with the Portuguese Medical Association, are accepted by most employers and educational institutions in Portugal as valid proof of illness.

Can I request a formal sick note directly instead of a certificate of absence?

You can mention your preference during the consultation, but the final decision on which documentation is clinically appropriate rests with the doctor, based on the assessment carried out. If your situation does not justify a formal sick note, the doctor explains the reasons and proposes the appropriate documentation.

Can I get retroactive documentation?

Retroactive documentation is not usually issued, since our doctors cannot clinically assess a period of illness they did not directly observe. If you were unwell previously and need related documentation, discuss the situation with the doctor during the consultation.

Is the documentation guaranteed after the consultation?

No. The decision on what documentation to issue is a clinical judgement made by the doctor, based on the assessment carried out. If the clinical findings do not justify any documentation, the doctor informs you of the appropriate next steps.

How quickly do I receive my document?

When issued, the document is processed electronically on the same day as the consultation. In the case of a formal sick note, notification to Social Security is done directly by the doctor.

Can I use this service if I am self-employed or a freelancer?

Yes. The clinical assessment is the same regardless of your employment status. Your doctor clarifies, during the consultation, the specific implications of the documentation for your contribution scheme, if applicable.

Medical disclaimer. All services are provided at Clínica Geral level in accordance with Portuguese healthcare regulations. Prescriptions, referrals, and medical certificates may be issued only when clinically appropriate and at the doctor's discretion. Our doctors do not routinely prescribe controlled substances through online consultations. Backdated medical certificates are not routinely issued due to the lack of a direct clinical assessment at the time of illness. These versions are cleaner, country-specific, and avoid mentioning the other jurisdiction, making them suitable for dedicated Ireland and Portugal service pages.

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