Yes, it is legal to get a sick note online instead of from your own GP. The government’s fit note guidance lists who can issue a fit note, and it does not limit that to your own surgery. What matters is whether your employer will accept the document you give them.
For the first seven calendar days of sickness absence, you can self-certify, so you may not need a note at all. After that, employers normally ask for a fit note.
Knowing which document your employer needs can save you paying for the wrong one.
5 Key Takeaways
- You can self-certify for seven calendar days, including weekends and bank holidays.
- After seven days, employers normally ask for a fit note, which doctors, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists can issue.
- A private medical certificate from an online doctor is lawful, but your employer decides whether to accept it.
- An employer cannot withhold Statutory Sick Pay just because your fit note arrives late.
- Check that any online service uses GMC-registered doctors and is registered with the Care Quality Commission.
What Does UK Law Say About Sick Notes?
There are two stages. If you are off work for seven days or less, you do not need to give your employer a fit note or any other proof from a healthcare professional. You confirm the absence yourself, usually on a form or by email, in whatever way you and your employer have agreed. Our guide to self-certification and how it works explains this in more detail.
If you are off for more than seven days in a row, your employer can ask for a fit note. Count calendar days, including weekends and days you would not normally work.
People say “sick note” for several different documents, so it helps to be exact. A fit note is the official NHS statement from a healthcare professional about your fitness for work. A private medical certificate is a separate document from a doctor working outside the NHS.
How Common Are Fit Notes and Sickness Absence in the UK?
Sickness evidence is a routine part of working life. The Office for National Statistics estimates that 148.8 million working days were lost to sickness absence in 2025, an average of 4.4 days per worker. NHS England data shows GP practices in England issued 2,853,624 electronic fit notes between October and December 2025 alone.
That volume is why most employers have a clear absence policy. It also means asking HR which evidence they accept is a normal question, not an awkward one.
Does a Sick Note Have to Come From Your Own GP?
No. The government guidance does not name your own GP as the only source. It lists who is eligible to issue a fit note, which is doctors, nurses, occupational therapists, pharmacists and physiotherapists.
A fit note is free if you have been ill for more than seven days when you ask for it. If your employer wants medical evidence during the first seven days, the healthcare professional may charge a fee. The guidance says your employer should cover that cost.
Not sure which sick note you need? This guide explains when you can self-certify, when an NHS fit note may be required and when your employer might accept a private certificate from an online doctor.
Can Your Employer Refuse a Sick Note From an Online Doctor?
Yes, they can. The government guidance says doctors working in private practice, who are not treating NHS patients, may produce private medical certificates. These may be accepted in the same way as a fit note, but only if the employer agrees.
So a certificate from an online doctor is legal, but it does not bind your employer. Ask HR before you pay if you are unsure.
| Type of evidence | What it does |
| Self-certification | You confirm a sickness absence of seven days or less, using a method agreed with your employer. |
| NHS fit note | A doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physiotherapist or occupational therapist records their assessment. Employers can ask for one after seven days. |
| Private medical certificate | A doctor in private practice provides medical evidence. Your employer decides whether to accept it. |
Here is an example of how this can play out. Say you have been off for ten days and your surgery’s next appointment is three weeks away. Your employer has asked for evidence. Before paying for anything, you ask HR whether they will accept a private certificate from a GMC-registered doctor. If they say yes, you can arrange one online. If they say no, you ask your surgery or another eligible professional about an NHS fit note instead. Asking first costs nothing and avoids paying for a document that gets rejected.
Whichever document you use, check it shows the issuer’s name, their signature and the dates it covers, so there is nothing for your employer to query.
What Makes an Online Medical Certificate Legitimate?
Three checks cover most of it.
- The doctor is registered with the General Medical Council. The GMC says the same standards of good practice apply to online consultations as to face to face care, and that patients should check the service and its doctors are registered with UK regulators.
- The service is registered with the Care Quality Commission. The CQC requires online doctor services that provide regulated activity, such as treating disease, disorder or injury, to be registered, and running one without registration is an offence.
- A doctor reviews your evidence. A legitimate service asks about your illness and the doctor decides whether to certify. If a site promises a note with no questions asked, treat that as a warning sign.
To help you compare services, here is how a ZoomDoc work sickness assessment runs.
- You complete a medical questionnaire and upload a 30 second to one minute video describing your symptoms.
- You provide photo ID, your workplace name, when the illness started and your regular GP’s details if you have one.
- A GMC-registered doctor reviews your evidence and decides whether to certify.
- If approved, the certificate is emailed to you, typically within one to two hours. It carries the doctor’s GMC registration number and a QR code your employer can use to check it.
Each certificate covers up to seven days at a time, and the doctor can decline if the evidence is not sufficient.
Our doctors follow a medical and ethical Code of Practice when assessing requests. You can also read about getting sickness evidence without seeing a doctor in person.
When Might You Still Need Your Own GP?
A few situations point back to the NHS route.
- Your employer or HR policy specifically asks for an NHS fit note.
- Your absence is likely to be long, or you are being treated for an ongoing condition, and you need continuity of care.
- You need treatment or an examination as well as paperwork. A certificate request should not replace medical care.
- You are claiming a benefit, where the claim form may name the document it will accept.
If you are seriously unwell, contact NHS 111 or a GP urgently rather than looking for paperwork.
Understanding UK sickness evidence: when to self-certify, when an NHS fit note is needed, and when your employer may accept a private medical certificate from an online doctor.
Can Your Employer Withhold Sick Pay if Your Note Is Late or Rejected?
The GOV.UK employer guide to Statutory Sick Pay says an employer cannot withhold SSP because you are late sending a fit note. This is separate from telling your employer you are off sick on time. Employers can withhold SSP if you notify them late without a good reason. Contractual sick pay follows the terms of your employment contract.
To qualify for SSP you must be an employee who has done some work for your employer and has been ill for at least one full working day. If you and your employer disagree about SSP, speak to HR first. If that does not settle it, you can contact the HMRC Statutory Payment Disputes Team.
If your employer rejects a certificate, ask what the problem is. It could be the type of document, the dates it covers or missing information. Paying for a second certificate before you know the objection may not fix it.
Choosing the Right Route for Your Sickness Evidence
It is legal to get a sick note online instead of from your own GP. For the first seven days you do not need one at all. After that, an NHS fit note is the standard evidence, and a private certificate from a registered online doctor can work if your employer is happy to accept it.
Check what your employer wants, check the doctor and the service are properly registered, and keep a record of your absence dates.
If an online assessment suits your circumstances, you can get a sick note online through ZoomDoc for a private work sickness certificate for £49. Our GMC-registered doctors review your information and can certify up to seven days of absence at a time, where clinically appropriate. Certificates are usually issued within one hour, subject to sufficient evidence and the doctor’s approval.
FAQs
Is an Online Sick Note the Same as an NHS Fit Note?
Not automatically. An NHS fit note is the official statement of fitness for work. A private medical certificate gives clinical evidence of your illness, and your employer decides whether it meets their requirement.
Can an Online Doctor Refuse to Issue a Sick Note?
Yes. A certificate is a clinical decision, not a purchase that is guaranteed to go through. If the evidence is not enough, the doctor can ask for more information or decline.
Do I Need a Sick Note for One or Two Days Off?
Usually not. For absences of seven days or less you can self-certify, using your employer’s form or another agreed method.
Can I Get Statutory Sick Pay With a Private Certificate?
SSP rules ask you to notify your employer on time, and employers can ask for a fit note after seven days. Employers can also accept other suitable medical evidence by agreement, so ask yours whether a private certificate will do before you pay.
Who Pays if My Employer Wants Proof in the First Week?
The government guidance says a healthcare professional may charge a fee for evidence in the first seven days, and that the employer should cover this cost. Ask HR about reimbursement before you arrange anything.
What Should I Do if My Employer Says the Certificate Is Not Valid?
Ask what the objection is. It may be the document type, the dates covered or missing details. If you cannot agree, ask HR to explain the decision and speak to Acas or your trade union.