Self-Certification Sick Note: Rules, Forms and the 7-Day Limit
Definition: Self-certification
Self-certification (also written as "self cert" or "self-certify") is a written statement you complete yourself to confirm you were too unwell to work. It covers sickness absences of seven calendar days or fewer without requiring a doctor's note, medical appointment, or clinical evidence. Self-certification is the standard method for recording short-term sickness absence in the UK. Regulation 2(2) of the Statutory Sick Pay (Medical Evidence) Regulations 1985 provides that an employee cannot be required to give medical information for the first 7 days of a spell of incapacity for work.
If you are off work with an illness that lasts seven days or fewer, you do not need to see a doctor. Instead, you self-certify your absence using the HMRC SC2 form, your employer's internal absence form, or a written statement. Self-certification exists specifically to prevent unnecessary GP appointments for short illnesses such as flu, colds, stomach bugs, and minor injuries.
From day 8, the rules change. Your employer can require medical evidence, typically a fit note (Statement of Fitness for Work). Since July 2022, a fit note can be issued by any authorised healthcare professional, meaning a doctor, registered nurse, occupational therapist, pharmacist independent prescriber, or physiotherapist. This is the boundary where self-certification ends and a formal sick note begins.
Self-certification is not the same as a sick note
A self-certification form is your own declaration that you were unfit to work. A sick note (fit note) is a medical document signed by a registered doctor following a clinical assessment. The two documents serve different purposes and cover different absence periods. For a detailed comparison, see sick note vs fit note: what is the difference.
How Many Days Can You Self-Certify in the UK?
Seven calendar days. That is the legal limit for self-certification in the UK. The count includes every day, not just working days, so weekends, bank holidays, and rest days all contribute to the total. The legal basis is Regulation 2(2) of the Statutory Sick Pay (Medical Evidence) Regulations 1985, which provides that an employee shall not be required to provide medical information in respect of the first 7 days in any spell of incapacity for work.
Self-Certification vs Sick Note: Day 1 to 7 vs Day 8 Onwards
| Requirement | Days 1 to 7 (self-certification) | Day 8 onwards (sick note required) |
|---|---|---|
| Evidence needed | Your own written declaration (SC2 form, employer form, or email) | Fit note from an authorised healthcare professional, or another form of evidence your employer agrees to accept |
| Doctor involved? | No. No medical appointment or assessment required | Yes. An authorised healthcare professional must assess your fitness for work |
| SSP entitlement | Yes, from the first qualifying day (waiting days abolished 6 April 2026) | Yes, continues as long as the fit note covers the absence |
| What you provide | Name, dates of absence, general description of illness, signature | The healthcare professional provides a signed document, an NHS Med3 fit note or, where your employer agrees, a private medical certificate |
| Cost | Free | Free from NHS GP. Private certificates carry a fee (full refund if not issued) |
| If you do not provide it | Your employer may record the absence as unauthorised under its own policy. SSP itself cannot be withheld because evidence arrived late | Your employer can chase the evidence, but GOV.UK guidance states it cannot withhold SSP because the fit note arrived late |
What Do You Write on a Self-Certification Form?
There is no single mandatory format for self-certification. Your employer may provide their own absence form, ask you to complete the HMRC SC2 form, or accept a written statement by email. Whichever format you use, include the following information.
Five items every self-certification form should contain
Your full name. The date your illness started. The date your illness ended (or the date you are completing the form if still absent). A general description of the illness. Your signature and the date of completion.
Example self-certification statement
The SC2 form
The SC2 is HMRC's official "Employee's Statement of Sickness" form, designed specifically for Statutory Sick Pay purposes. You can download the SC2 form from GOV.UK, print it, complete it by hand, and give it to your employer when you return. Some employers keep printed copies in their HR department.
Employer's own absence form
Many employers use an internal absence form instead of the SC2. This might be a paper form, an entry in an HR portal such as BreatheHR or Workday, or a structured email template. The format is at your employer's discretion, provided it collects the information needed to administer absence and sick pay.
You do not need to provide a detailed medical diagnosis. A general description such as "stomach illness", "respiratory infection", or "mental health condition" is sufficient. Your employer's right to information is limited by UK GDPR and must be proportionate to their need to manage your absence.
Self-Certification vs Sick Note: Key Differences
Self-certification and a sick note (fit note) serve different purposes at different stages of a sickness absence. This table clarifies when each applies, who provides it, and what it covers.
| Feature | Self-Certification | Fit Note (Sick Note) |
|---|---|---|
| Who provides it | You (the employee) | An authorised healthcare professional: a doctor, registered nurse, occupational therapist, pharmacist independent prescriber, or physiotherapist |
| Absence period covered | Up to 7 calendar days | More than 7 calendar days (no upper limit) |
| Medical assessment | None required. Your own declaration | Clinical assessment by an authorised healthcare professional |
| Common formats | SC2 form, employer's absence form, email statement | NHS Med3 form or private medical certificate |
| SSP evidence | Accepted for the first 7 days | Required from day 8 onwards |
| Cost | Free | NHS fit notes are free. Private certificates carry a fee |
| Employer obligations | Cannot require medical evidence for 7 calendar days or fewer (Regulation 2(2), SSP (Medical Evidence) Regulations 1985) | Can request medical evidence from day 8 |
| Government benefits | Not valid for ESA or Universal Credit | NHS Med3 form required for benefit claims |
| Legal basis | SSP (Medical Evidence) Regulations 1985, Regulation 2(2) | Social Security (Medical Evidence) Regulations 1976 |
Employer Rights During the Self-Certification Period
For Statutory Sick Pay purposes, your employer cannot require medical evidence for a sickness absence of seven calendar days or fewer. Regulation 2(2) of the Statutory Sick Pay (Medical Evidence) Regulations 1985 is clear on this threshold. Employers may still operate their own internal absence reporting procedures, and your employment contract may include additional requirements.
Your employer can
Ask you to complete a self-certification form upon your return. Request a general description of your illness. Require you to follow their sickness reporting procedure, such as calling in before a set time. Record the absence on your personnel file. Apply absence triggers set out in their attendance policy.
Your employer cannot
Legally withhold SSP solely because you did not provide a doctor's note within the first 7 days. Require you to disclose a detailed diagnosis (UK GDPR limits this). Treat self-certification as less valid than a doctor's note for absences within the statutory period. Insist on a doctor's note for SSP purposes during the first 7 days.
Can your employer require a sick note before 7 days?
Some employers ask for a doctor's note after three or five days rather than seven, particularly in roles with strict attendance requirements or where the absence triggers a disciplinary threshold. This is a contractual matter between you and your employer, separate from SSP legislation. If your employer insists on a doctor's note for an absence shorter than seven days, check whether this requirement is written in your employment contract or staff handbook. ACAS guidance states that an employer should only ask an employee for a fit note from the seventh day of absence, and that a healthcare professional might refuse to provide one before then.
Can You Self-Certify for Flu, Cold, or Mental Health?
Self-certification applies to any illness, physical or mental. You do not need to provide a specific medical diagnosis. The sections below cover the most common short-term illnesses and how self-certification applies to each.
Self-Certifying for Flu
Yes, you can self-certify for flu. Most cases of influenza resolve within five to seven days, which falls within the self-certification window. On your self-certification form, a description such as "flu" or "influenza" is sufficient. You do not need to confirm the diagnosis with a doctor or provide a test result. If your flu lasts longer than seven calendar days, your employer can request a fit note from day 8. At that point, you can obtain a sick note for flu from a GMC-registered online doctor without needing to visit a surgery while still unwell.
Self-Certifying for a Cold or Respiratory Infection
Yes. Colds, chest infections, sore throats, and other upper respiratory infections are among the most common reasons for short-term sickness absence in the UK. Most resolve within three to five days. Self-certification covers this period without any medical evidence. On the form, descriptions such as "cold", "respiratory infection", or "chest infection" are all acceptable.
Self-Certifying for Stomach Illness or Food Poisoning
Yes. Stomach bugs, gastroenteritis, food poisoning, and similar illnesses typically last one to three days and are fully covered by self-certification. Many employers ask staff to stay away for 48 hours after the last episode of vomiting or diarrhoea, which is consistent with NHS and Food Standards Agency guidance. Write "stomach illness", "food poisoning", or "gastroenteritis" on your form.
Self-Certifying for Stress, Anxiety, or Mental Health
Yes. Self-certification covers mental health conditions on exactly the same basis as physical illness. You can describe your illness as "mental health condition", "stress-related illness", or "anxiety" without providing further clinical detail. UK GDPR limits your employer's right to request specific mental health information. If you need more than seven days off for stress, anxiety, or depression, a stress leave certificate or mental health sick note from a registered doctor replaces self-certification from day 8.
Self-Certifying for Covid
Yes. Covid is treated the same as any other illness for self-certification purposes. If your covid symptoms resolve within seven days, self-certification is all you need. There is no longer a separate isolation or notification requirement in England. If symptoms persist beyond seven days or you develop long covid, a fit note is needed from day 8. Healthcare, food handling, and care home employers may have additional infection control policies that require you to stay away longer regardless of the statutory rules.
Do You Get Paid During the Self-Certification Period?
Yes. Self-certification directly supports your Statutory Sick Pay entitlement. The SC2 form was designed specifically for SSP evidence purposes, and completing it promptly is the simplest way to ensure your employer can process your sick pay without delay.
Current SSP rules (April 2026)
Day-one payment: SSP is payable from the first qualifying day of absence. The three waiting days were abolished on 6 April 2026. No minimum earnings threshold: The lower earnings limit has been removed. Part-time workers, zero-hours contract workers, and lower earners now qualify. Current rate: £123.25 per week, or 80% of average weekly earnings, whichever is lower, payable for up to 28 weeks. Many employers offer contractual sick pay above the statutory minimum.
Because SSP now starts from the first qualifying day, your self-certification form covers a paid period from the start of your absence. Completing it accurately and submitting it when you return prevents any delay in your pay. If your employer has an online absence portal, logging your absence there on your first day may serve as both notification and self-certification depending on the system your employer uses.
When Do You Need a Doctor's Note Instead of Self-Certification?
Self-certification covers the first seven days. Several situations require medical evidence either during or immediately after that window.
Your illness lasts longer than 7 days
From day 8, your employer can require medical evidence. It cannot withhold your SSP because that evidence arrives late, but it can record the absence as unauthorised under its own policy. An NHS GP appointment typically takes days to arrange. A private online consultation can provide a certificate same day. See what happens when your sick note runs out for the full process.
Your employer's policy requires it sooner
If your contract requires a doctor's note after 3 or 5 days, you will need medical evidence before the statutory threshold. A private medical certificate can bridge this gap without waiting for an NHS appointment.
You need evidence for a workplace dispute
If your absence is being challenged, a disciplinary process is underway, or your employer disputes your fitness to work, a doctor-signed certificate carries significantly more authority than a self-certification form.
You are returning after a serious illness
Many employers require a fit-to-work certificate before you resume your duties after a significant illness. This is a medical assessment, not self-certification.
How to Get a Sick Note When Self-Certification Expires
If your illness continues past seven days, or your employer needs medical evidence sooner, you can obtain a private medical certificate through an online consultation with a GMC-registered doctor.
Complete a short online form
Describe your symptoms, how long you have been unwell, and how your illness affects your ability to work. The form takes approximately five minutes.
A GMC-registered doctor reviews your case
A UK doctor with full General Medical Council registration reviews your consultation individually. The doctor assesses whether a certificate is clinically appropriate based on the information you provide.
Your certificate is delivered same day
If approved, your signed medical certificate is delivered as a PDF. Most certificates are issued same day or by 9AM the next morning. If the doctor cannot issue a certificate on clinical grounds, you receive a full refund.
Private certificates are not NHS Med3 Fit Notes
MedicalCert issues private medical certificates that an employer can accept for absence records and Statutory Sick Pay, where it agrees to that form of evidence. NHS Med3 Fit Notes are required for government benefit claims including Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Universal Credit. If you need a Med3 for benefit purposes, you will need to see an NHS GP or hospital doctor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Seven calendar days. You can self-certify sickness absence for up to seven consecutive calendar days, including weekends and bank holidays. From day 8, your employer can ask for medical evidence such as a fit note from a registered doctor.
The SC2 is HMRC's official "Employee's Statement of Sickness" form. It is a free self-certification form used to record short-term sickness absence for Statutory Sick Pay purposes. You can download it from the GOV.UK website or collect a printed copy from your employer's HR department.
No, you do not need to provide a detailed diagnosis. You are required to give a general description of your illness, but UK GDPR limits your employer's right to health information. Stating "stomach illness", "respiratory infection", or "viral illness" is typically sufficient for a self-certification form.
No, not for SSP purposes. Under Regulation 2(2) of the Statutory Sick Pay (Medical Evidence) Regulations 1985 you cannot be required to provide medical information for the first 7 days of a spell of incapacity, so self-certification is the only evidence your employer can insist on for that period. However, your employer may have a contractual policy requiring a doctor's note after a shorter period. Check your employment contract or staff handbook to confirm whether any such policy applies.
Yes. Self-certification applies to any illness, including stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions. You are not required to provide a detailed mental health diagnosis. A general description such as "mental health condition" or "stress-related illness" is acceptable for the first seven days. If you need more than seven days off, a stress leave certificate from a registered doctor would replace self-certification.
No. Self-certification is your own written declaration that you were unfit to work. A sick note (fit note) is a medical document signed by a registered doctor following a clinical assessment. Self-certification covers the first seven days. A fit note is needed from day 8 or whenever your employer's policy requires medical evidence.
You will need a fit note or equivalent medical evidence from day 8 onwards. An NHS GP or hospital doctor can issue a fit note free of charge. Where your employer agrees to accept it, a GMC-registered private doctor can issue a private medical certificate instead. If waiting for an NHS appointment would leave you without evidence, a private online consultation can issue a certificate same day. For more detail, see what happens when your sick note runs out.
Yes. Since 6 April 2026, Statutory Sick Pay is payable from the first qualifying day of absence, with no waiting days and no minimum earnings threshold. Self-certification is the evidence your employer needs to process SSP for the first seven days. The current SSP rate is £123.25 per week or 80% of average weekly earnings, whichever is lower.
Yes. Self-certification forms are inherently retrospective because they are designed to be completed when you return to work. You simply state the dates of your absence and the reason. There is no legal restriction on completing the form after the absence has ended, provided your employer's sickness policy does not impose a submission deadline.
No. Self-certification is accepted for employer absence records and Statutory Sick Pay only. Government benefits such as Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and the health element of Universal Credit require an NHS Med3 fit note issued by an authorised NHS healthcare professional. Private certificates and self-certification forms are not accepted for benefit claims.
No, not under SSP legislation. Five days falls within the seven-day self-certification window, so a doctor's note is not legally required for SSP purposes. However, your employer's own sickness policy may require medical evidence sooner. Check your employment contract to confirm. If a doctor's note is needed, you can request one from a GMC-registered online doctor.
Yes. If your illness lasts longer than seven days, or your employer requires medical evidence sooner, you can use a GMC-registered online doctor to obtain a private medical certificate. The consultation is completed entirely online, and most certificates are issued same day. Private certificates can be accepted for absence records and SSP where your employer agrees to that form of evidence.
Yes. Flu is treated the same as any other illness for self-certification purposes. If your flu lasts seven calendar days or fewer, self-certification is the only evidence your employer needs. Write "flu" or "influenza" on your self-certification form. No test result or doctor's note is required. If the flu lasts longer than seven days, your employer can request medical evidence from day 8. An NHS GP can issue a fit note, or, where your employer agrees to accept it, a GMC-registered online doctor can issue a private medical certificate.
No. Three days falls within the seven-day self-certification period. Under SSP regulations, your employer cannot require a doctor's note for any absence of seven calendar days or fewer. Self-certification is sufficient. Some employers have a contractual policy requiring medical evidence after three days, but this is a contract term, not a legal requirement. If your employer requires a doctor's note for a three-day absence, check your employment contract and consider seeking guidance from ACAS.
Complete your employer's absence form, the HMRC SC2 form, or a written statement including your name, the dates of your absence, a general description of your illness, and your signature. Submit it to your employer when you return to work. There is no mandatory format; the key requirement is that the form records who was absent, when, and why, so your employer can administer Statutory Sick Pay. You can download the SC2 form from GOV.UK.
Sources and Further Reading
- GOV.UK: Taking sick leave (official guidance on self-certification and fit notes)
- HMRC: SC2 Employee's Statement of Sickness (downloadable self-certification form)
- ACAS: Absence from work (guidance on managing sickness absence for employees and employers)
- ACAS: Fit notes and proof of sickness (guidance on self-certification vs fit notes)
- legislation.gov.uk: Statutory Sick Pay (Medical Evidence) Regulations 1985, Regulation 2 (legal basis for the 7-day medical evidence threshold)
- GOV.UK: Statutory Sick Pay: notice and fit notes (employer guide, confirming SSP cannot be withheld for a late fit note)
- GOV.UK: Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) (current rates, eligibility, and employer obligations)
