Get a Sick Note for Migraines

Migraines are a recognised medical condition and a valid reason to take time off work, issued by a UK GP.

A severe migraine can make it impossible to work, drive or even look at a screen. Get a signed GP sick note. No appointment needed.

✔ Covers acute migraine, chronic migraine and migraine with aura.
✔ Accepted by UK employers for work absence documentation.
✔ Most Same day or by 9AM next morning. From £47.
✔ Full refund if we can't issue one.

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Dr Maria Knobel Dr Maria Knobel Medical Director

Suffering from recurring migraines? A work adjustment certificate can request reduced screen time or lighting adjustments from your employer.

Get your medical certificate delivered straight to your inbox from £37

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GMC Registered Doctors
Information Commissioner's Office
In partnership with NHS Doctors


How It Works

01

Complete a short online questionnaire

No appointment required. Complete a short medical questionnaire and upload any supporting evidence.

02

Doctor reviews your evidence

A GMC-registered doctor reviews your submission individually. No automated approvals.
✔ Full refund if the GP cannot issue.

03

Receive your certificate

Certificates arrive most same day, all by 9AM next morning, delivered as a signed PDF direct to your inbox.

Very happy, I ordered my Medical Certificate in the early morning hours and before noon time of same day I had it on my inbox. Speedy service and they present the health condition precisely, get to the point.

Georgia K. · 2 months ago

They meet the incredibly fast turnaround stated (certificate/letter sent before 9am the following morning if the doctor feels that a letter/certificate is appropriate) which is incredibly quick and I am really grateful for the help provided!

Mark K. · 2 months ago

Very easy and quick to get my certificate. And the certificate was approved from the specific company to travel with my dog. I will use them again. Well done.

Emanouela M. · 2 months ago

Second time using this company and they are fabulous! Always great, fast, friendly service. Highly recommend!

Gemma H. · 3 months ago

This was my second time using Medical Cert, and once again the service was exceptionally quick and professional. Everything was handled efficiently, with clear communication throughout.

Hayley G. · 3 months ago

I found the service very straight forward and quick. Exactly what I needed to get my Padi medical form signed before our holiday. Thank you very much.

Trianda O. · 3 months ago

Process was easy and responses were quick. I would recommend their service.

Cameron M. · 3 months ago

Fast efficient service for medical certificates. I used the not fit to fly service and was provided with a certificate the next day, the price is very reasonable and enabled a flight credit refund with my airline. Would recommend and would use again if needed.

Katharine H. · 7 months ago

A fast and efficient service. It wasn't complicated and the Fit-to-fly note was accepted by the Airport without any further questions. Thank you.

Mick W. · 6 months ago

Ideal for me, I am looking to get a certificate for some medical issues I have. So this is the perfect solution for me, uploading docs was easy and the forms very straightforward to fill in. Will definitely use them again. Many thanks.

Nicholas O. · 7 months ago

Excellent service. Easy to use and certificate issued in less than 24 hours. £39 as opposed to the £150 my GP charges. Highly recommended.

Joanna R. · 8 months ago

Quick and reasonably pain-free. Received their standard certificate as well as my requested bespoke certificate, by email, by 9am the following morning. Both completed properly, signed and stamped as required. More expensive than my GP, but infinitely quicker and easier.

Will R. · 7 months ago

One of the best experiences. It's easy to get a GP note.

Himanshu T. · 3 months ago

Excellent. My GP refuses to issue DWP MED 3 Fit Notes to students. MedicalCert were excellent and extremely helpful in providing a necessary certificate. Highly recommended.

Graham H. · 9 months ago

You were amazing, you kept me updated and replied promptly to any queries I had. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Anne · 5 months ago

They helped me, they were very professional and nice.

Luna B. · 4 months ago

Very pleased. Quick service with very professional letter provided.

Ann C. · 7 months ago

Great service, pretty straight forward and easy to use the website.

Alexandru P. · 6 months ago

I was recommended Medical Cert by a friend and was so impressed with the service received. I would recommend using a laptop rather than a phone. Overall a fantastic and fast service.

Sarah · 5 months ago
Rated 4.8 / 5 based on 225 reviews. Showing our 5 star reviews.

Can I Get a Sick Note for a Migraine?

Yes. Migraine is a recognised neurological condition and a valid reason for certified sick leave. Whether you are dealing with a single acute episode that has floored you for 48 hours, or a pattern of chronic migraines that regularly prevents you from working, a GMC-registered doctor can certify your absence. You do not need a specialist diagnosis — a clinical assessment of your symptoms is sufficient.

Yes — you can get a sick note for migraine

A GMC-registered doctor can certify a migraine absence on a fit note the same way as any other illness. MedicalCert issues migraine sick notes same day, online, without a GP appointment — no waiting room, no commute when you are photosensitive and in pain.

For chronic migraine — where attacks occur 15 or more days per month — the Equality Act 2010 is also relevant. Your employer may have a legal duty to consider reasonable adjustments. See the section below.


Why Migraine Warrants Sick Leave

Migraine is frequently misunderstood as a bad headache. It is a neurological condition. A typical migraine attack involves symptoms that make sustained work genuinely impossible:

Severe, throbbing head pain — often unilateral, lasting 4–72 hours
Photophobia — severe light sensitivity making screens impossible
Phonophobia — sensitivity to sound making calls and office environments unbearable
Nausea and vomiting
Aura — visual disturbances, numbness, speech difficulty in some cases
Postdrome — fatigue, cognitive fog (“migraine hangover”) lasting 24–48 hours after the headache resolves
Complete inability to concentrate, read, or use a screen during an attack
Requirement to rest in a dark, quiet room for the duration of the attack

An employer or HR team questioning whether a migraine is a genuine medical reason for absence should be directed to NHS guidance, which classifies migraine as a neurological condition affecting approximately 1 in 7 people in the UK — making it one of the most common causes of disability worldwide.


Migraine Sick Leave — How to Notify Your Employer

For the first seven calendar days of a migraine absence, you can self-certify — you do not need a doctor’s note. Notify your employer as early as possible on the first day you are unable to attend.

Migraine sick leave message — example wording

Hi [manager], I’m writing to let you know that I’m unable to come in today due to a migraine. I’m experiencing significant pain and light sensitivity that makes it impossible to work. I’ll keep you updated on my expected return. If anything urgent comes up, please contact [colleague] in the meantime. [Your name]

You are not required to disclose the specific nature of your condition in detail — confirming you are unwell and unable to work is sufficient. If you have chronic migraine, you may find it helpful to have a pre-agreed absence notification protocol with your manager so that each episode does not require a full explanation.

From day eight of any absence, your employer can request a fit note from a GMC-registered doctor. Some employers with trigger-point absence policies may request documentation earlier — a private certificate from MedicalCert satisfies this requirement.


Migraine as a Disability — Equality Act 2010

Chronic migraine — defined as 15 or more headache days per month, of which at least 8 are migraines — may qualify as a disability under the Equality Act 2010 if it has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on normal day-to-day activities. This is a lower threshold than most people assume.

What the Equality Act means for migraine sufferers at work

If your chronic migraine meets the disability definition, your employer has a legal duty to consider reasonable adjustments to support you. These cannot be unreasonably refused. Examples of reasonable adjustments for migraine that employers have been required to make include:

Flexible start and finish times to accommodate morning migraine patterns
Permission to work from home during postdrome or early-warning phases
Adjusted lighting at workstation — reduced fluorescent lighting or screen glare
Migraine absences not counted against trigger-point attendance schemes
A quiet rest space available during a prodrome or early attack phase
Reduced travel requirements — eliminating triggers such as train journeys or flights

A medical letter from a GMC-registered doctor documenting your condition, frequency of attacks, and recommended adjustments provides the clinical basis for your employer to act on this duty. A dedicated work adjustment certificate is the most appropriate document for this purpose.

Migraine disability benefits UK

Chronic migraine may support a claim for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) where the condition substantially limits daily function. For government benefit claims, an NHS Med3 Fit Note from your registered GP is required — MedicalCert private certificates are not accepted for ESA specifically. For PIP, medical evidence from any GMC-registered doctor can support the application.


What Your Migraine Sick Note Includes

Certificate contents

  • Your full name, date of birth, and contact details
  • Diagnosis — “migraine,” “chronic migraine,” or “migraine with aura” as appropriate
  • Certified period of absence — start and end date
  • “Not fit for work” or “may be fit for work” assessment as clinically appropriate
  • GMC registration number of the signing doctor
  • Unique QR code for employer verification
Note: MedicalCert issues private medical certificates, not NHS Med3 Fit Notes. For employer absence management and SSP purposes our certificates are fully valid. For Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) claims, an NHS Med3 Fit Note from your registered GP is required.

How to Get a Migraine Sick Note Online — Same Day

When you have a migraine — photosensitive, in pain, unable to look at a screen for long — a GP waiting room is the last place you should be. MedicalCert is fully online and built for exactly this situation.

1

Complete the online consultation

Describe your migraine — onset, severity, symptoms (pain, nausea, light sensitivity), and how long you have been unable to work. For chronic migraine, note the frequency of attacks and any current treatment. Keep it brief — you do not need to write an essay.

2

GMC-registered doctor reviews your case

A doctor reviews your submission the same day and issues a certificate if the clinical picture supports it. Full refund if a certificate cannot be issued.

3

Certificate to your inbox

Same day (submit before 9pm) or by 9am the following morning. Forward to your employer or HR. QR code for instant verification — no follow-up call needed.


Migraine Sick Note FAQs

Yes. Migraine is a recognised neurological condition and a valid reason for a certified sick note. A GMC-registered doctor can assess your symptoms and issue a fit note the same day through MedicalCert — entirely online, no appointment needed. The certificate is accepted by UK employers for absence management and SSP purposes.
Yes. Migraine is a legitimate medical reason for sick leave. For the first seven calendar days you can self-certify — notify your employer you are unwell and unable to attend. From day eight, a fit note from a GMC-registered doctor may be requested. Some employers with trigger-point absence policies request documentation for shorter absences — a private certificate from MedicalCert covers this. If you have chronic migraine affecting you repeatedly, the Equality Act 2010 may also protect you from unfair treatment over migraine-related absences.
Chronic migraine can qualify as a disability under the Equality Act 2010 if it has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on normal day-to-day activities — meaning it has lasted or is likely to last 12 months or more and significantly affects your ability to function. This is a factual assessment of impact, not a formal medical classification. Many chronic migraine sufferers meet this threshold. Where the disability definition is met, your employer has a legal duty to consider reasonable adjustments — such as flexible hours, reduced screen time, or adjusted attendance policies.
For a single acute migraine episode, certificates typically cover 1–3 days. For a severe or complicated attack with significant postdrome, up to a week is reasonable. For chronic migraine causing repeated episodes, certificates can cover longer periods — particularly where the condition is being actively managed and not yet controlled. The duration is determined by clinical assessment of your current functional state. If you remain unfit when the certificate expires, a new certificate can be issued.
If your chronic migraine meets the Equality Act 2010 disability definition, your employer should not count migraine-related absences against trigger-point attendance schemes without first considering whether this constitutes a failure to make reasonable adjustments. Applying standard absence triggers to a disability-related condition, without adjustment, can constitute indirect disability discrimination. A medical letter confirming the disability status of your condition is the basis for requesting this adjustment formally.
Yes. A formal diagnosis from a neurologist is not required to obtain a sick note for migraine. A GMC-registered doctor can assess your symptoms — onset, severity, associated features such as photophobia, nausea, or aura — and certify your absence based on clinical presentation. Most migraines are diagnosed on symptoms alone, not on neuroimaging or specialist confirmation.
For general guidance on sick notes including the 7-day rule, SSP, and employer obligations, see our work sick note page.
Clinically reviewed by Dr Maria Knobel, MBBS BSc(hons) MRCGP (GMC 7495073) · Last reviewed: