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.
Get my sick note 
All consultations subject to clinical assessment. Issued only where clinically appropriate.
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
How It Works
Complete a short online questionnaire
No appointment required. Complete a short medical questionnaire and upload any supporting evidence.
Doctor reviews your evidence
A GMC-registered doctor reviews your submission individually. No automated approvals.
✔ Full refund if the GP cannot issue.
Receive your certificate
Most certificates arrive same day or by 9AM next morning, delivered via email a signed PDF. All consultations subject to clinical assessment. Issued only where clinically appropriate.
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.
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!
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.
Second time using this company and they are fabulous! Always great, fast, friendly service. Highly recommend!
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.
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.
Process was easy and responses were quick. I would recommend their service.
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.
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.
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.
Excellent service. Easy to use and certificate issued in less than 24 hours. £39 as opposed to the £150 my GP charges. Highly recommended.
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.
One of the best experiences. It's easy to get a GP note.
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.
You were amazing, you kept me updated and replied promptly to any queries I had. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
They helped me, they were very professional and nice.
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Great service, pretty straight forward and easy to use the website.
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.
Can I Get a Sick Note for a Migraine?
Yes. Migraine is a recognised neurological condition and a valid reason for certified sick leave in the UK. The NHS classifies migraine as a neurological condition affecting around 1 in 7 people, and a GMC-registered doctor can certify a migraine absence in the same way as any other illness. You do not need a specialist diagnosis. A clinical assessment of your symptoms is sufficient.
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, your absence can be certified the same day.
Yes, you can get a sick note for migraine
A GMC-registered doctor reviews your online consultation individually and can certify a migraine absence on a private medical certificate. Most certificates approved same day or by 9AM next morning. No GP appointment, no waiting room, no commute when you are photosensitive and in pain.
For chronic migraine, defined as 15 or more headache 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:
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. NICE clinical guideline CG150 confirms that migraine is diagnosed on clinical presentation, not imaging or specialist testing.
How Long Can You Be Signed Off Work for Migraine?
Most single migraine episodes are certified for 1 to 3 days. Severe attacks with prolonged postdrome can justify up to a week. Chronic migraine that is under active management can be certified for longer periods, renewable on reassessment. The duration is always determined by a doctor's clinical assessment of your current functional state, not a fixed rule.
| Migraine scenario | Typical certified period |
|---|---|
| Single acute episode | 1 to 3 days, covering the attack and immediate recovery |
| Severe attack with prolonged postdrome | Up to 7 days where fatigue and cognitive fog persist after the headache resolves |
| Migraine with aura or complicated episode | 3 to 7 days, depending on symptom resolution |
| Chronic migraine (15+ headache days per month) | 1 to 4 weeks, renewable while treatment is being established |
If you remain unfit for work when your certificate expires, a new certificate can be issued following a further consultation.
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
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. ACAS guidance on absence from work supports keeping notification requirements proportionate.
From day eight of any absence, your employer can ask for medical evidence from a doctor. Some employers with trigger-point absence policies 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 Section 6 of 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 under Section 20 of the Equality Act 2010 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:
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, verifiable on the GMC medical register
- ✔Unique QR code for employer verification
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.
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.
GMC-registered doctor reviews your case
A doctor reviews your submission individually and issues a certificate if the clinical picture supports it. Full refund if a certificate cannot be issued.
Certificate to your inbox
Most certificates approved same day or by 9AM next morning. Forward to your employer or HR. QR code for instant verification, no follow-up call needed.
Migraine Sick Note FAQs
Sources and References
This page cites the following authoritative sources
Clinically reviewed by Dr Maria Knobel, Medical Director, GMC 7495073. Last reviewed: 10 June 2026.
