Can you get a free medical certificate online in Australia?

Do you need a certificate at all?

Your employer can ask for evidence that you were genuinely unwell, even for one day off. But they don’t have to ask, and if they don’t, you don’t need to get anything.

When they do ask, the evidence has to convince a reasonable person. The Fair Work Ombudsman gives medical certificates and statutory declarations as examples, and your award or registered agreement can say what type it wants, as long as that’s reasonable. Read more on when you legally need a medical certificate for work.

Free option: a statutory declaration

A statutory declaration, or stat dec, is a written statement of facts that you declare to be true. Making one costs nothing. You can make a Commonwealth stat dec in three ways:

• on the approved form, in front of an approved witness
• on the approved form, with an approved witness by video link
• digitally through myGov, with no witness, if you have a Digital Identity

The Attorney-General’s Department says making a false statement on purpose is an offence. Our guide to using a statutory declaration for sick leave covers when it works and how to make one.

Free option: a GP who bulk bills

If a GP bulk bills you, Medicare pays the GP and you pay nothing, provided you’re enrolled in Medicare. It’s up to each doctor whether they bulk bill a service, except at Bulk Billing Practices, which bulk bill every eligible service for Medicare-eligible patients. Ask before you book.

For a telehealth consult, there’s an extra rule. Medicare usually only covers a GP phone or video consult if you’ve had a face-to-face visit with that GP or practice in the past 12 months, or you’re registered with the practice through MyMedicare. A few groups are exempt. If you have a regular GP, their telehealth service may be your cheapest route to a medical certificate.

Low-cost option: a pharmacist

Pharmacists can issue absence from work certificates within their own scope of practice, under guidelines from the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia and the Pharmacy Guild. Ask the pharmacy about any fee first.

The PSA says it’s up to you to check that your employer will accept a certificate from a pharmacist. See who can issue a medical certificate for how pharmacists and nurse practitioners compare with doctors.

Be careful with “free certificate” websites

A genuine certificate comes from a registered practitioner who has assessed you. Be wary of any site that produces a certificate from a template or form without that assessment. It isn’t real evidence, and giving it to your employer or university could put your job or enrolment at risk.

You can check any practitioner’s registration on the public Ahpra register.

Paid online certificates

Online certificate services charge for the practitioner’s assessment, and prices vary. Some charge more when a certificate covers more than one day.

Click Clinic charges $35 for single or multi-day certificates. A registered practitioner reviews your request, typically within 48 hours, and issues a certificate only when it’s clinically appropriate. The fee isn’t refunded if a certificate is declined, and certificates aren’t backdated. See multi-day medical certificates or start an online assessment.

Which option suits you?

Option	Cost to you	Works well when	Check first
Statutory declaration	Free	A short absence, and your employer accepts a stat dec	Your award, agreement or workplace policy
Bulk-billed GP	Free if bulk billed	You have a regular GP, or can get an appointment soon	Whether the practice bulk bills; telehealth eligibility
Pharmacist	Varies	You can get to a pharmacy and your employer accepts it	Your employer’s acceptance and the fee
Online certificate service	A fee ($35 at Click Clinic)	You can’t get to a GP and need a practitioner’s certificate	What your employer or uni accepts

This guide is general information, not legal or medical advice.