Krankmeldung in Germany: What to Say and How It Works

You wake up feeling terrible and cannot go to work. In Germany, calling in sick is not just a quick text to your boss. There is a formal process involving your employer and your doctor, and it comes with specific vocabulary. Knowing what to say about your Krankmeldung in German helps you handle the situation confidently, even when you feel awful.

A “Krankmeldung” is a sick note from your doctor confirming that you are unfit for work. Under German labor law (Entgeltfortzahlungsgesetz § 5), most employers require one after three consecutive sick days, though individual contracts can require it from day one. Since January 2023, sick notes are sent electronically from your doctor to your health insurance, and your employer retrieves them digitally. For the full process of visiting a doctor, see our German doctor visit guide.

Step 1: Notify Your Employer

The first thing you need to do is tell your employer you are sick. Do this as early as possible on the first day, ideally before your working hours start. A phone call is standard, but many workplaces also accept a short message.

Keep it brief. You do not need to explain your diagnosis. German privacy laws protect your medical information, and your employer is not entitled to ask what exactly is wrong.

• “Guten Morgen, hier ist [Name]. Ich bin heute krank und kann nicht arbeiten.” - Good morning, this is [Name]. I am sick today and cannot work.
• “Ich melde mich krank für heute.” - I am calling in sick for today.
• “Ich gehe zum Arzt und sage Ihnen danach Bescheid.” - I am going to the doctor and will let you know afterwards.

If you are emailing or messaging, a subject line like “Krankmeldung [Name]” makes it clear immediately.

Step 2: Visit the Doctor

If you are still sick after the number of days specified in your contract (usually three), you need a Krankmeldung from your doctor. Call the practice to get an appointment. Some doctors offer phone or video consultations for simple illnesses, which can save you a trip.

• “Ich bin seit [Anzahl] Tagen krank und brauche eine Krankmeldung.” - I have been sick for [number] days and need a sick note.
• “Kann ich auch telefonisch krankgeschrieben werden?” - Can I also get a sick note over the phone?

The doctor will examine you (or ask about your symptoms by phone) and decide how many days to write you off. The Krankmeldung specifies the start and expected end date of your inability to work. If you are still sick after that period, you need a follow-up note.

For help describing your symptoms in German, the symptom phrases guide has the vocabulary you need.

How the Electronic Krankmeldung Works

Before 2023, you had to collect a paper sick note and mail a copy to your employer and your insurance. That system is gone. Now it works like this:

1. Your doctor issues the Krankmeldung electronically and sends it to your health insurance (“Krankenkasse”).
2. Your employer retrieves the sick note from the insurance system. You do not need to send them anything.
3. You still need to notify your employer that you are sick. The electronic system only handles the doctor's confirmation, not the initial notification.

Some employers are not fully set up for digital retrieval yet and may still ask for a paper copy. If that happens:

• “Brauchen Sie eine Kopie der Krankmeldung oder reicht die elektronische?” - Do you need a copy of the sick note or is the electronic one enough?

What If You Are Sick for More Than Six Weeks?

Many expats are surprised by how well German law protects employees during illness. For the first six weeks of a continuous illness, your employer pays your full salary. This is called “Lohnfortzahlung im Krankheitsfall” (continued pay during illness). After six weeks, your health insurance takes over and pays “Krankengeld” (sick pay), which is roughly 70% of your gross salary, capped at 90% of net.

If your illness extends beyond the initial Krankmeldung period, visit your doctor for a “Folgebescheinigung” (follow-up sick note) before the current one expires.

• “Ich brauche eine Folgebescheinigung.” - I need a follow-up sick note.
• “Meine Krankmeldung läuft morgen ab.” - My sick note expires tomorrow.

Common Mistakes With the Krankmeldung

The most common mistake is waiting too long to notify your employer. Even if you do not need a doctor's note yet, your employer must know on day one that you will not be coming in.

Another mistake is not checking your contract. While the legal default is a Krankmeldung after three days, many contracts require it from the first day. Read the section on “Arbeitsunfähigkeit” (inability to work) in your employment contract to be sure.

Finally, some expats assume they can simply work from home when sick. In Germany, a Krankmeldung means you are officially unfit for work. Working while on a sick note can create legal and insurance problems. If you feel well enough to work but have a sick note, discuss it with your employer first.

For more about sick leave, contracts, and workplace communication, read our working in Germany guide. And to practice the doctor visit itself, try the Doctor Visit scenario in EverydayDeutsch.