Sick Leave in Malta: Medical Certificates, Employer Rules & Sickness Benefit

Two different questions

When you are too sick to work in Malta, two sets of rules can apply. First: what evidence does your employer require? Second: does a certificate need to go to the Department of Social Security (DSS)? These are not always the same thing, and mixing them up is the most common source of confusion.

DoctorMalta is an independent health magazine. It is not Identità, the Department of Social Security, the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Directorate or any other government body, and nothing here is an official decision about your case.

Do I need a doctor from the first day?

An employer may require evidence of sickness according to your employment conditions, collective agreement, company policy or employment contract. So do not assume “I only need a certificate after three days”. Some employers require a medical certificate from the first day of absence.

Check your employment contract or employee handbook, and inform your employer according to the company’s sickness-notification procedure, usually before your shift starts.

The three-day rule: sick for 3 working days or less

Under current Social Security rules, a Blue Medical Certificate generally does not need to be submitted to DSS where the illness lasts three working days or less.

However, your employer may still require the employer’s copy of the medical certificate. A sickness period of three working days or less also does not generate a Sickness Benefit claim.

Sick for more than three working days

For eligible employees, Social Security Sickness Benefit starts from the fourth working day of sickness, because the first three working days are payable by the employer. Self-occupied people can also claim from the fourth working day, at a fixed rate.

The Blue Medical Certificate must be completed by a medical practitioner and submitted to DSS within 10 days from the first day of sickness. The only exceptions are hospitalisation or treatment abroad.

Important: DSS counts the sickness as starting from the medical examination date on the certificate. If you wait several days before seeing a doctor, those earlier days may not be covered, so get assessed promptly.

What is the Blue Medical Certificate?

The Blue Medical Certificate is the certificate used in Malta for the Social Security sickness process. It must be completed by a medical practitioner. You keep or submit the appropriate portion to Social Security where required, and your employer receives the employer’s copy.

How to get a medical certificate

You must be medically assessed by a doctor. Options may include:

• A private GP
• A GP operating from a pharmacy
• A private clinic
• An appropriate public healthcare service, such as a Health Centre

Whether an online consultation is enough depends on the circumstances, the doctor’s professional assessment and the applicable certification requirements.

No doctor should promise a certificate in advance. The doctor decides whether you are medically unfit for work. Be wary of anything advertised as a “guaranteed” or “instant” sick note.

Sick at home or in your hotel?

If you are too unwell to travel to a clinic, a private doctor may, where appropriate and subject to availability, be able to assess you at home, in a hotel or at your accommodation. Doctor St Julian’s Clinic operates a doctor visit service; use the booking link on this page to request a visit.

How Sickness Benefit is paid

Eligible employees receive Sickness Benefit from the fourth working day. DSS describes two ways an employer may pay: either full wages for the first three working days, then the difference between the benefit and your wage for further certified days; or full wages for all certified days, with you refunding the employer the Sickness Benefit once DSS issues it.

Benefit is paid according to your working week (five or six days). DSS makes no payment for public holidays and Sundays, and you must not have reached retirement age.

Sickness Benefit is a Social Security benefit, not automatically your full salary. Individual entitlement depends on your circumstances, so check the official DSS benefit page or ask HR rather than relying on a general estimate.

Example: a sick week

Sickness Benefit is calculated on a five- or six-day working week, and DSS makes no payment for public holidays and Sundays. Shift patterns can affect how days are counted, so ask HR how your rota is treated.

What if my employer wants a certificate on day one?

Follow your employer’s established sickness-reporting rules. The Social Security three-day submission threshold does not prevent an employer from requesting appropriate medical certification for a shorter absence where applicable. If unsure:

• Contact HR
• Check your employment contract
• Check the applicable collective agreement or company policy
• Get a medical assessment promptly

How to submit the certificate

The Blue Medical Certificate can be submitted online through the DSS e-service within 10 days of the first day of sickness. You need an active Maltese e-ID, the certificate must be properly filled in and signed by both the doctor and you, and you upload a clear image of its front side.

Make sure DSS has your current address and that your IBAN is confirmed through the DSS online services, so payment is not delayed. If you get stuck, DSS offers a contact form and Teams call bookings.

Frequently asked questions