What should a medical certificate include? What you need to know and how to get one
What should a medical certificate include, and how do you get one that your employer, school or airline will take seriously? This guide covers the details a certificate should show and when you need one.
On DrCertificate, an independent registered doctor reviews every request after a digital chat consultation and decides whether to issue a certificate. The service is for people in 10 South East Asian countries, from Singapore and Malaysia to the Philippines and Brunei.
The short answer on what a medical certificate should include
A medical certificate should show who it is for, the date of the consultation, the dates or fitness outcome it covers and its purpose, plus the doctor's name, qualification and registration details. On DrCertificate, an independent doctor decides after a chat consultation whether to issue one, and the receiving organisation decides whether to accept it.
Before you apply
- Price
- It depends on your country, for example 25 SGD in Singapore, 399 pesos in the Philippines or 30 MYR in Malaysia.
- Time
- About 30 minutes.
- Who reviews it
- A certified doctor (MBBS, MD or MS). All doctors on the platform are registered medical council doctors.
- Will it be accepted?
- Please check with the place of submission that online medical notes are accepted before you apply.
- If the doctor declines
- Doctors decline about 2% of requests, usually when details do not match or symptoms are inconsistent. Payments are non refundable, except a verified technical fault reported within 24 hours.
- How long a note covers
- In most South East Asian countries, sick leave and work from home notes go up to 7 days for generic symptoms, and fitness notes are generally valid for 30 days. The doctor decides.
- Medical reviewer
- Dr Urooj Arshad, M.B.B.S, General Medicine, IMC | GMC 430548
What are the main facts about medical certificates?
A doctor makes the call
Only the reviewing doctor decides whether a medical certificate is issued and what dates or fitness outcome it states.
Names must match
The name and ID on a request must match. Mismatched details are one reason doctors decline about 2% of requests.
Duration has limits
In most South East Asian countries, sick leave and work from home notes go up to 7 days for generic symptoms. Fitness notes are generally valid for 30 days.
Acceptance is not automatic
The employer, school or airline receiving the certificate decides whether it accepts an online medical note. Check first.
What is a medical certificate?
A medical certificate is a note from a doctor that records a medical opinion about you on a given date. It might say you are unfit for work or study for a set period, that you should work from home, that you are fit for a job, course, sport or flight, or that you are unfit to travel.
A medical certificate does not give a full diagnosis, a treatment plan or a prescription. It states the doctor's opinion, not your medical history.
Names get mixed up.
A sick leave certificate covers time off. A fitness certificate confirms you are well enough for an activity, and an unfit to fly note says the opposite for air travel.
On the DrCertificate form, a general medical certificate uses the Sick Leave option. Sports fitness, fit to fly and fit to work certificates use the Medical Fitness Certificate option. Unfit to fly requests use the Unfit to Travel option, and work from home notes have an option of their own.
When do you need a medical certificate?
You need a medical certificate when an organisation asks for proof from a doctor before it grants leave, accepts you or lets you travel. Work, university, school and air travel are the usual settings.
At work, HR or a line manager asks for one to approve paid sick leave or a work from home arrangement. In Singapore, the Ministry of Manpower says an employee must be certified unfit for work by a medical practitioner registered under the Medical Registration Act or Dental Registration Act to qualify for paid sick leave.
Universities and schools ask for one when you miss an exam, a deadline or classes. New employers, colleges and sports clubs may want a fitness certificate before you start.
Airlines are the other big one.
Cebu Pacific, for example, asks for a valid medical certificate stating not fit to fly, with the doctor's signature, PRC number and official letterhead, when a passenger files a medical case request. The reason behind all of these requests is the same. Every one of these organisations wants a doctor, not the applicant, to confirm the health claim before it pays, excuses or changes something for you.
A note from a qualified doctor gives the organisation a record it can file and rely on if questions come up later.
A medical certificate at a glance
The number of days or the fitness outcome on a medical certificate is decided by the doctor case by case. In most South East Asian countries, sick leave and work from home notes go up to 7 days for generic symptoms, and fitness notes are generally valid for 30 days.
An in person visit suits you better if you need a physical examination, tests or care for worsening symptoms.
| Situation | What the certificate states | What the doctor considers | Form option to choose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sick leave for work or university | Unfit for work or study for set dates | Your reported symptoms and whether they fit the dates requested | Sick Leave |
| General medical note | The doctor's opinion on your health on that date | The purpose of the note and the details you share | Sick Leave |
| Work from home | You should work from home for set dates | Your symptoms and whether home working suits them | Work From Home |
| Fitness for work, study, sport or flying | Fit for the stated activity | Your health details and the activity involved | Medical Fitness Certificate |
| Unfit to fly | Not fit to travel by air for set dates | Your symptoms and travel dates | Unfit to Travel |
| Urgent or severe symptoms | Not suitable for an online certificate | The need for examination or emergency care | None, seek care in person |
Who issues a medical certificate on DrCertificate?
A medical certificate on DrCertificate is issued by an independent certified doctor holding an MBBS, MD or MS qualification. Every doctor on the platform is registered with a medical council, and the doctor alone decides whether a certificate is issued.
DrCertificate is an online platform operated by Health Venture OU. The platform connects applicants with doctors through an online form and a digital chat, and DrCertificate does not diagnose, treat or prescribe.
That split matters.
The platform handles the form, payment and delivery, while the medical judgement sits with the doctor. Before you apply, check that the place you will submit the certificate accepts online medical notes. If your employer in Singapore needs a doctor registered under the Medical Registration Act, ask HR whether a note from a doctor registered with another medical council will be accepted.
How do you get a medical certificate online, step by step?
Getting a medical certificate through DrCertificate takes five steps, from choosing the right form option to receiving a PDF by email. There are no video or in person consultations at any point.
ขั้นตอนที่ 1: Choose the right option
Open the online form and pick the option that matches your need: Sick Leave, Unfit to Travel, Work From Home or Medical Fitness Certificate. Fit to fly, sports fitness and fit to work requests use the Medical Fitness Certificate option.
ขั้นตอนที่ 2: Fill in the form accurately
Enter your name as shown on your ID, along with your symptoms or the activity you need clearance for. Wrong or inconsistent details are the usual reason requests are declined.
ขั้นตอนที่ 3: Pay through Stripe
Payment is taken through Stripe when you submit. Read the conditions first, because payments are non refundable.
Step 4: Chat with the doctor
An independent doctor reviews your request in a digital chat, may ask follow-up questions, and then decides whether to issue a certificate.
Step 5: Receive your PDF
If the doctor approves, the certificate arrives by email as a PDF, usually in about 30 minutes. Check every detail before you hand it in.
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What should a medical certificate include?
A medical certificate should include your full name, the date of the consultation, the dates or fitness outcome it covers and the purpose, plus the doctor's name, qualification and registration details. Those are the details HR teams, school offices and airlines look for first.
Formats differ.
Cebu Pacific, for instance, wants a not fit to fly note with the doctor's signature, PRC number and official letterhead. Your employer or school may keep its own list. Ask for it before you apply, then run through the checklist once your certificate arrives.
Name matches your ID
The spelling on the certificate matches the ID you will show.
Dates are right
The start and end dates or validity period match what the organisation asked for.
Type fits the request
The certificate type suits the purpose, for example sick leave, not fitness.
Doctor details are shown
The doctor's name and qualification are on the certificate, along with any letterhead, signature or registration number the organisation requires.
Will your employer or school accept a medical certificate from an online doctor?
Your employer or school decides whether to accept a medical certificate, not the doctor and not DrCertificate. Acceptance rules differ between countries, companies and institutions, and an online note is not accepted everywhere.
Check before you pay.
A certificate is questioned most often when the wrong type was chosen, when details are missing or do not match the person's ID, or when the organisation only accepts doctors registered in its own country. That last point matters for paid sick leave in Singapore, where the Ministry of Manpower rule names doctors registered under the Medical Registration Act or Dental Registration Act.
If your certificate is questioned, ask the organisation in writing what it needs and why the note fell short. Share the doctor details shown on the certificate if they ask for them. If the organisation will not accept a note from any online doctor, a visit to a local clinic is the better route.
Keep in mind that an issued certificate cannot be corrected unless the error came from the medical team, and payments are non refundable. A short email to HR or the school office before you apply saves you from both problems.
When is an online medical certificate not the right choice?
An online medical certificate is not the right choice for urgent symptoms, legal matters, insurance or submission in India. DrCertificate is for suitable non emergency situations only.
Chest pain, trouble breathing, heavy bleeding or sudden weakness need in person or emergency care straight away.
Other limits apply too.
- The doctor may decline Requests with mismatched names and ID, or inconsistent symptoms, can be declined, and the fee is not refunded.
- Certificates are not for submission in India, not for legal purposes and must not be used for insurance.
- Age 16 and over Applicants must be at least 16 years old.
- Not every certificate is offered Recovery and caretaker certificates are not offered.
Medical certificate rules in Singapore, Malaysia and the rest of South East Asia
Medical certificate rules differ by country and by employer. A note that works for an office in Manila might not satisfy an HR team in Kuala Lumpur, and DrCertificate serves people in the 10 countries listed below.
Official rules sit with each country's labour ministry. In Singapore, that is the Ministry of Manpower. In Malaysia, check the Ministry of Human Resources, in the Philippines the Department of Labor and Employment, and in Thailand the Ministry of Labour.
Airline rules sit with the airline itself.
Before applying, confirm with your employer, school or airline that they accept an online medical note and what it must show.
| Singapore | Paid sick leave needs certification by a practitioner registered under the Medical Registration Act or Dental Registration Act. |
|---|---|
| Philippines | Served across Manila, Cebu and Davao. Cebu Pacific asks for a doctor's signature, PRC number and letterhead on not fit to fly notes. |
| Malaysia | Check your employer's policy and Ministry of Human Resources guidance. |
| Thailand | Check your employer's policy and Ministry of Labour guidance. |
| Indonesia | Confirm employer or school rules before applying. |
| Vietnam | Confirm employer or school rules before applying. |
| Cambodia | Confirm employer or school rules before applying. |
| Laos | Confirm employer or school rules before applying. |
| Myanmar | Confirm employer or school rules before applying. |
| Brunei | Confirm employer or school rules before applying. |
- Medical certificates online in Singapore
- Medical certificates online in Malaysia
- Medical certificates online in the Philippines
- Medical Certificate Online in Manila
- Medical Certificate Online in Cebu
- Medical Certificate Online in Davao
- Medical certificates online in Indonesia
- Medical certificates online in Thailand
- Medical certificates online in Vietnam
- Medical certificates online in Cambodia
- Medical certificates online in Laos
- Medical certificates online in Myanmar
- Medical certificates online in Brunei
What does a medical certificate cost and how long does it take?
A medical certificate on DrCertificate costs 25 SGD in Singapore, 399 pesos in the Philippines and 30 MYR in Malaysia. Prices in other served countries depend on the country. The fee covers the doctor's review of your request and, if approved, the certificate sent by email as a PDF.
A decision usually takes about 30 minutes. Timing depends on how quickly you answer the doctor's questions and on doctor hours, which for fitness cases run from 9 am to 9 pm IST Monday to Saturday and 10 am to 8 pm IST on Sunday.
Payments are non refundable, including when the doctor declines to issue a certificate. The only exception is a verified technical fault reported within 24 hours.
| Country | Price |
|---|---|
| Singapore | 25 SGD |
| Philippines | 399 pesos |
| Malaysia | 30 MYR |
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Frequently asked questions about medical certificates
Do not count on it. The doctor decides which dates a medical certificate covers, based on what you report in the chat consultation, and may decline dates the details do not support. Apply as soon as you feel unwell, and check whether your employer or school accepts notes covering earlier days.
The doctor decides the length case by case. In most South East Asian countries, sick leave and work from home notes go up to 7 days for generic symptoms, and fitness notes are generally valid for 30 days. If you need longer cover, see a doctor in person.
Yes, through a digital chat only. The doctor reviews your form and may ask follow-up questions in the chat before deciding. DrCertificate has no video calls or in person consultations. Answer promptly and accurately to avoid delays in getting a decision.
You will not receive a certificate, and the payment is not refunded. Doctors decline about 2% of requests, usually when the name and ID do not match or the symptoms and details are inconsistent. If your situation needs care, see a local doctor in person.
Yes, if the doctor agrees it fits your symptoms. A sick leave certificate can cover a single day, and the doctor sets the dates after reviewing your request. Check your employer's policy first, because rules on when a note is needed for one day of leave differ.
No, not unless the error came from the medical team. A medical certificate cannot be corrected once issued. Check your name, ID details and dates carefully on the form before you submit, because the payment is non refundable and a new request means a new fee.
Related guides to medical certificates
- Work from home or sick leave certificate: which do you need?
- How many days of sick leave can a medical certificate cover?
- How to get a fitness certificate from a doctor
- General medical certificate
- Sick leave certificate
- Medical fitness certificate
- Online Sick Leave Certificate in Singapore
- How to get a medical certificate online for leave
- Medical certificates online in Malaysia
Ready to request your medical certificate?
Choose Sick Leave for a general medical certificate, or the option that matches your need, and an independent doctor will review your request and decide. Payments are non refundable, and the service is for non emergency situations for people aged 16 and over.
มีข้อสงสัยก่อนยื่นคำขอ ติดต่อ care@drcertificate.com