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Your options

When you need a medical certificate, what are your options?

There is no single right way to get a medical certificate in Australia. Your circumstances decide the best fit. Here is a calm comparison of the five main paths, with no pressure to pick ours.

01

Visit your regular GP

When it works

When you have an established relationship with your doctor, need a thorough examination, or have a chronic condition that benefits from continuity of care.

When it does not

When booking takes days, when you cannot leave home because you are unwell, or when you need a certificate the same day for a short absence.

Typical cost$0 (bulk-billed) to $50-$90 (privately billed, after Medicare rebate)
Typical timeSame day to several days for an appointment, plus travel and waiting time
02

Walk-in clinic or urgent care centre

When it works

When you need to be seen in person and your regular GP is not available. Useful for minor injuries, acute illnesses, and after-hours visits.

When it does not

When you do not feel well enough to leave home, or when wait times stretch into hours during peak demand.

Typical cost$40-$80 typically, varies by clinic and bulk-billing status
Typical time30-90 minutes wait during busy periods, plus travel time
03

Online telehealth medical certificate

When it works

When your condition is short-duration and self-limiting, you do not need a physical examination, and you want to avoid travel or waiting rooms. Common examples: cold, flu, gastroenteritis, migraine.

When it does not

When your condition needs an in-person examination, diagnostic tests, or is severe or worsening. Telehealth providers will decline and refund in those cases.

Typical costFrom $24.95, no Medicare required. Refund if a doctor cannot help.
Typical timeForm takes around 2 minutes. Doctor review follows when available. Certificate emailed as a PDF if approved.
04

Statutory declaration

When it works

Many employers accept a statutory declaration for absences of one or two days when a medical certificate is not strictly required. Check your employment agreement or HR policy.

When it does not

When the absence is longer than two consecutive days, or when your enterprise agreement specifically requires medical evidence. Not all employers accept statutory declarations.

Typical costFree if you draft and witness it yourself. Some workplaces provide a template.
Typical time5-10 minutes to complete. Must be witnessed by an authorised person (e.g. JP, pharmacist).
05

Self-certification with your employer

When it works

Some workplaces let employees self-certify for short absences without a medical certificate. Common in workplaces with paid personal leave entitlements where evidence is requested only for longer absences or patterns of absence.

When it does not

When your enterprise agreement, HR policy, or specific manager requires medical evidence. When the absence is longer than the self-certification window.

Typical costFree.
Typical timeTypically a single email or HRIS form entry.

Routine absence evidence, reviewed under workplace policy

Under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), s 107, employees may be asked for evidence that would satisfy a reasonable person. A certificate from an AHPRA-registered medical practitioner can support that evidence review.

Employer policies may vary. High-stakes requests such as compensation, return-to-work clearance, court, or exam-deferral documents need their own assessment pathway.

Common questions

Is an online medical certificate as valid as one from my regular GP?

Yes. Under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) s 107, a medical certificate from any AHPRA-registered medical practitioner is acceptable evidence for paid personal or carer's leave. Australian employers are required to accept it on the same basis as an in-person certificate.

When should I see an in-person GP instead of using telehealth?

If you need a physical examination (chest auscultation, abdominal palpation, ear/throat exam), if you require diagnostic tests like blood work or imaging, or if your condition is severe or worsening, an in-person consultation is the appropriate option. Telehealth is best suited to short-duration certificates for self-limiting illnesses.

Can I just write my own statement instead of getting a certificate?

Some employers accept a statutory declaration for short absences. The Fair Work Act allows employers to set their own evidence requirements within reason. Check your enterprise agreement or employee handbook. For absences longer than two consecutive days, most employers require a medical certificate.

Are walk-in clinics faster than booking my regular GP?

Walk-in clinics typically have shorter wait times than appointment-based clinics, but you may still wait 30-90 minutes during busy periods. Costs depend on whether the clinic bulk-bills. Telehealth is generally faster again because there is no travel or waiting room.

How much does each option typically cost?

Bulk-billing GP: $0 out of pocket. Privately-billed GP: around $50-$90 after the Medicare rebate. Walk-in clinics: similar to private GPs, $40-$80. Online telehealth medical certificate (InstantMed): from $24.95, no Medicare needed. Statutory declaration: free if you draft it yourself.

Will my employer accept any of these options?

Medical certificates from any AHPRA-registered practitioner (in-person or online) are accepted under Fair Work Act s 107. Statutory declarations are accepted at employer discretion and are typically used for shorter absences. Self-certification is governed by your specific employer's policy.

If online telehealth fits your situation

An AHPRA-registered Australian doctor reviews your request and emails the certificate to you as a PDF if approved. Full refund if the doctor declines.

See how an online certificate works

Or call your GP, drop into a walk-in clinic, or ask your employer about self-certification. All are valid paths.