How do I get a sick-note on the weekend in Berlin?

Three legitimate routes to a weekend sick-note

Anyone falling ill in Berlin on Saturday or Sunday and unfit for work on Monday needs an AU (Arbeitsunfähigkeitsbescheinigung). Three legitimate routes exist. First 116117 — the statutory on-call service takes weekend calls, sends a contracted physician where medically indicated or refers to an on-call practice. Free for GKV patients but Berlin wait times are often substantial (hours to half a day). Second, an on-call practice (e.g. Charité Virchow, Vivantes hospitals) — you walk in, get examined, receive the AU. Wait time depends on demand. Third, a private house call — you call, the doctor arrives in 60 to 90 minutes, examines and issues the AU on site. Self-pay (or reimbursed via private/supplementary insurance).

An AU is always the result of a medical examination — not an order form. A doctor who issues an AU without an examination breaches the code of conduct. Telemedicine AUs are permitted under tight conditions (known patient, mild course, defined illnesses); for weekend cases with unclear pictures we recommend a personal visit by a licensed physician. Legally: a Sunday AU is valid like a Monday AU. The employer must accept it provided it was issued by a licensed physician after personal examination and carries the date of the examination. Key deadline: for illness lasting longer than three calendar days, the AU must reach the employer by the fourth day — many collective agreements and employment contracts require it from day one.

Practically: anyone falling ill on Saturday and unfit for work on Monday should see a doctor by Sunday or early Monday — via any of the three routes. The AU may be retro-dated by up to three days if the doctor can medically justify it; longer retro-dating is problematic under the medical code. For insurers or authorities you can request, in addition to the AU, a more detailed certificate with diagnosis and recommendation. We issue all certificates at the end of the visit — you have them immediately and can send them digitally to your employer (photo or PDF usually suffices; some collective agreements still require the paper original).

Example: flu-like illness on a Sunday

A Berliner in Tempelhof develops fever, sore throat and trouble swallowing on Saturday evening. Sunday morning Monday office work is unthinkable. Her GP is closed. She calls 116117 and is offered an on-call practice slot with a three-hour wait. Feeling too unwell to wait, she books a private house call — the doctor arrives at 11 am, examines, rules out streptococcal angina with a rapid test, diagnoses a viral infection and issues a five-day AU dated Sunday through Thursday. She photographs and sends it to her employer immediately. Invoice 270 euros, fully reimbursed by her full PKV policy.

What you need to know about weekend AUs

• Three routes: 116117 (GKV, free, long wait), on-call practice (walk-in, long wait), private house call (60 – 90 min, fee).
• An AU is always the result of an examination — not an order form. 'AU without exam' is not permitted.
• A Sunday AU is legally valid like a weekday AU.
• Retro-dating max. 3 days if medically justifiable.
• AU must reach the employer by the fourth day — some collective agreements from day one.
• Format: digital (eAU standard in GKV since 2023), paper or PDF for private doctor.
• For longer illness: arrange follow-up AU before the first one expires.
• For acute deterioration despite an AU: see a doctor again; emergency 112.