🏥 Healthcare2025-01-08
Learn how to call in sick during your Ausbildung in Germany, when you need a doctor's note, and what happens to your pay and vacation days.
Getting sick is stressful enough on its own — but when you're in the middle of your Ausbildung in Germany and you don't know the rules, it can feel like a crisis. Understanding how Krankschreibung (sick leave certification) works during your Ausbildung is not just useful, it's essential for protecting your rights as a trainee. This guide walks you through exactly what to do on day one of illness, when you need a doctor's note, and what happens to your money and vacation days while you're off.
The word Krankschreibung literally means "sick-writing" — it refers to the official process of a doctor certifying that you are unable to work due to illness. In German law, this document is called an Arbeitsunfähigkeitsbescheinigung (AU), sometimes just called a "gelbe Schein" (yellow slip), though in 2023 Germany transitioned to a fully digital system for most employees and trainees.
As an Auszubildender (trainee), you are covered under the Berufsbildungsgesetz (BBiG) — Germany's Vocational Training Act — which gives you the same sick leave protections as regular employees. That's a big deal. You cannot be fired simply because you got sick, and you are entitled to continued pay during your illness under specific conditions.
The rules are nearly identical. The main thing to remember is that your training company is your employer, so all notification and documentation requirements go to them (and your Berufsschule if you're also missing school days). Berufsschule attendance is a separate obligation — even if your company excuses you, your school absence is tracked independently.
This is where many trainees make mistakes because they panic or don't know the procedure. Here's what you need to do, step by step:
A simple phone call script: "Guten Morgen, ich bin [your name], ich bin heute krank und kann nicht zur Arbeit kommen." That's all you need to say.
This is one of the most confusing points for international trainees coming from Morocco, where workplace sick leave rules work differently.
Under the default rule in German law (§ 5 EFZG — Entgeltfortzahlungsgesetz), you must submit a medical certificate if your illness lasts more than three calendar days. So if you're sick on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, you can stay home without a note. But if you're also sick on Thursday, you must see a doctor and present the AU by that Thursday (the fourth day).
Your training contract or company policy may require a doctor's note from day one. This is completely legal. Check your Ausbildungsvertrag — it's usually stated explicitly. Many larger companies like Deutsche Bahn, Siemens, or big retail chains require immediate documentation. If your contract says "ab dem ersten Krankheitstag," you need to visit a doctor on day one.
Your Berufsschule may require a note from day one regardless of what your company says. Ask your class teacher (Klassenlehrer) at the start of your Ausbildung so you're not caught off guard.
Since January 2023, Germany has officially switched to the elektronische Arbeitsunfähigkeitsbescheinigung (eAU) for all statutory health insurance members (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, or GKV). This affects most trainees.
Here's how it works now:
Important caveat: If you have private health insurance (PKV) — which is less common for trainees but possible — the old paper system still applies. You must deliver the AU yourself.
If you're registered with a GKV like AOK, TK (Techniker Krankenkasse), BARMER, or DAK, you are part of the eAU system. You can check your AU status online through your insurer's app (e.g., the TK-App or My AOK).
Here's the good news: as an Auszubildender in Germany, you are entitled to continued pay (Entgeltfortzahlung) during illness, up to six weeks per illness episode, from your very first day of training — provided you've been in your Ausbildung for at least four weeks.
Your vacation days are NOT deducted during a certified sick leave period. If you fall ill during your annual leave and have a valid AU, those days are converted back to vacation days — you don't lose them. This is guaranteed under § 9 BUrlG (Bundesurlaubsgesetz).
Failing to notify your employer correctly or missing the AU deadline can have real consequences:
Moving from Morocco to Germany means adapting to a much more formal, documentation-heavy culture around workplace absence. Here are the mistakes we see most often:
Navigating Krankschreibung during your Ausbildung in Germany doesn't have to be overwhelming once you know the steps. Call in on day one, check your contract for doctor's note requirements, understand how the eAU system works with your Krankenkasse, and know that your pay is protected for up to six weeks. These aren't just bureaucratic hurdles — they're protections that work in your favor.
If you're still in the process of preparing your Ausbildung application or want guidance on understanding German workplace documents, book a consultation with our German immigration specialist (€16) to plan your move. The earlier you understand your rights, the more confidently you can focus on your training.
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