Zwolnienie dla pracownika za granicą: co musisz wiedzieć o lekarskim zwolnieniu za granicą

When you get sick abroad and need a medical certificate to stay home, you’re dealing with a zwolnienie dla pracownika za granicą, lekarskie potwierdzenie niezdolności do pracy wydane poza granicami Polski. Also known as zwolnienie lekarskie za granicą, it’s not just a piece of paper — it’s your legal shield at work when you can’t show up because you’re unwell. Many think if you’re sick outside Poland, your Polish employer won’t accept the certificate. That’s wrong. Polish labor law recognizes valid medical certificates from EU/EEA countries and some others — as long as they’re clear, signed, and stamped.

But here’s the catch: your pracodawca, osoba lub firma, która zatrudnia pracownika i odpowiada za płacenie wynagrodzenia i potwierdzanie zwolnień doesn’t see your diagnosis. Not even if you got the certificate from a psychiatra, specjalista medyczny zajmujący się chorobami psychicznymi i emocjonalnymi. From 2025, Polish employers can’t ask for details about your illness — only the dates and confirmation that you were unfit for work. Your privacy is protected by law. You don’t have to say if it’s a back problem, depression, or flu. The system is built to keep your health data confidential.

What if you’re in Germany and your doctor gives you a paper in German? You don’t need to translate it. Polish employers are required to accept foreign medical certificates without translation — as long as they contain the doctor’s signature, clinic stamp, patient name, dates, and clear statement of temporary incapacity. If your employer refuses, they’re breaking the law. And if you’re in a non-EU country? It gets trickier. Some certificates from outside the EU may need official translation or apostille, but many employers still accept them if they look legitimate.

Don’t assume your absence will be questioned. Polish courts have ruled multiple times that employees who provide valid foreign medical certificates are protected. Even if you were on vacation and got sick, you still have the right to take time off. The key is documentation — keep the original, take a photo, and send a copy to HR. Don’t wait until you’re back to submit it. The sooner you notify your employer, the smoother it goes.

You’ll find real cases here — from people who got sick in Spain and kept their job, to those who needed psychiatric help abroad and kept their privacy intact. We cover how to handle certificates from Turkey, Ukraine, or even the USA. We explain what your employer can and cannot ask for. We show you exactly what to write in your email to HR when you’re sick abroad. No theory. No jargon. Just what works.