Health Certificate in Germany (Gesundheitszeugnis): Get It Online in 15 Minutes
The short answer: to work with food in Germany, you need a health certificate - in German a Gesundheitszeugnis, officially the instruction under Section 43 of the Infection Protection Act (§ 43 IfSG). You can complete it entirely online in about 15 minutes, in English and 12 other languages, for 25,00€ including VAT. Your certificate is issued immediately as a PDF and is valid throughout Germany.
No appointment at the health office (Gesundheitsamt), no waiting weeks for a slot, and no German-only paperwork. This guide explains what the certificate actually is, who needs it, what it costs, how long it is valid and how to get it today - even if you just arrived in Germany.
What is the German health certificate?
The name is misleading: the Gesundheitszeugnis is not a medical examination. There is no blood test, no stool sample and no doctor's checkup. It is a hygiene instruction required by Section 43 of the German Infection Protection Act (Infektionsschutzgesetz, IfSG).
In the instruction you learn which infectious diseases must keep you away from food work, which symptoms you have to report to your employer, and the basic hygiene rules for handling food. At the end you confirm that you understood the content, and you receive an official certificate of instruction. That certificate is what employers mean when they ask for a Gesundheitszeugnis, Gesundheitspass, rote Karte, Hygieneschulung or Infektionsschutzbelehrung - the terms all describe the same document.
If you know the concept of a food handler card or food hygiene certificate from the US, UK or elsewhere: this is the German version of it.
Who needs a health certificate in Germany?
You need the § 43 IfSG instruction before your first day in any job where you produce, process, sell or serve food. Typical examples:
- Restaurants and kitchens: cooks, kitchen helpers, dishwashers who touch food, waiters and service staff
- Cafés, bakeries and fast food: baristas, counter staff, delivery kitchens, catering
- Food retail: supermarket employees at meat, cheese, fish or bakery counters
- Childcare and schools: staff who prepare or hand out meals in kitas, schools and canteens
- Care facilities and hospitals: kitchen and food service staff in communal catering
For many newcomers this is the very first German document a new employer asks for - often with only a few days' notice before the job starts. The good news: it is also one of the fastest documents to get. If you are starting a job in a restaurant or kitchen, see our page for gastronomy workers.
How to get it as a foreigner: online, in your language
Traditionally you would book an appointment at your local health office (Gesundheitsamt), travel there, and attend an instruction session - usually held in German. Since the law allows the instruction to be delivered digitally, you can instead complete it online, whenever and wherever you want:
- 1. Book the course online. Pay by card, PayPal, Klarna, Apple Pay, Google Pay or Amazon Pay. You get your access details by email right away.
- 2. Verify your identity. Upload a photo of your ID document and take a selfie - this takes a minute and makes the certificate legally attributable to you.
- 3. Complete the 15-minute instruction. Choose your language, watch the instruction and confirm the content.
- 4. Download your certificate as a PDF. It is issued immediately and you can show it to your employer the same day.
The course is available in 13 languages: German, English, Polish, Albanian, Hungarian, Romanian, Turkish, Spanish, French, Italian, Arabic, Russian and Vietnamese. You do not need any German to complete it - and you do not need to be a German citizen or permanent resident. All you need is a valid ID document and an internet connection.
What does it cost?
The online initial instruction (Erstbelehrung) costs 25,00€ including VAT - of which half covers the medical instruction under § 43 IfSG and half the digital service around it. There are no hidden fees: identity verification, the course in your language and the immediate PDF certificate are all included.
For comparison: health offices typically charge roughly 20 to 40 euros depending on the city, plus the time and travel for an in-person appointment - and sessions are usually offered in German only, at fixed times, sometimes with a wait of several weeks.
How long is the certificate valid?
Three rules cover everything you need to know:
- The initial instruction never expires. Once you have completed it, you do not need to repeat it for future jobs.
- You must start working within 3 months. If you do not take up a food-related job within 3 months of the instruction, you need a new initial instruction.
- Your employer repeats a short follow-up instruction (Folgebelehrung) within 12 months of your start and then every 2 years. This is the employer's duty, not yours.
What document do you receive?
After completing the course you receive an official certificate of instruction under § 43 IfSG as a PDF - the document colloquially called the Gesundheitszeugnis. It states your name, your date of birth and the date of the instruction, and it is valid throughout Germany, regardless of which federal state you work in.
Keep the PDF on your phone and send it to your employer or bring it on your first day. Your employer keeps a copy on file, because they must be able to show it during food safety inspections.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Gesundheitszeugnis the same as a food handler card?
Do I need to speak German to get it?
How fast can I get the certificate?
Do I need a medical examination or a blood test?
Is the online certificate legally valid?
How long is the certificate valid?
Get your health certificate today
You do not need to navigate German bureaucracy to start your job on time. Complete the official § 43 IfSG instruction online in English, get your certificate as a PDF in about 15 minutes, and start work with everything your employer needs.
Want to know more about the service first? Visit our English homepage for an overview of how ON7 Health-Pass works.