Health Certificate in Germany (Gesundheitszeugnis): Get It Online in 15 Minutes

Not a medical exam

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.

More about the health certificate in Germany

Validity, the document you receive, and how the online course compares to the Gesundheitsamt - plus the other names the certificate goes by.

• Gesundheitszeugnis the everyday German name employers use for the certificate
• Gesundheitspass another common name for the same document
• Rote Karte the "red card", a regional nickname for the certificate
• Food handler card the closest US/UK equivalent - this is the German version

Three rules cover the validity: the initial instruction never expires, so you do not need to repeat it for future jobs. You must start working within 3 months of completing the instruction - otherwise you need a new initial instruction. And once you are working, your employer repeats a short follow-up instruction (Folgebelehrung) after you start and then every 2 years - that part is the employer's duty, not yours.

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.

For comparison: health offices (Gesundheitsamt) 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. The online course costs 25,00€ including VAT with no hidden fees: identity verification, the course in your language and the immediate PDF certificate are all included.

The initial instruction is valid without a time limit. However, under § 43 para. 4 IfSG your employer must repeat the instruction at least every two years and document your participation. You can also complete this follow-up instruction online.