In Luxembourg, your employer will pay your full salary for the first 77 days during a reference period of 18 months. The Luxembourg ‘Caisse Nationale de Santé’ (CNS) will then take over and pay up to 78 weeks. This system covers Luxembourg residents plus French, German, and Belgian cross-border commuters.
Declare your sick leave
Notify your employer in writing on the first day you are off sick. A text message or email is enough to serve as proof if there is a dispute. We recommend you do this before the end of your regular working day.
The medical certificate issued by your doctor has three pages:
- The first page must be sent to the CNS before the third working day of your sick leave.
- The second must be sent to your employer within the same timeframe.
- The third is your copy.
Cross-border commuters can use their home country’s sick leave certificate, but must add their 13-digit Luxembourg tax ID number.
You don’t need to contact the CNS if you are off sick for less than two days. After two days, you can declare your sick leave online on the cns.public.lu website.
If your sick leave is extended, you must send the new certificate within two working days following this certificate’s start date.
Continuity of earnings: the employer-CNS system
Luxembourg does not impose any waiting days, so you will be paid from the first day of your sick leave. Your employer will pay 100% of your salary, with bonuses and increases during the first 77 days of sick leave over a reference period of 18 months. If these 77 days end in the middle of the month, they will continue to pay you until the end of that month.
The CNS will then take over and pay you for up to 78 weeks. This change is automatic, so you don’t need to do anything.
Good to know: Protection against dismissal
If you respect the deadlines (inform on day one, send the medical certificate within 3 days), you may not be dismissed for 26 weeks. This protection applies even in the event of misconduct prior to your sick leave.
How your sick leave income is calculated
Luxembourg sick leave pay is capped at €13,188.95 per month in 2025 (five times the minimum wage of €2,637.79). This ceiling is determined by the SSM (Luxembourg minimum wage), but does not apply to part-time contracts.
The maximum duration of sick leave payments is 78 weeks out of 104 weeks. The CNS will contact you near the end of this duration. If your sick leave lasts longer, you will be classed as permanently unable to work or be assigned a new professional status.
Leaving your home while you are on sick leave
You must stay at home for the first five days. You are only allowed out to visit your doctor, get medicines, or buy essential items.
From day six, if specified on your certificate, you can go out from 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 6pm.
After 43 days’ sick leave, you can complete a CNS form and ask for these hours to be extended.
You can eat out if you have prior permission. On the other hand, you may not leave the country unless:
- You have a serious illness;
- You require palliative care;
- You have a disability;
- A close relative has passed away;
- A close relative has given birth.
You are also not allowed to play sports without medical permission.
Good to know: The benefits of Medicis health cover
Foyer’s Medicis complementary health insurance covers costs not reimbursed by the CNS. There are two policies:
- Hospi+ for hospitalisation in a private room and Comfort for routine care, dental care, and visual aids.
- Tax deductable: 100% of the premium is tax deductible (Article 111 L.I.R).
Fraud Checks and Sanctions
You will receive a written warning if you don’t meet the above deadlines. In the event of a repeat offence, you will be fined up to €750. An unjustified absence during a home check within three days results in the immediate suspension of payments.
If you submit a falsified certificate, you will be fined €200 for sick leave less than three days, €500 if more than three days, and €750 in the event of a repeat offence. Your sick pay will be cancelled, and the CNS may refer the matter to the Public Prosecutor.
Working during sick leave is considered serious fraud. The CNS automatically refuses medical certificates that do not state a genuine illness.
Gradual return to work
The process is simple: your doctor will complete a form stating the benefits of a gradual return to work that you and your employer must sign.
- Your sick leave must be for at least one month over the previous three months;
- You are still off sick at the time of the request;
- You have a medical certificate stating you can gradually return to work and your employer’s written agreement.
You are allowed to go out as usual during the gradual return to work period. Payment-wise, either your employer will pay your salary, or you will receive payment from the CNS.
Home checks by authorities
CNS agents may visit your home from 8am to 9pm on any day of the week. They will only verify your presence, not your state of health.
If you are not at home, the agent will leave a slip in your letter box. You have three days to justify your absence.
If you are not staying at home (for example, if you are with a relative, or your partner), this must be noted on your medical sick leave certificate. This address must be in your country of residence.
The Luxembourg sick leave system is based on clearly defined shared responsibility. The employer pays a full salary for 77 days, then the CNS takes over. This mechanism ensures maximum financial security while limiting abuse of the system.
The three key takeaways:
- Respect the deadlines: notify your employer on day one and send the medical certificate within 3 days.
- You will receive 100% of your income, paid by your employer (77 days), then by the CNS (up to 78 weeks), up to a monthly ceiling of €13,188.95.
- You can adapt your sick leave according to your situation: request permission to go out as usual after 43 days, declare if you are going out for a meal.
