France to implement new sick leave prescription limits

Starting September 1, 2026, France will implement new regulations regarding the duration of medical sick leave prescriptions. Under Decree No. 2026-498, which stems from the 2026 Social Security Financing Act, doctors, midwives, and dentists will face specific time limits for initial prescriptions and subsequent extensions.

An initial sick leave prescription will be capped at 31 days. Any subsequent extensions will be limited to a maximum of 62 days per prescription. This does not impose an absolute limit on the total duration of a person's illness-related absence; rather, it regulates the length of each individual prescription. If a patient's health condition requires a longer period of absence, the practitioner must provide a written justification on the prescription, taking into account recommendations from the Haute Autorité de Santé.

The new rules apply to prescriptions issued in both private practices and hospitals, though they do not apply to Mayotte. Any sick leave or extensions established before the September 1 deadline will remain under the previous regulations.