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УкраїнськаHow to get a sanitary certificate in 2026: cost, tests and validity
indekscen.pl editorial team · published 30 September 2026 · prices according to the 5 October 2026 index
To get a sanitary certificate, formally a medical certificate for sanitary and epidemiological purposes, you need to have a stool test for bacterial carriage and take the result to a doctor, who will issue the certificate. The complete process most often costs PLN 200, with a typical range of PLN 130 ‑ 325. The laboratory test alone costs about PLN 170, while an online certificate is often the cheapest option.
At a glance (as at 5 October 2026)
- A complete set of tests for a sanitary certificate, including the certificate itself, usually costs PLN 130 ‑ 325, with a median of PLN 200.
- The laboratory stool test for bacterial carriage alone, without a doctor's appointment, costs about PLN 170.
- The cheapest sanitary certificate offers start at PLN 100 and usually cover an online consultation if you already have your test results.
- A standard occupational health examination, separate from the sanitary certificate, costs about PLN 195.
- The median price of a sanitary certificate is based on 6 sources collected by indekscen.pl.
The sanitary booklet formally ceased to exist in 2008 and was replaced by a medical certificate for sanitary and epidemiological purposes. However, the old name is still commonly used in job advertisements and by employers. The certificate is required by people whose work could expose others to infection, particularly those handling food in restaurants, bakeries, shops selling unpackaged food and food production facilities. Based on offers from clinics, laboratories and online platforms, we explain step by step how to obtain it and how much it costs.
How do you get a sanitary certificate step by step?
Getting a sanitary certificate involves two steps: first, a laboratory stool test for intestinal bacterial carriage, followed by an appointment with a doctor, who issues the certificate based on the result and a medical interview. According to 6 sources collected by indekscen.pl, the complete process most often costs PLN 200.
- Ask your employer whether they will provide a referral and cover the cost of the tests. Some companies do.
- Collect the sample containers from a laboratory, a sanitary and epidemiological station or a clinic. Several samples taken on consecutive days are usually tested, following the laboratory’s instructions.
- Submit the samples and wait for the results of the Salmonella and Shigella carriage test.
- Take the results to an occupational health doctor or book an online consultation with a service that issues certificates.
- Collect the certificate and give a copy to your employer.
How much does a sanitary certificate cost?
A sanitary certificate, including the full set of tests and the certificate itself, usually costs PLN 130 ‑ 325, while the offers collected range from PLN 100 to PLN 500. The laboratory test alone, without a doctor’s appointment, costs about PLN 170. The sanitary and epidemiological certificate booklet page contains verbatim quotations from offers and the dates when they were checked.
Here are the prices of the individual components:
| What you pay for | Median | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Complete package: tests and certificate | PLN 200 | clinic, laboratory or online platform |
| Laboratory carriage test only | PLN 170 | without a doctor’s appointment |
| Cheapest offer in the comparison | PLN 100 | usually an online certificate if you already have your results |
| Standard stool test (general or for parasites) | PLN 33 | this is a different test and is not sufficient for the certificate |
| Occupational health examination | PLN 195 | a separate certificate, often required as well |
| Service | Median | Typically | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanitary and epidemiological certificate booklet | PLN 200 | PLN 130 ‑ 325 | 6 |
| Stool test (including for parasites) | PLN 33 | PLN 24 ‑ 40 | 4 |
| Occupational health examination | PLN 195 | PLN 125 ‑ 250 | 6 |
Median and typical range from public price lists, as at 5 October 2026. Each price includes a source and quotation on the service page.
Be careful when selecting a standard stool test from a laboratory price list for about PLN 33. This is a general test or a parasite test, whereas the certificate requires a carriage test, which is usually more expensive. Find out more about the standard test on the stool test (including for parasites) page.
Who needs a sanitary certificate?
A sanitary certificate, formally a certificate for sanitary and epidemiological purposes, is required by anyone who handles food at work or performs tasks that could expose others to infection. In practice, this primarily includes:
- chefs, kitchen assistants, waiting staff and baristas in food service establishments,
- employees of bakeries, confectioneries, meat-processing plants and other food production facilities,
- sellers of unpackaged food, for example at counters selling bread, cold cuts or ice cream,
- people working in catering at schools, nurseries, hospitals and care homes,
- school and university students undertaking placements at these workplaces.
The certificate must be ready before your first day at work. If you do not know whether your position requires one, ask your employer or a sanitary and epidemiological station.
What does a sanitary certificate look like today?
Today’s sanitary certificate is a single-page medical certificate containing the employee’s details, confirmation that there are no contraindications to performing work that could expose others to infection, and the doctor’s stamp and signature. It does not need to be kept in a booklet. The employer retains a copy in the employee’s records, while it is worth keeping the original because, when changing jobs, you can often show it to your new employer instead of undergoing the tests again.
Online sanitary certificates: how do they work?
To obtain a sanitary certificate online, you submit your samples to a physical laboratory and consult remotely with the doctor who issues the certificate. This can be the cheapest option: the lowest offers in our comparison, starting from PLN 100, are from online platforms. Before purchasing, check whether the price includes the laboratory test or only the consultation and certificate, and whether your employer will accept an electronic certificate.
How long does it take to get a sanitary certificate?
Getting a sanitary certificate usually takes several days to about a week. The laboratory result takes the longest because samples are collected on consecutive days and the bacterial culture takes several days. The doctor’s appointment and issue of the certificate usually take one day, while an online certificate can often be issued within a few hours of submitting the results. If you are due to start work on a specific date, begin the tests at least a week beforehand.
How long is a sanitary certificate valid?
A certificate for sanitary and epidemiological purposes is usually issued without an expiry date, so it does not need to be renewed every year as the old booklet did. However, the doctor may specify a date for another examination on the certificate, and the employer may refer you for follow-up tests, for example after a gastrointestinal illness or returning from a country with an increased risk of infection. If the certificate is old, ask your new employer whether they will accept it.
How often does a sanitary certificate need to be updated?
A sanitary certificate does not need to be updated at fixed intervals if it has no expiry date and the doctor has not specified a date for another examination. An update is required when requested by a doctor, employer or sanitary inspectorate, for example after an illness. In this situation, you will have to pay again for the test, usually about PLN 170, and for the certificate. If you have any concerns about symptoms, ask a doctor.
How can you get a sanitary certificate for free?
You can obtain a sanitary certificate at no personal cost if your employer pays for the tests, as some companies in the food and catering sectors routinely do. Students at vocational schools and universities whose placements require a certificate often have their tests arranged by their school or university. Outside these situations, expect to pay PLN 130 ‑ 325 for the complete package.
How can you avoid overpaying for a sanitary certificate?
- Ask your employer about reimbursement or a referral to a clinic with which it has an agreement.
- Compare three options: an occupational health clinic, a laboratory offering a consultation and an online platform. Prices can vary considerably.
- Combine appointments. If you also need an occupational health examination, a clinic can often perform both during a single visit.
- Check what the price includes: containers, number of samples, test, consultation and issue of the certificate.
- Do not take a test ‘just in case’ by choosing a standard test from a laboratory price list, as the certificate requires a carriage test.
We compare the prices of other popular laboratory tests in the article full blood count with differential: price. Find more medical services in the health category.
„Badania sanitarno-epidemiologiczne w poradni medycyny pracy wraz z wydaniem orzeczenia do celów sanitarno-epidemiologicznych | od 100 do 200 zł”
jakiwniosek.pl, source
„Łącznie, wydatki związane z uzyskaniem orzeczenia mogą wynosić od 200 do 500 zł, a ich wysokość zależy od lokalizacji oraz rodzaju wybranych usług.”
radioluban.pl, source
„Cena wyrobienia książeczki sanepidowskiej, czyli uzyskania orzeczenia do celów sanitarno-epidemiologicznych, wynosi od 100 do 400 zł w zależności od wybranej metody oraz konieczności wykonania badań kału.”
ksiazeczka-sanepidowska.pl, source
„Uzyskaj orzeczenie do celów sanitarno-epidemiologicznych (dawniej Książeczka Sanepidowska) online w cenie 114 zł.”
e-Sanepid.pl, 2026-09, source
The prices in this article come from public price lists published by clinics, laboratories and online services, as well as from articles. Each price has a source, date and verbatim quotation on the service page.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a sanitary certificate cost?
Za komplet badań z orzeczeniem płaci się zwykle PLN 130 ‑ 325, a w zebranych ofertach od PLN 100 do PLN 500. Cena zależy od placówki, miasta i tego, czy wizyta jest stacjonarna, czy online.
Where can you get a sanitary certificate?
Dziś nie trzeba jej kupować: dokumentem jest orzeczenie lekarskie, które wydaje lekarz po badaniach. Dawną papierową książeczkę można jeszcze kupić w sklepach papierniczych, ale jeśli pracodawca jej nie wymaga, wystarczy orzeczenie, które kosztuje z badaniami zwykle PLN 200.
Can a GP issue a sanitary certificate?
Zwykle nie. Orzeczenie do celów sanitarno-epidemiologicznych wydaje lekarz uprawniony do badań profilaktycznych pracowników, czyli najczęściej lekarz medycyny pracy. Lekarz rodzinny może pomóc w badaniach, ale o orzeczenie zapytaj w poradni medycyny pracy.
Is a sanitary and epidemiological examination the same as an occupational health examination?
Nie, to dwa różne orzeczenia. Badanie medycyny pracy (około PLN 195) potwierdza, że możesz pracować na danym stanowisku, a orzeczenie sanepidowskie, że nie przenosisz niektórych chorób zakaźnych. W pracy przy żywności potrzebne są zwykle oba, a część poradni robi je podczas jednej wizyty.
Check prices with sources
Every amount quoted in the article has a source, date and verbatim quote from the price list on the service page.
Translation of the original Polish article dated 30 September 2026. Quotations from price lists are in Polish, as published by the companies. Read the original in Polish.
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