Pregnancy fit-to-fly certificate
Most airlines ask for a signed doctor's letter to fly from 28 weeks. Get yours without a clinic visit.
✔ GMC-registered doctors.
✔ Most delivered by 9AM next morning. From £49.
✔ Full refund if the GP cannot issue.
GET MY FIT TO FLY 
Please check your airline's specific pregnancy policy before applying, as gestational cut-offs and documentation requirements vary by carrier.
Accepted by most UK employers, universities and insurers, subject to their own policies. All consultations are subject to clinical assessment and certificates are issued only where clinically appropriate.
Excellent service. Not long after filling in the entire form, I got connected to a Doctor and the process went very smoothly. Highly recommended.- Mary, London W7
Super quick response, highly recommended service. - Kurt, London SW6
How It Works
Complete short online consult
No appointment required.
Complete a short medical questionnaire and upload any supporting evidence.
Doctor reviews your evidence
A GMC-registered doctor reviews your submission individually.
✔ Full refund if a certificate cannot be issued.
Receive your certificate
Most certificates are issued same day, almost all by 9AM the next morning. Delivered as a signed PDF. A doctor will email you if more evidence is needed.
Certificate security
Every MedicalCert certificate can be checked as genuine
Each certificate is issued with anti-tampering protection and its own verification reference. If your employer, university, airline or insurer wants to confirm the document came from a GMC-registered doctor, they can check it against MedicalCert records. Altered or copied documents do not pass that check.
Very happy, I ordered my Medical Certificate in the early morning hours and before noon time of same day I had it on my inbox. Speedy service and they present the health condition precisely, get to the point.
They meet the incredibly fast turnaround stated (certificate/letter sent before 9am the following morning if the doctor feels that a letter/certificate is appropriate) which is incredibly quick and I am really grateful for the help provided!
Very easy and quick to get my certificate. And the certificate was approved from the specific company to travel with my dog. I will use them again. Well done.
Second time using this company and they are fabulous! Always great, fast, friendly service. Highly recommend!
This was my second time using Medical Cert, and once again the service was exceptionally quick and professional. Everything was handled efficiently, with clear communication throughout.
I found the service very straight forward and quick. Exactly what I needed to get my Padi medical form signed before our holiday. Thank you very much.
Process was easy and responses were quick. I would recommend their service.
Fast efficient service for medical certificates. I used the not fit to fly service and was provided with a certificate the next day, the price is very reasonable and enabled a flight credit refund with my airline. Would recommend and would use again if needed.
A fast and efficient service. It wasn't complicated and the Fit-to-fly note was accepted by the Airport without any further questions. Thank you.
Ideal for me, I am looking to get a certificate for some medical issues I have. So this is the perfect solution for me, uploading docs was easy and the forms very straightforward to fill in. Will definitely use them again. Many thanks.
Excellent service. Easy to use and certificate issued in less than 24 hours. £39 as opposed to the £150 my GP charges. Highly recommended.
Quick and reasonably pain-free. Received their standard certificate as well as my requested bespoke certificate, by email, by 9am the following morning. Both completed properly, signed and stamped as required. More expensive than my GP, but infinitely quicker and easier.
One of the best experiences. It's easy to get a GP note.
Excellent. My GP refuses to issue DWP MED 3 Fit Notes to students. MedicalCert were excellent and extremely helpful in providing a necessary certificate. Highly recommended.
You were amazing, you kept me updated and replied promptly to any queries I had. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
They helped me, they were very professional and nice.
Very pleased. Quick service with very professional letter provided.
Great service, pretty straight forward and easy to use the website.
I was recommended Medical Cert by a friend and was so impressed with the service received. I would recommend using a laptop rather than a phone. Overall a fantastic and fast service.
Pregnancy Fit to Fly Certificate
Yes, you can get a pregnancy fit to fly certificate online in the UK. A pregnancy fit to fly certificate is a medical letter signed by a GMC-registered doctor confirming your estimated due date, that your pregnancy is uncomplicated, and that air travel is clinically appropriate at the time of assessment. Most UK airlines ask for this documentation from 28 weeks of gestation onwards, and Emirates and TUI from 29 weeks. Gestational cut-offs are set by each airline as a condition of carriage, not by UK law or the Civil Aviation Authority, and they vary more than most travellers expect.
Without a valid certificate, some airlines may refuse boarding without appropriate documentation. A MedicalCert pregnancy fit to fly certificate is signed by a GMC-registered UK doctor in the same way as one from your NHS GP, is accepted by most major UK and international carriers, though acceptance is always the airline's decision, and can be issued the same day you submit your consultation.
Gestation Thresholds: When Do You Need a Certificate?
The bands below reflect the policies published by the major UK carriers. They are conditions of carriage set by each airline, not UK law. You must account for your gestation at both outbound and return departure dates. If your return gestation exceeds the airline's cut-off, travel cannot be permitted regardless of when the certificate was issued.
The 28-week threshold exists because the third trimester changes the clinical risk profile of pregnancy. Reduced cabin pressure (equivalent to approximately 6,000 to 8,000 feet altitude) and lower oxygen saturation become more significant as the fetus grows and placental demands increase. The RCOG states that air travel is generally safe for most pregnant women before 37 weeks if you are carrying one baby, and before 32 weeks for an uncomplicated twin pregnancy, provided there are no complications.
Wizz Air exception: Wizz Air allows pregnant passengers to travel only to the end of week 34 for a single pregnancy, and does not permit travel after 32 weeks for a multiple pregnancy. That is the earliest singleton cut-off among the carriers listed here, two weeks before the week 36 point most carriers use. Wizz Air also requires the certificate to be issued within 6 days of the flight date, the shortest window of any airline on this page. Verify your airline's current policy before booking.
Can You Get a Pregnancy Fit to Fly Certificate from the NHS?
Many NHS GP practices and midwifery teams no longer issue fit to fly letters during pregnancy. Writing one is private work that sits outside the NHS contract, and practices commonly cite indemnity cover and appointment pressure when they decline. Several NHS Trust websites now state explicitly that pregnancy fit to fly certificates are not an NHS service and direct patients to private providers.
This does not affect the clinical validity of the certificate itself. A fit to fly letter signed by any GMC-registered doctor, whether NHS or private, carries the same standing with airlines. The key requirement is that the issuing doctor has sufficient clinical information (your maternity notes or antenatal summary) to make a competent assessment.
NHS GP or midwife
- ✕ Many practices have stopped offering this service
- ✕ Appointment waits vary and can run to several weeks
- ✕ Some GPs decline due to indemnity concerns
- ✕ May charge a private fee even within the NHS
- ✓ Free if your practice still offers it at no charge
MedicalCert (private, online)
- ✓ Available 7 days a week, no appointment needed
- ✓ Same-day certificate if submitted before 9pm
- ✓ GMC-registered UK doctor reviews your maternity notes
- ✓ Full refund if the doctor cannot issue
- ✓ QR code verification for airline staff
Airline Pregnancy Policies: UK and International Carriers
The policies below were last checked against each airline's own published guidance in August 2026. Airlines change these without notice, so confirm directly with your carrier before booking. Several require their own form completed by a doctor rather than a general letter, and British Airways asks for the form or letter to be stamped.
| Airline | Certificate from | Cut-off (singleton) | Cut-off (multiples) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Airways | 28 weeks | Before end of week 36 | Before end of week 32 | No paperwork needed before 28 weeks. BA has its own pregnancy form, and the form or a letter must be completed and stamped by a doctor or midwife. Dated as close to travel as possible |
| Ryanair | 28 weeks | Before end of week 36 | Before end of week 32 | Letter must be dated within 2 weeks (14 days) of departure, per Ryanair's own template. Ryanair may refuse carriage at bag drop or the gate without it |
| easyJet | Not required* | Before end of week 35 | Before end of week 32 | *No letter required for an uncomplicated pregnancy. easyJet asks you to consult your medical practitioner if you have had complications. Carrying a letter from 28 weeks is still advisable |
| Jet2 | 28 weeks | Before end of week 35 | Before end of week 33 | Own pregnancy form. Certificate must be dated within 7 days of departure and 16 days of the return. Jet2 states certificates outside these windows cannot be accepted |
| TUI | 29 weeks | Before end of week 36 | Before end of week 32 | Certificate required from the beginning of week 29, not week 28. Own form PDF on the TUI website. You must also notify TUI customer services, including for the return leg. Dated within 14 days of departure |
| Virgin Atlantic | 28 weeks | Before end of week 36 | Before end of week 32 | Certificate from a doctor, dated as close to travel as possible. Virgin does not need to see it in advance but can ask for it at the airport or on board |
| Wizz Air | 28 weeks | Before end of week 34 | Not permitted after 32 weeks | Certificate must be issued within 6 days of the flight date. Earliest singleton cut-off and tightest dating rule listed here. Between 28 and 34 weeks without a certificate, Wizz Air requires a disclaimer form at the gate. Check your return date falls inside both limits before booking |
| Emirates | 29 weeks | No travel from the 37th week | No travel from the 33rd week | Mandatory from week 29. A MEDIF medical clearance form is required if the pregnancy is complicated at any stage |
| Norwegian | 4 weeks before your due date | Until 2 weeks before your due date | Until 2 weeks before your due date | Norwegian works from your due date, not the week of pregnancy. No certificate needed until 4 weeks before the due date. Between 4 and 2 weeks before it a certificate is required and the flight cannot be longer than 4 hours. No travel inside the final 2 weeks. On a return trip the certificate must cover the whole period |
If your airline has its own pregnancy form (British Airways, Jet2, and TUI all provide one), upload it with your MedicalCert submission and the doctor will complete it alongside the standard certificate for an additional £15.
Flying with a carrier not listed above? Our full airline pregnancy policy comparison covers twelve carriers, including KLM, Iberia, and Lufthansa.
Short-Haul vs Long-Haul: Does Flight Duration Matter?
The gestation cut-offs above apply regardless of flight duration. However, there are practical clinical differences between a 2-hour flight to Spain and a 10-hour flight to the Caribbean.
The RCOG patient information leaflets Air Travel and Pregnancy, and Reducing the Risk of Venous Thrombosis in Pregnancy and After Birth, set out the advice this section is based on.
Who May Not Be Eligible
A certificate is issued only where clinically appropriate. If any of the following apply, the doctor may be unable to issue remotely. In-person assessment by your midwife or obstetric team is strongly advised:
If the doctor cannot issue a certificate on clinical grounds, a full refund is provided. You will not be charged for a clinical decision made in your interest.
DVT Risk During Pregnancy Flights
Pregnancy raises the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and long periods of immobility on a flight add to it. The RCOG states that women who are pregnant, and up to six weeks after birth, have a higher risk of developing a DVT than women who are not pregnant, with the highest risk just after birth. It also notes that venous thrombosis remains uncommon overall, occurring in around 1 to 2 in 1,000 women during pregnancy or the first six weeks after birth. The RCOG says the risk rises with the length of the flight and with additional factors such as a previous DVT or being overweight.
Standard DVT precautions for pregnant flyers
If you are cleared to fly: wear graduated elastic compression stockings fitted by your midwife or doctor, stay mobile in the cabin on longer flights, keep well hydrated, and avoid alcohol. Your GP or midwife should advise whether additional thromboprophylaxis, such as low molecular weight heparin, is appropriate for your specific risk profile before travel. Raise DVT prevention with your antenatal team in good time before you fly rather than in the final days.
Travel Insurance and Pregnancy
A fit to fly certificate confirms you are medically safe to travel. It does not replace travel insurance. Pregnancy is not usually treated as a pre-existing medical condition by UK insurers, and most standard policies do not require you to buy a specialist product simply because you are pregnant.
What standard policies typically do and do not cover:
- ✓ Emergency medical treatment abroad for unforeseen pregnancy complications, such as pre-eclampsia or hyperemesis
- ✓ Emergency repatriation where a complication means you cannot fly home as planned
- ✓ Cancellation or curtailment where a doctor advises against travel because of a complication
- ✕ Routine antenatal care, scans, and normal childbirth abroad
- ✕ Cancellation simply because you are pregnant or uncomfortable, with no medical complication
- ✕ Claims where you travelled against medical advice, or beyond the airline or insurer gestation limit
Cover for complications is usually conditional. Many insurers apply their own gestation limit, commonly around 28 to 32 weeks at the start of the trip, and several require confirmation from a doctor or midwife that you were fit to travel. Cover for premature birth is usually limited by how close to your due date it happens, and the limit differs from insurer to insurer. Terms vary considerably, so read the policy wording rather than relying on a general summary.
Declare any known pregnancy complication when buying or renewing a policy, since an existing complication is generally excluded unless it has been accepted by the insurer. If you are travelling outside the UK, check whether your destination has a reciprocal healthcare agreement and whether you need a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) for EU countries. A GHIC covers state healthcare only and is not a substitute for insurance.
What Your Certificate Includes
Every MedicalCert pregnancy fit to fly certificate contains the elements airlines require at check-in and the boarding gate:
Certificate contents
- ✔ Your name, date of birth, and contact details
- ✔ Estimated due date (EDD)
- ✔ Gestation at outbound and return departure dates
- ✔ Singleton or multiple pregnancy confirmed
- ✔ Confirmation the pregnancy is uncomplicated and air travel is clinically appropriate
- ✔ GMC registration number of the signing doctor
- ✔ Unique QR code for airline verification
You must upload your most recent maternity notes or antenatal summary with your submission. If your airline has its own form, include it and the doctor will complete it alongside the standard certificate for an additional £15.
How to Get a Pregnancy Fit to Fly Certificate
Complete the online consultation form
Provide your gestation, estimated due date, travel dates, airline, and relevant medical history. Upload your most recent maternity notes or antenatal summary. The form takes approximately 5 minutes.
GMC-registered doctor reviews your case
Your submission is reviewed the same day by a UK-based, GMC-registered doctor. The doctor assesses your maternity notes, gestation, and medical history against RCOG guidance and your airline's published policy. If further information is needed, the doctor may contact you before issuing.
Certificate delivered to your inbox
If clinically appropriate, your signed PDF certificate arrives same day (submit before 9pm) or by 9am next morning. If the doctor cannot issue on clinical grounds, you receive a full refund.
Present at check-in or the boarding gate
Carry the certificate in your hand luggage, either printed or on your phone. Airline staff may request it at check-in, bag drop, or the gate, particularly on international routes.
Flying After Giving Birth
If you are planning a return flight shortly after your due date, or if your baby arrives before your planned return, airline policies for new mothers and newborns are separate from pregnancy fit to fly requirements.
For infant flight clearance, see our fit to fly certificate for children and infants.
