Fit To Fly Certificate
MedicalCert provides fit to fly certificates signed by GMC-registered UK doctors. Your airline needs medical clearance before you board. Get a signed doctor's certificate next-day before 9AM, no appointment.
✔ Widely accepted by airlines and travel insurers. Each one sets its own rules.
✔ Signed by UK doctors registered with the General Medical Council, the independent regulator of doctors in the UK.
✔ Same day for most or before 9AM next-day. Only £67.
✔ Rated Excellent on Trustpilot, 4.5 out of 5 from over 300 reviews.
GET MY FIT TO FLY 
Verify a MedicalCert certificate online
An airline or insurer enters the Submission ID and date of birth printed on the certificate. The check confirms that MedicalCert issued it and shows the certificate type and issue date.
✔ Full refund if the doctor cannot issue.
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.
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.
Get a Fit to Fly Certificate Online, GMC-Registered Doctors
A fit to fly certificate, also called a fit to fly letter or medical clearance to fly, is a signed document from a registered doctor confirming you are medically safe to travel by air. Airlines may require one if you have a recent medical condition, have had surgery, are pregnant, or have a chronic illness that could be affected by cabin pressure or reduced oxygen.
MedicalCert issues a fit to fly certificate UK patients can apply for online, following individual clinical review by a GMC-registered doctor. No appointment needed, complete a short online consultation, upload your evidence, and receive your signed flight medical certificate same day or by 9AM next morning. Full refund if a certificate cannot be issued on clinical grounds.
What Is a Fit to Fly Certificate?
A fit to fly certificate is a signed document from a GMC-registered doctor confirming that a passenger's condition is stable and that air travel does not pose an unacceptable clinical risk. It is not a guarantee of safety, it is a doctor's professional opinion, based on the information provided, that you are fit to travel by air on the specified date. MedicalCert issues fit to fly certificates through an online consultation, with each application reviewed individually by a GMC-registered UK doctor.
Airlines request a fitness to fly letter to confirm your condition will not deteriorate during the flight and that you will not require emergency medical intervention on board. The IATA Medical Manual provides the framework most airlines follow when setting their own medical clearance policies. Travel insurers may also request a fit for flight certificate as part of pre-departure documentation or a travel claim.
This document is known by several names, all referring to the same type of medical letter:
Do I Need a Fit to Fly Certificate?
Most healthy passengers do not need one. You are likely to need a fit to fly certificate, or your airline may request one, in any of the following situations:
Many airlines ask for medical clearance if you have had surgery or been discharged from hospital in the preceding weeks. The risk of DVT and pressure-related complications is higher in the post-operative period, as outlined in CAA passenger fitness guidance. The exact window is set by each carrier.
A fit to fly certificate for a heart condition confirms cardiac status is stable for the reduced cabin oxygen environment. Commonly requested for stable angina, treated heart attack, heart failure, pacemakers, and ICDs. Post-cardiac-event passengers are assessed individually.
COPD, severe asthma, and reduced lung capacity may require clearance, particularly for long-haul routes. The CAA advises that cabin air is equivalent to breathing at approximately 5,000 to 8,000 feet altitude, which can significantly affect patients with compromised respiratory function.
Airlines set their own gestational cut-offs and pregnancy forms, and they differ between carriers. Full guidance is on our dedicated Pregnancy Fit to Fly Certificate page, with carrier-by-carrier rules on our Airline Pregnancy Policies guide.
Airlines may require medical clearance if you are travelling with a plaster cast, particularly on long-haul routes, due to the risk of swelling from cabin pressure changes. CAA guidance notes that some casts may need to be bivalved before flying shortly after application.
Airlines commonly apply a waiting period after a stroke or TIA and will request written confirmation that your condition has stabilised and air travel is medically appropriate. The required interval varies by carrier and by the severity of the event.
Diabetes, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis may require a certificate if your airline has flagged your condition or if you require supplementary oxygen or special assistance. The IATA Medical Manual provides guidance airlines use when assessing these requests.
Certain procedures, particularly those involving gas injection such as retinal detachment repair, carry specific risk from cabin pressure change. Your surgeon should advise on the minimum safe wait before flying.
Recovering from chickenpox? See our Chickenpox Recovery Certificate. Need written confirmation you are unfit to fly for cancellation or insurance? See our Unable to Fly Letter.
Flying While Pregnant: Do You Need a Fit to Fly Letter?
Not always, and not for every airline. Most UK carriers ask for a letter from around the start of the third trimester: British Airways and Ryanair from week 28, Jet2 after the end of week 27 and TUI from week 29. easyJet asks for no certificate at all, but does not carry you after the end of week 35, or week 32 with twins or more.
Where a letter is needed, airlines typically want it to confirm your expected due date, whether you are carrying one baby or more, that the pregnancy is uncomplicated and that you are fit to fly. Most also want it dated close to departure: within two weeks for Ryanair and TUI, and within seven days for Jet2.
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists sets no cut-off of its own. It advises that flying is safest before 37 weeks with one baby and before 32 weeks with an uncomplicated twin pregnancy, and tells you to check with your airline.
Every carrier's week limits and forms are on our UK Airline Pregnancy Policies guide. For the letter itself, see our Pregnancy Fit to Fly Certificate.
Fit to Fly for Babies, Infants and Children
Minimum age for a newborn, by airline
These are the minimum ages each airline publishes for a baby born at full term with no complications, as shown on the airlines' own websites in September 2026. Check again before you book, because airlines change these rules.
| Airline | Youngest baby carried | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| British Airways | 48 hours | BA recommends waiting until the baby is one week old. A healthy baby born at term needs no prior medical clearance |
| Ryanair | 8 days | Ryanair advises parents to make sure the treating doctor agrees to the baby flying |
| easyJet | 14 days | Babies under 14 days old cannot travel |
| Jet2 | 14 days | Subject to Jet2's discretion depending on the circumstances |
| TUI Airways | Over 14 days | TUI gives health and safety as the reason |
| Wizz Air | 14 days | Wizz Air's infant fare applies from 14 days to under 2 years |
The clinical view points the same way. The British Thoracic Society clinical statement on air travel (2022) says it is prudent to delay flying for one week after birth for a baby born after 37 weeks, to make sure the baby is healthy.
Premature babies and babies with breathing problems
Premature babies are where a doctor's input really matters. Of the airlines above, only British Airways publishes a specific rule. A baby born before 37 weeks can be considered once they reach their original due date plus one week, but needs medical clearance until they are 12 months old. A premature baby with breathing complications cannot be considered until six months after their due date.
The British Thoracic Society advises that a baby who has not reached their expected date of delivery when they fly should have in-flight oxygen available, and that a baby under one year old with a history of chronic breathing problems should be discussed with a respiratory paediatrician, who may arrange a hypoxic challenge test. That assessment needs the baby's neonatal records and, often, a hospital test, so it sits with the team who looked after them, not with an online service.
Older children
For children, the triggers for a certificate are the same medical ones that apply to adults: recent surgery, a fracture or plaster cast, a significant heart or lung condition, or an infectious illness. Chickenpox is the most common. British Airways asks for 6 days after the last crop of spots, once they have crusted over, while easyJet, Ryanair, TUI and Virgin Atlantic ask for 7 days, and British Airways, Ryanair and TUI also want a letter from a doctor confirming the child is no longer infectious. Your child's GP is the right person to provide it.
When Is a Fit to Fly Certificate Requested? Common Conditions and Scenarios
The table below summarises the situations in which airlines commonly request a fit to fly certificate and what the letter should confirm. Requirements are set by each airline individually and vary by carrier, route, and condition, so always verify directly with your airline before travel. The IATA framework sets a common reference point that airlines are free to exceed.
| Condition or scenario | Certificate commonly requested? | What the letter should confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Recent surgery | ✔ Often, particularly soon after the procedure | Procedure type and date, recovery status, that the patient is clinically stable and that cabin pressure changes present no unacceptable risk at this stage of recovery. |
| Fracture or plaster cast | ✔ Often, particularly for a recently applied cast | Fracture location, date cast applied, confirmation that swelling risk is manageable and travel is safe. Some airlines ask for the cast to be bivalved when flying shortly after application. |
| Respiratory condition, for example COPD or pneumonia | ✔ Often | Diagnosis, current stability, confirmation that reduced cabin oxygen, equivalent to approximately 5,000 to 8,000 feet per CAA guidance, is not expected to cause clinical deterioration. |
| Recent heart attack or stroke | ✔ Often | Event date, current cardiac or neurological status, and confirmation that the patient is clinically stable for air travel. Most carriers also apply a minimum waiting period, which differs between airlines. |
| Infectious illness during recovery, for example chickenpox | ✔ Often, as a recovery certificate | Confirmation that the patient is no longer infectious. Airlines may refuse boarding where a passenger appears unwell or potentially infectious. |
| Travel with supplemental oxygen | ✔ Usually, alongside the airline's own form | Clinical need for supplemental oxygen, flow rate required, and confirmation of a stable condition. Many airlines also require their own MEDIF form completed by a doctor. |
Flying while pregnant is handled separately. Gestational cut-offs and the specific pregnancy forms each airline requires are set out in full on our UK Airline Pregnancy Policies guide.
✔ Same day or by 9AM | ✔ Full refund if we cannot issue
How to Check Your Airline's Medical Clearance Policy
There is no single UK-wide standard for fit to fly documentation. Each airline sets its own medical clearance policy within the IATA framework, and those policies are revised without notice. Rather than relying on a summary that may be out of date by the time you fly, confirm the requirements with your carrier directly, in writing where possible, and keep the reply.
Your airline's medical clearance or special assistance team is the authoritative source. Contact them once you know your flight date and have a diagnosis or discharge summary in hand.
Fit to Fly Certificate After Surgery, Waiting Times by Procedure
A fit to fly certificate after surgery is one of the most common reasons patients apply through MedicalCert. Airlines routinely request medical clearance if you have had a surgical procedure in the preceding weeks, and some carriers extend that window for major operations such as joint replacements or cardiac surgery.
The minimum recommended waiting period before flying varies by procedure type. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) provides general guidance, and individual airlines may impose stricter requirements. The table below outlines typical timelines, though the reviewing doctor will assess your specific recovery before issuing a certificate.
What to upload when applying after surgery
The stronger your supporting evidence, the faster the reviewing doctor can reach a clinical decision. For post-surgical applications, include as many of the following as you have available:
If your surgeon has already confirmed you are safe to fly, upload that letter. It significantly strengthens the application and speeds up the review. If no surgeon clearance is available, the reviewing doctor will assess based on the clinical evidence you provide.
What Your Fit to Fly Certificate Includes
Every fit to fly letter issued by MedicalCert is signed by a GMC-registered doctor and includes:
The certificate records the reviewing doctor's opinion, based on the evidence available at the date of issue, of your fitness to travel by air, and it can name both your outbound and return flight dates. It is an assessment of your condition at the time of review, not a prediction of your fitness later in the trip. Give your return date in the consultation form so it can be recorded. If your airline requires specific wording or their own form, upload it with your application and it will be completed alongside the standard certificate for a £15 fee.
Fit to Fly NHS vs Private: Why Most GPs Decline
Many people search "fit to fly NHS" expecting their GP to issue this letter routinely. In practice, many NHS GP surgeries in the UK do not provide fitness to fly letters, and some carry explicit written policies declining to do so.
The British Medical Association advises caution. Fitness certificates fall outside a GP's NHS terms and conditions, so the work is not covered by the NHS clinical negligence scheme and the GP must carry separate professional indemnity for it. The BMA also warns against certifying future fitness, since current fitness is not a guide to fitness later in a trip. When NHS practices do issue a letter, it is typically a private administrative service charged at £25 to £60, with a waiting time of one to two weeks, often too slow for travel deadlines.
| Comparison point | NHS GP | MedicalCert (private) |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | No obligation to provide. The BMA advises caution and many practices decline. | Over 30 certificate types available. Every application reviewed individually. |
| Turnaround | One to two week wait in most areas. No same-day option. | Same-day service. Applications submitted by 11PM Sunday to Thursday are delivered by 9AM the following morning. Friday and Saturday applications are reviewed same day where possible and delivered by 9AM on the next working morning. |
| Cost | Private admin fee typically £25 to £60, even at an NHS practice. | From £67. Full refund if a certificate cannot be issued clinically. |
| Appointment | Requires booking with your GP surgery. | No appointment, no waiting room, no GP referral needed. |
| Airline forms | Many practices will not complete airline-specific MEDIF or pregnancy forms. | MEDIF and pregnancy forms completed for an additional £15. |
| Insurer acceptance | May be required if your policy specifies your usual GP. | Certificates from a GMC-registered doctor are accepted by many airlines and insurers, but acceptance is theirs to decide. |
If your travel insurance policy specifically requires certification from your registered NHS GP, check your policy wording before applying. Many airlines and insurers accept a certificate from any GMC-registered doctor, but you should confirm rather than assume.
Need a Letter Confirming You Cannot Fly?
A fit to fly certificate confirms you are medically safe to travel by air. If you need the opposite, a letter confirming you are not fit to fly due to a medical condition, see our unable to fly due to medical reasons letter.
How to Get a Fit to Fly Certificate
What to have ready before you apply
Whatever the reason for your certificate, the consultation asks for the same core details. Having them to hand makes the form quicker and gives the reviewing doctor what they need to reach a decision without coming back to you.
Applying after an operation? The surgery section above lists the extra documents that help most.
✔ Same day or by 9AM next morning | ✔ Full refund if we cannot issue
Fit to Fly Certificate, Frequently Asked Questions
Get your fit-to-fly certificate from £67
