Chickenpox Recovery Certificate
Proof of recovery for return to work, school, travel or childcare settings, issued by a UK GP.
Most airlines, schools, nurseries and employers require confirmation you are no longer contagious before returning.
✔ Accepted by schools, nurseries, employers and airlines.
✔ Confirms spots have crusted over and you are no longer contagious.
✔ Most same day or by 9AM next morning. From £47.
✔ Full refund if the GP cannot issue.
Get my recovery certificate 
All consultations subject to clinical assessment. Issued only where clinically appropriate.
Travelling soon? You may also need a fit to fly certificate confirming you are recovered and safe to board.
Receive a full refund if we can’t provide a certificate
How It Works
Complete a short online questionnaire
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. No automated approvals.
✔ Full refund if the GP cannot issue.
Receive your certificate
Most certificates arrive same day or by 9AM next morning, delivered via email a signed PDF. All consultations subject to clinical assessment. Issued only where clinically appropriate.
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.
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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.
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Chickenpox Recovery Certificate
Yes, you can get a chickenpox recovery certificate online from a GMC-registered UK doctor, issued same day, confirming you or your child are no longer infectious and fit to fly. Some airlines, including British Airways, Ryanair, easyJet, Jet2, TUI, and Virgin Atlantic, may request medical confirmation before allowing passengers to board if they have recently had chickenpox or still show visible signs of a rash. Check your carrier's current policy before travelling.
A chickenpox recovery certificate, also called a chickenpox fit to fly letter, is based on photo or video evidence reviewed by a UK doctor. The certificate confirms that all blisters have fully crusted over, no new lesions are forming, and the person is no longer considered contagious under both NHS clinical guidance and the airline's own policy. Certificates are also accepted for return to work, school, and nursery.
The Contagious Period: When Can You Fly After Chickenpox?
Chickenpox (varicella-zoster virus) is contagious from approximately 1 to 2 days before the rash appears until all blisters have fully crusted over. According to NHS guidance, a person with chickenpox is typically no longer infectious once all spots have crusted, usually around 5 days after the rash first appears. Most airlines use the completion of crusting as the clearance threshold and require a doctor's letter to confirm it.
Timeline is approximate and varies between individuals. The doctor assesses each case individually from the evidence provided. A certificate is only issued where full crusting is confirmed.
Airline Policies for Chickenpox Recovery
Most airlines set a minimum waiting period from the last new spots appearing, combined with a requirement that all blisters are fully crusted. Always contact your airline before travel to confirm their current policy, as requirements can change.
| Airline | Min. wait from last new spots | Documentation required |
|---|---|---|
| British Airways | 6 days | GP letter confirming no longer infectious and all blisters crusted |
| Ryanair | 7 days | Doctor's letter confirming recovery |
| easyJet | 7 days | Medical certificate confirming not contagious |
| Jet2 | 7 days | GP letter confirming fully recovered |
| TUI | 7 days | Doctor's letter confirming all scabs dried and no fever |
| Virgin Atlantic | 7 days | Doctor's letter confirming recovery status |
| Etihad Airways | 6 days | Doctor's letter confirming dry crusted scabs |
Even with a certificate, an airline can deny boarding if visible active (uncrusted) lesions are present at check-in.
What If You Are Not Ready to Fly Yet?
If the doctor cannot confirm full recovery
If the photos or video evidence show that the rash has not fully crusted, for example if new blisters are still appearing, the doctor will issue a "not fit to fly" or "not yet fully recovered" letter instead. This document confirms that travel is clinically inadvisable at this stage and can be submitted to your airline or travel insurer to support a flight rescheduling request or insurance claim.
Who Uses a Chickenpox Recovery Certificate?
Families with children flying post-chickenpox
The most common use case. A child recovers during or just before a family holiday window. The airline requires confirmation before boarding. The certificate is submitted by the parent covering the child.
Adults returning to work
Employers in healthcare, education, and childcare commonly require a doctor's note confirming a staff member is no longer infectious before returning. The certificate serves this purpose alongside the fit to fly function.
Cruise passengers
Cruise operators enforce similar infectiousness policies to airlines. A chickenpox recovery certificate is accepted by most cruise line health screeners at embarkation.
School and nursery return
Schools and nurseries may request a doctor's confirmation that a child with chickenpox is no longer infectious before readmission, particularly where there are immunocompromised or vulnerable pupils.
What the Certificate Includes
Certificate contents
- ✔ Patient's name and date of birth (for children, parent's name also included)
- ✔ Date when chickenpox rash first appeared
- ✔ Confirmation all blisters have crusted and no new lesions are forming
- ✔ Confirmation the person is no longer considered infectious
- ✔ Fitness to fly confirmed, where clinically appropriate
- ✔ GMC registration number of the signing doctor
- ✔ Unique QR code for airline or employer verification
How to Get Your Chickenpox Recovery Certificate
Complete the consultation form and upload evidence
Record the date the first spots appeared and your current recovery status. Upload clear photos of the rash or a short video showing all spots have crusted over. Both child and adult certificates use this process.
GMC-registered doctor reviews the evidence
The doctor reviews the photos or video and symptom history. If the evidence confirms full crusting and no new lesions, the certificate is issued. If not, a "not fit to fly" letter is issued instead.
Certificate delivered same day
Your signed PDF certificate arrives in your inbox same day (submit before 9pm) or by 9am next morning. Carry it in your hand luggage. Airlines may request it at check-in, bag drop, or the gate.
Sources and Guidance
The clinical criteria and policies referenced on this page are drawn from the following authoritative sources.
Authoritative references
- NHS (nhs.uk) — Chickenpox overview, contagious period guidance, and advice on when to return to school or work
- UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) — Infectious disease control guidance for varicella-zoster, including exclusion periods for schools and workplaces
- Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) — Passenger fitness to fly framework and medical clearance requirements
- General Medical Council (GMC) — Registration and professional standards for all doctors issuing certificates through MedicalCert
- Individual airline medical policies — British Airways, Ryanair, easyJet, Jet2, TUI, Virgin Atlantic, and Etihad each publish their own infectious disease travel requirements
