Travel Health and Fitness-to-Fly Certificates: Same-Day From a Private GP in London

Flying with a medical condition, recovering from surgery, or travelling while pregnant? Your airline may require a medical certificate confirming you're fit to fly. NHS GPs often don't provide these — and when they do, the waiting time and cost can be surprising.

The Online GP by The Wellness provides same-day fit-to-fly certificates, travel health consultations, and travel medical documentation from £49. Our GMC-registered doctors are experienced in assessing fitness to travel and provide signed certificates accepted by airlines worldwide.

Travelling soon and need a medical certificate? WhatsApp us now for same-day availability, or email team@thewellnesslondon.com.

When Do You Need a Fit-to-Fly Certificate?

While COVID-related travel health certificates are largely a thing of the past, airlines still require medical clearance in several common situations:

Pregnancy. Most airlines require a fit-to-fly letter from 28 weeks of pregnancy for single pregnancies and from 24 weeks for multiple pregnancies. Some airlines won't allow travel after 36 weeks (32 weeks for multiples) regardless of medical clearance. Your certificate should confirm your due date, that the pregnancy is uncomplicated, and that the doctor considers you fit to fly.

Recent surgery or medical procedure. Airlines typically require medical clearance if you've had surgery within the past 7-14 days, depending on the procedure. Abdominal surgery, orthopaedic procedures, cardiac interventions, and eye surgery are common triggers.

Chronic medical conditions. If you have a heart condition, respiratory disease (particularly if you require supplemental oxygen), a blood clotting disorder, recent stroke, or severe anaemia, your airline may request medical documentation.

Infectious disease recovery. If you've recently had a notifiable infectious disease, airlines may require confirmation that you're no longer contagious.

Travelling with medical equipment. If you need to carry a CPAP machine, portable oxygen concentrator, injectable medications, or other medical devices, a doctor's letter confirming their medical necessity helps avoid issues at security and with airline staff.

Plaster casts and mobility aids. Airlines have specific policies about flying with plaster casts (particularly within 24-48 hours of application) and may require medical clearance.

What Our Fit-to-Fly Certificate Includes

A fit-to-fly certificate from The Online GP is a signed medical letter on clinic-headed paper that includes:

• The doctor's full name and GMC registration number

• The date of the assessment

• Your name and date of birth

• Confirmation that you have been assessed and are considered fit to travel by air

• Details of any relevant medical conditions

• For pregnancy: confirmation of due date and that the pregnancy is uncomplicated

• For post-surgical patients: confirmation of the procedure, recovery status, and any travel precautions

• Any special requirements (supplemental oxygen, wheelchair assistance, bulkhead seating etc.)

• The clinic's contact details for airline verification

This certificate is accepted by UK and international airlines. However, some airlines have their own medical forms (MEDIF forms) that they require your doctor to complete. If your airline provides a specific form, bring it to your appointment and our doctor will complete it.

Travel Health Consultations

Planning a trip to a destination with specific health risks? Our travel health consultations provide personalised advice based on your destination, activities, duration, and medical history.

Destination-specific risk assessment. We advise on health risks specific to your destination, including malaria risk areas, food and water safety, altitude sickness, and endemic diseases.

Vaccination advice. We'll review your vaccination history and recommend any required or advisable vaccinations. Some countries require proof of specific vaccinations — for example, Saudi Arabia requires meningococcal vaccination for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims, and several African countries require yellow fever certification.

Malaria prevention. For travel to malaria-endemic areas, we prescribe antimalarial medication tailored to your destination, duration of travel, and any contraindications.

Travel health kits. Advice on assembling a travel health kit appropriate for your destination, including oral rehydration salts, anti-diarrhoeal medication, insect repellent guidance, and altitude sickness prevention.

Fitness to travel with chronic conditions. If you have diabetes, heart disease, respiratory conditions, or other chronic illnesses, we assess the specific risks of your planned trip and provide advice on managing your condition while abroad.

Planning a trip and want expert travel health advice? WhatsApp us or email team@thewellnesslondon.com. Ideally, seek travel health advice 6-8 weeks before departure, but we can help with last-minute travel too.

Other Travel Medical Documentation

Beyond fit-to-fly certificates, The Online GP provides a range of travel-related medical documentation:

Travel insurance medical reports. If you've claimed on travel insurance for a medical issue abroad, or need to cancel a trip due to illness, we provide supporting medical documentation.

Holiday cancellation letters. If a medical condition has forced you to cancel travel plans, a doctor's letter supports your insurance claim.

Medical summary for overseas doctors. Travelling with a complex medical history? We provide a concise medical summary that you can share with doctors at your destination if you need medical care abroad.

Medication letters for customs. If you're carrying prescription medication — particularly controlled drugs, injectable medications, or medications that might look suspicious in luggage — a doctor's letter confirming the medical necessity helps avoid problems at customs and border control.

Fitness to dive certificates. Planning to scuba dive? Many dive operators require an HSE-approved diving medical. Our doctors can conduct this assessment.

Pricing

ServicePrice FromVideo consultation + fit-to-fly certificate £85
In-person consultation + fit-to-fly certificate £150
Travel health consultation From £85
Medication letter for customs From £85
Holiday cancellation medical letter From £85
Diving medical certificate From £95
MEDIF form completionFrom £95

Why The Online GP for Travel Health?

Same-day availability. Last-minute travel plans? Flight tomorrow? We regularly issue same-day certificates for patients with urgent travel needs.

Multilingual doctors. Travelling from or to the Middle East, Europe, or Latin America? Our doctors speak Arabic, Spanish, French, and Dutch in addition to English.

International expertise. We see patients from around the world daily. We understand the specific health requirements for travel to and from the Gulf states, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas.

Accepted worldwide. Our certificates are issued by GMC-registered doctors on clinic-headed paper — recognised and accepted internationally.

📱 WhatsApp us now for a same-day travel health appointment

📧 Email team@thewellnesslondon.com

📞 Call 020 3951 3429

📍 10 Portman Square, Marylebone, London W1H 6AZ

This article was written by the medical team at The Online GP by The Wellness. Last updated: February 2026. Always check your airline's specific medical requirements before travel. Travel health advice should be sought as early as possible before departure.