If you have occupational health services through Mehiläinen, please contact your own occupational health nurse. Otherwise, book an appointment by calling.
When you call, we will ensure that you are scheduled for a seafarer’s medical examination with the appropriate specialist.
Revised 11/5/2026
Published 6/4/2018
A seafarer’s medical certificate is required when you start working on a ship or continue working and your certificate is about to expire.
Where you need to book an appointment depends on your situation:
Please note: If you apply for the first seafarer’s medical certificate required for international traffic from anywhere other than a seafarers’ health centre, the certificate is valid for only three months according to legislation. During this time, you must undergo a new examination at a seafarers’ health centre. For practical reasons, the first examination for domestic traffic is also directed to a seafarers’ health centre.
You can find the locations and contact information of seafarers’ health centres on Traficom’s website External link.
Booking an appointment is done as follows:
The occupational health nurse will refer you for laboratory tests and, if necessary, a hearing test, as well as to a maritime medical examiner approved by Traficom.
Book an appointment for a follow-up examination well in advance, preferably about a month before your current certificate expires. This ensures you have time to complete the necessary tests and examinations on time, preventing the expiration of your certificate from interrupting your work or your application for a certificate of competency.
When you prepare for the examination in advance, your visit will go as smoothly as possible.
Please note the following:
Please also familiarise yourself with the decree of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health on the eyesight and hearing required of seafarers.
You provide a urine sample as part of the seafarer's medical examination.
If necessary, laboratory and hearing examinations or other examinations related to the assessment of your state of health will be performed for you. An assessment performed by a physiotherapist may also be included in the examination.
Colour vision and hearing are examined at least every six years. Based on your state of health, the physician may also order other examinations.
A maritime medical examiner will assess your state of health and whether the medical fitness requirements for work at sea are met.
If your state of health meets the requirements for work at sea, the maritime medical examiner will write you a medical certificate for seafarers.
Submit the medical certificate you received to your employer, i.e., the shipping company or shipowner. If you are applying for a maritime certificate of competency, also attach the certificate to your application submitted to Traficom.
If you are dissatisfied with the assessment performed by the maritime medical practitioner, you can request an administrative review from Traficom.
A medical certificate for seafarers is generally valid for two years. For individuals under the age of 18, the validity period is one year.
An endorsement concerning colour vision is valid for six years. However, reasons related to the state of health may shorten the validity period of the medical certificate. The physician assesses the validity period individually in connection with the examination.
An illness does not automatically prevent working on a ship. A seafarer’s physician assesses your health individually and takes into account the nature and severity of the illness, the treatment balance, and its effects on your work ability and functional capacity. The special requirements of work on board a ship are also taken into account in the assessment.
Regular medication does not automatically prevent obtaining a seafarer's medical certificate. The maritime physician assesses the suitability of the medication for work on board a ship and takes into account, for example, the medication's possible effects on functional capacity, alertness, and safe working. Tell the physician about all the medications you use.
Yes. A seafarer’s doctor may assess that due to your state of health you are not fit for work on board a ship, or that your state of health allows working on board with certain restrictions. Restrictions may relate, for example, to work duties or other prerequisites for working. Any potential restrictions are always assessed individually on the basis of your state of health.
If changes occur in your health status that may have an impact on working safely on board a vessel, it is important to clarify their significance for your work ability. Bring the matter up with a healthcare professional so that any potential impacts on ship work can be assessed.
