

Revised 10/7/2026
Published 7/7/2026
Book an appointment with a travel physician well in advance of your trip. To ensure that issuing the certificate you need goes as smoothly as possible, please bring with you all pre-filled forms related to the certificate or certificates, if available. In addition, please bring a valid passport and details about your planned trip.
In general, the price of medical certificates consists of the duration of the physician's appointment and the time spent preparing the certificate. In addition, the price may be affected by possible additional examinations, such as laboratory or imaging examinations, that obtaining the certificate requires. An appointment related solely to a certificate is not eligible for Kela reimbursement. If other matters covered by Kela reimbursement are also addressed during the visit, the physician will invoice separately for writing the certificate.
Certain countries require a certificate of vaccinations received by the traveller. A vaccination certificate can be written by both a nurse and a physician.
A certificate is required when travelling to certain countries, and the required forms and examinations depend on the destination country. Certain countries require an official medical certificate regarding, for example, the traveller’s general state of health or to rule out infectious diseases.
For some destination countries (such as New Zealand, Canada, or Australia), the certificate can only be issued by a panel physician approved by the destination country's authorities. Up-to-date information on the destination country's panel physician practitioners should be sought on the immigration website of the country in question. These certificates are not issued at Mehiläinen.
At Mehiläinen, a visa certificate can be issued for countries that do not require a certificate from specific, separately approved panel physician practitioners.
Please find out before your appointment, for example from the embassy of the country in question, what type of visa you need. The type of visa affects the content of the health examination, so it is important to know what is required to obtain it. In addition, you must find out whether the visa for the destination country requires, for example, specific blood tests or imaging examinations.
What to bring with you to the travel physician's practice:
Also bring documents that provide more detailed information on the content of the examination. You should inquire about this information at the embassy of the destination country. The documents may require information on, for example,
Please also bring any potential medical histories from other care facilities and prescriptions for glasses.
Many airlines require pregnant passengers to have a doctor's certificate for the flight once the pregnancy is advanced and/or in the case of a long flight. This certificate is used to demonstrate that the pregnancy has progressed normally and flying is safe. Among other things, the estimated date of delivery is also recorded in the certificate.
There are significant differences in airlines' practices, so as a traveller you should check them with your airline well before your trip. In addition to the requirements, please also ensure which form the airline wants the certificate to be written on. Airlines may also have requirements regarding the date of the certificate and the party that issued it.
At their discretion, the physician can, when necessary, also write a certificate of pregnancy for other possible parties.
Flying can pose a risk to a passenger in certain health situations. When preparing an airworthiness, or so-called Fit to Fly certificate, a physician assesses whether the passenger is able to fly safely. The physician prepares the certificate together with the patient. Many airlines use the MEDIF form (Medical Information Form) or their own corresponding form.
Please check the need for a medical certificate on fitness to fly with your airline well in advance of the trip. Several airlines have their own forms, so please also inquire with them which form your airline wants to be used.
Always confirm the required certificates with your own airline.
The following health conditions are the most common, but not necessarily the only, reasons when a physician's statement on a person's health status is required before flying:
A medical certificate for student exchange is drawn up at a physician's appointment according to the requirements set by the educational institution or exchange destination. It is an official document issued by a physician. It certifies the student's health status, vaccination protection, and any special needs for participating in the exchange programme. Often, the host country or educational institution requires a certificate before the exchange studies begin.
Please check before the appointment what examinations, certificates, vaccinations, and tests the destination country and educational institution require. Please also check in which language the certificate needs to be provided (for example, in English). It is also a good idea to gather in advance information on your previous illnesses, vaccinations received, and medications in use. Please bring all documents related to the health requirements with you.
At the appointment, a travel physician will review your health background, any illnesses, and information on the vaccinations you have received. In addition, the physician will complete the necessary forms. If necessary, further examinations can be performed if required by the exchange destination.
A travel physician can issue a medical certificate or statement related to travel insurance.
It is very important to check in advance the exact requirements of the destination country, airline, or educational institution regarding the content of the required certificate and any possible forms. For example, airlines may have their own forms, and the type of visa, for instance, affects the content of the health examination to be performed. You can usually obtain this information best directly from the entity in question, such as your airline or the embassy of the destination country.
When coming to your appointment, it is good to bring all the documents required for preparing the certificate with you. These may include, for example, a visa application, a valid passport, up-to-date vaccination details, and any medical history from other healthcare facilities.
Once you have clarified the requirements of the relevant party, such as your destination country or airline, also bring all other related documents, such as information on the required laboratory or imaging examinations.
At Mehiläinen, we can issue visa certificates for countries that do not require a certificate issued by specific "panel physicians" separately approved by the destination country's authorities.
Certain countries, such as New Zealand, Canada, or Australia, specifically require a certificate from separately approved "panel physicians". Such a certificate cannot be issued at Mehiläinen. Please check for current information on the immigration website of your destination country.
A "Fit to Fly" certificate is a medical certificate that confirms your fitness to travel for air travel. It is needed if flying may pose a risk due to your health condition. Common reasons for needing a certificate include, for example, recent heart attacks or cerebral infarctions, operations, chronic lung diseases, the need for supplemental oxygen, certain mental health disorders, infectious diseases, or pregnancy.
When preparing the certificate, the physician assesses whether you can fly safely.
It is important to check with your airline well in advance whether you need a certificate and which form they require to be used.