Chickenpox fit to fly certificate
Written confirmation that you or your child are fit to fly after chickenpox and past the infectious stage, in the wording TUI, Ryanair and British Airways ask for.
- Reviewed and signed by a GMC-registered GP
- Same-day issue on weekdays, PDF to your inbox
- We complete the operator’s own form where they have one
- Full refund if a certificate cannot be issued on clinical grounds
From £47 · No appointment needed · UK-registered doctors
From £47
What your letter contains
- Your name and date of birth
- That the rash has fully crusted over
- That you are no longer infectious
- The wording your airline asks for
- Doctor’s name, GMC number, signature and date
The short answer. Airlines count from the last new spot, not the first. Most UK carriers require 7 days from the last new spot (British Airways: 6 days from the last crop, crusted over, no fever). TUI, Ryanair and British Airways also want a doctor’s letter confirming you are no longer contagious. easyJet and Jet2 do not.
The mistake almost everyone makes. The NHS rule and the airline rule are not the same thing. The NHS clears you once every spot has crusted, usually about 5 days from the first spots. Most airlines count 6 or 7 days from the LAST NEW SPOT, which can be several days later. Always work to the airline's rule.
What each airline requires
From each carrier’s own published policy, checked 24 August 2026.
| Airline | Wait after last new spot | Doctor’s letter required? |
|---|---|---|
| TUI | 7 days after the last new spot | Yes |
| Jet2 | 7 days after the last new spot | No |
| easyJet | 7 days after the last new spot | No |
| Ryanair | 7 days after the last new spot | Yes |
| British Airways | 6 days after the last new spot | Yes |
Flying with someone else? Wizz Air, Virgin Atlantic, Emirates, Qatar Airways and Air India do not publish a specific chickenpox waiting period. Contact them directly, and expect to be asked for a letter confirming you are no longer infectious, because that is the question the ground crew has to answer.
Count from the last new spot
The NHS school rule counts from when the rash appeared. Airlines count from the last new spot, and chickenpox spots arrive in crops over several days, so the two dates can be days apart. Work to the airline’s rule. Why the NHS date and the airline date differ.
What the certificate contains
A GMC-registered doctor reviews the history and issues a signed letter confirming the date the last new spot appeared, that all lesions have crusted over, that the person is no longer infectious, and that they are fit to fly. Issued for adults or children, on headed paper, as a PDF.
Common questions
When can I get a fit to fly certificate after chickenpox?
Once the airline’s waiting period has passed and every spot has crusted over. Most UK carriers require 7 days from the last new spot, British Airways 6 days from the last crop. The full rules, and why they differ from the NHS school rule, are in can you fly with chickenpox?
Do I need a letter, or just to wait?
It depends on the airline, and they differ. TUI, Ryanair and British Airways require a doctor’s letter confirming you are no longer infectious. easyJet and Jet2 publish a waiting period but do not ask for a certificate for chickenpox. Check your carrier before you pay for a letter you may not need.
My child has chickenpox and we fly in three days. What are our options?
Realistically, you will not clear the airline’s window if spots are still appearing. At that point the useful document is the opposite one: a not fit to fly certificate for your insurer or tour operator. Contact them before your departure date, not after.
What does the letter need to say?
That the rash has fully crusted over, the date the last new spot appeared, that the person is no longer infectious, and that they are fit to fly. British Airways asks specifically for confirmation that the passenger is “no longer contagious”, so the letter should use that language.
Can we fly if the spots have scabbed but there are still marks?
Yes. What matters clinically is that every lesion has crusted, not that the skin looks normal. Marks and scabs can persist for weeks. Airlines are concerned with infectiousness and with visible signs that might alarm the crew, and a letter helps precisely because it settles the question at the gate.
What about shingles?
Shingles can pass chickenpox to someone who has never had it, but only while the rash is weeping. Once it has dried and crusted, or if it can be completely covered, it is generally not a travel problem. More on flying with shingles.
Related
Sources. The airline and clinical facts on this page were checked against these primary sources on 24 August 2026. Airline policies change without notice, so always confirm with your airline before you book or travel.
Get a chickenpox fit to fly letter
Tell us the date the last new spot appeared and which airline you are flying with. A GMC-registered GP issues the confirmation your carrier asks for.
Get startedReviewed by a GMC-registered GP. Full refund if a certificate cannot be issued on clinical grounds.