Travel medical certificates and letters online, bulk billed

Fit to fly letters

Airlines and travel providers sometimes ask for evidence that you are well enough to fly. Common triggers include a recent illness or injury, recent surgery or a hospital admission, a fracture in a cast, or a flare of an ongoing condition close to your departure date. A NewDoc GP can assess you by video or phone and, where clinically appropriate, issue a letter confirming you are fit to fly on the relevant dates.

Pregnancy is one of the most common reasons for a fit to fly letter. Most airlines allow travel without paperwork earlier in pregnancy, then begin asking for a letter or certificate at some point in the third trimester, with the exact cut-off varying by airline and by whether the flight is domestic or international. The letter usually states your due date, whether it is a single or multiple pregnancy, that there are no complications, and that you are fit for the flight. Check your airline's policy before booking and bring those requirements to your consultation.

Some airlines require their own clearance forms for complex conditions or later-term pregnancies, and those forms sometimes need to be completed by your treating specialist or obstetric team rather than a GP who has assessed you once by telehealth. The GP will tell you during the consultation if your situation needs that pathway.

Unfit to travel certificates for insurance and cancellations

If illness or injury forces you to cancel a trip, delay a departure, or cut a holiday short, your travel insurer will usually ask for a medical certificate to support the claim. A telehealth GP can assess you the same day and certify what they can clinically assess: that you were unwell, the period affected, and that travel was not medically advisable during that period. Sudden illnesses such as gastro are a common reason people need this documentation at short notice.

Some insurers require their own claim forms rather than a standard certificate. The GP can complete an insurer's form where the form allows assessment by any registered medical practitioner via telehealth; a few forms require the doctor who treated you at the time or a physical examination, and the GP will tell you if that is the case. Certificates state the facts the GP can clinically support. The decision on any claim rests with your insurer under the terms of your policy, so no certificate can guarantee a claim outcome.

Travel medication letters

Many countries require travellers carrying prescription medicines to carry a doctor's letter listing them, and some restrict medicines that are routine in Australia. A telehealth GP can prepare a letter covering the medicines they can verify from your history or prescribe during the consultation. If you also need scripts topped up before you leave, a repeat prescription can be arranged in the same appointment.

The letter typically lists each medicine and dose, states that they are for your personal use under the care of a doctor, and includes the GP's name, signature, and AHPRA registration number. Keep medicines in their original pharmacy packaging and carry the letter in your hand luggage. Because rules differ by destination, check the Australian Government's Smartraveller guidance and the destination country's embassy before you fly: some medicines are restricted or prohibited in some countries even with a letter.

What a telehealth travel consult cannot do

Telehealth suits most travel documentation, but not everything. Being clear about the limits helps you plan:

• Travel vaccinations are advice-only via telehealth. The GP can discuss which vaccinations are recommended for your destination, check timing before departure, and prescribe where appropriate, but the injections themselves are administered in person at a pharmacy or immunisation clinic near you.
• Complex aviation medical clearances. Airlines run their own clearance processes and forms (such as MEDIF) for serious or unstable conditions, in-flight oxygen or equipment needs, and recent major medical events. These often need your treating specialist rather than a telehealth GP.
• Physical examinations. NewDoc is a telehealth service and does not operate physical clinics. If certification requires a hands-on examination or test results, the GP will direct you to an appropriate local provider.

The GP will always tell you during the consultation if your situation needs in-person review, and what the next step is.

How it works

1. Book a telehealth appointment online. Same-day appointments are available seven days a week.
2. Speak with an AHPRA-registered GP by video or phone. Have your travel dates, your airline or insurer's requirements, and any forms ready so the GP can review them with you.
3. Receive your letter or certificate by email the same day, typically within minutes of the consultation ending, where the GP determines it is clinically appropriate.

You can forward the document straight from your email to your airline, insurer, or travel agent.

What it costs

For eligible Medicare cardholders, the consultation is bulk billed: $0 out of pocket, with any letter or certificate issued during the consultation included at no extra charge. NewDoc does not add per-document fees.

If you are not eligible for bulk billing, a standard consultation fee applies and is shown before you confirm your booking, with no additional charge for the document itself. Every consultation is with an AHPRA-registered, fellowed specialist GP (FRACGP or FACRRM).