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Too Ill to Fly? How to Get an Unfit to Travel Certificate in France

Falling seriously ill while on holiday in France is distressing enough. If you are too unwell to board your return flight, you will almost certainly need a medical letter confirming this — for your airline, your travel insurer, or both.

Dr Simon Gordon offers online consultations for English-speaking visitors across France. Where your condition can be assessed by video, he can issue an unfit to travel certificate following the consultation. This can be used to support a flight cancellation claim, a travel insurance claim, or a request to rebook your journey.

GET AN UNFIT TO TRAVEL CERTIFICATE — €100

When Do You Need an Unfit to Travel Certificate?

You may need a medical letter confirming you are unfit to travel if:

  • you are too ill to fly and need to cancel or rebook your flight
  • your travel insurer requires medical evidence before paying a cancellation claim
  • your airline requires documentation before allowing a flight change without penalty
  • you are a cruise passenger and need to miss a departure or disembarkation

Without this documentation, airlines and insurers are unlikely to waive cancellation fees or pay out on a claim.

Before you book - one thing that helps 

What the Certificate Covers

The certificate is a signed letter from Dr Gordon on headed paper, confirming:

  • the date of consultation
  • that you were assessed as unfit to travel on the date(s) in question
  • the general nature of your condition (to the extent clinically appropriate)
  • his French registration number and contact details

This is different from a full medical report. If your insurer requires a more detailed document covering your medical history and treatment, please see the separate page on medical reports for travel insurance.

English Speaking Doctor in France
GET AN UNFIT TO TRAVEL CERTIFICATE — €100

How It Works

Book a consultation using the link below. Appointments are available at short notice.

Attend a video consultation with Dr Simon Gordon. Have your passport or ID to hand. Be prepared to describe your symptoms, when they started, and any treatment you have received.

English Speaking Doctor in France

Receive an unfit to travel certificate by email if clinically appropriate. Most airlines and insurers accept documentation by email.

English Medical Services in France

Pay €100 for the consultation. Payment is taken at the time of booking. An invoice is provided for travel insurance claims.

GET AN UNFIT TO TRAVEL CERTIFICATE — €100

About Dr Simon Gordon

Dr Simon Gordon is a British GP (MB ChB, University of Glasgow) based at Cabinet Medical Gordon in Valbonne, on the Côte d’Azur. He is registered with both the UK General Medical Council and the French Ordre des Médecins, with over 20 years of experience across the UK, Israel, and France.

Unlike anonymous telemedicine platforms, you know exactly who you are speaking to. Dr Gordon provides the same standard of care online as he does in his own practice.

LinkedIn | Google Business Profile | gordonmedical.fr | +33 4 93 12 95 66

Dr Simon Gordon, British GP in Valbonne, France

Related Pages

English Speaking Doctor in France

Fit to Fly Certificate in France

English Medical Services in France

Medical Report for Travel Insurance in France

Before you book - one thing that helps 

Lost or Stolen Medication in France

Frequently Asked Questions

In most cases, yes. What airlines and insurers require is a signed letter from a qualified doctor on headed paper, confirming your condition and the dates affected. Dr Gordon is GMC-registered and the letter includes all standard identifying information. If you are unsure, check your insurer’s policy wording before booking.
Yes — a certificate confirms you were unfit to travel on specific dates. A full medical report is a more detailed document covering your medical history, treatment, and prognosis. If your insurer requires the latter, please see the medical report page. Dr Gordon can advise on which is appropriate during the consultation.
Dr Gordon can only certify what he has personally assessed. He cannot backdate a certificate to confirm you were unfit to travel on a date before your consultation. If you need retrospective documentation, he can advise you on other options.
Yes. Cruise operators and their insurers frequently require medical letters in the same way airlines do. The consultation process and certificate are the same.
Appointments are often available the same day or the following day. The certificate is sent by email immediately after the consultation, provided the assessment supports one being issued.
Yes. The consultation takes place by video, so you can book from anywhere in France.