Fit To Fly Letter and Certificate
Note: Click here if you need a COVID-19 test for travel.
While most people are not travelling during the pandemic, there are a few who are. Some countries and it seems some airlines are requiring Fitness to Fly letters. Our Ottawa travel clinics (Riverside and Barrhaven) are providing these to travellers.
1. Make an appointment by calling our nurse at 613-825-6200.
2. She will put you in touch by phone or secure video link with the doctor. He will conduct the medical interview, asking you a range of health-related questions.
3. You will also be given an appointment to see the nurse practitioner at our clinic. She will do the physical exam, targeted to assure fitness to fly.
4. You will need to arrange a COVID-19 test yourself, though the nurse can assist you with this. Most countries are requiring that this be done close to the date of departure from Canada.
5. Once the nurse is informed by the NP and MD that you are fit to fly and sees that your virus test is negative, she will give you the fit-to-fly letter.
6. The cost for this is $225. For individuals also requiring a letter attesting that the COVID-19 test is negative, there is a charge of $55. We regret that the constraints imposed by COVID-19 necessitate these rather high fees.
Most people travelling during the pandemic have little choice and are aware of the risks. Still, we would like to point some of these out:
Unfortunate things that may happen while travelling during this pandemic
1. You may fall ill with the virus while abroad. You would prefer to be sick in your own home rather than a hotel room. If very sick you would prefer to be in a Canadian hospital. Medical care is better here than in most visited countries.
2. In a country where you don't speak the language, you may have trouble accessing good medical care and communicating with medical staff.
3. If you are ill, you will likely not be able to board a plane to come home.
4. The Canadian government may not be willing to "rescue" stranded and ill travellers who have set out on their trip once a pandemic has been underway.
5. You will be in airports and in aircraft with people from many countries, in crowded conditions. It is probably safe to say you are at greater risk of contracting COVID-19.
6. If a passenger on your plane is found to have the virus, you may be sought and quarantined for 14 days. Some accounts of the accommodations are unpleasant. You will also be again in close quarters with possibly ill people.
7. Airlines may reduce or stop flights to the country you are in if there is a big outbreak there. You may then have trouble getting out.
8. On your return, you may find that you are quarantined depending on circumstances.
9. If you have elderly relatives, you may not be able to or want to visit them on your return.
10. Your travel health insurance may not cover you for coronavirus illness. This should be closely checked.
1. Make an appointment by calling our nurse at 613-825-6200.
2. She will put you in touch by phone or secure video link with the doctor. He will conduct the medical interview, asking you a range of health-related questions.
3. You will also be given an appointment to see the nurse practitioner at our clinic. She will do the physical exam, targeted to assure fitness to fly.
4. You will need to arrange a COVID-19 test yourself, though the nurse can assist you with this. Most countries are requiring that this be done close to the date of departure from Canada.
5. Once the nurse is informed by the NP and MD that you are fit to fly and sees that your virus test is negative, she will give you the fit-to-fly letter.
6. The cost for this is $225. For individuals also requiring a letter attesting that the COVID-19 test is negative, there is a charge of $55. We regret that the constraints imposed by COVID-19 necessitate these rather high fees.
Most people travelling during the pandemic have little choice and are aware of the risks. Still, we would like to point some of these out:
Unfortunate things that may happen while travelling during this pandemic
1. You may fall ill with the virus while abroad. You would prefer to be sick in your own home rather than a hotel room. If very sick you would prefer to be in a Canadian hospital. Medical care is better here than in most visited countries.
2. In a country where you don't speak the language, you may have trouble accessing good medical care and communicating with medical staff.
3. If you are ill, you will likely not be able to board a plane to come home.
4. The Canadian government may not be willing to "rescue" stranded and ill travellers who have set out on their trip once a pandemic has been underway.
5. You will be in airports and in aircraft with people from many countries, in crowded conditions. It is probably safe to say you are at greater risk of contracting COVID-19.
6. If a passenger on your plane is found to have the virus, you may be sought and quarantined for 14 days. Some accounts of the accommodations are unpleasant. You will also be again in close quarters with possibly ill people.
7. Airlines may reduce or stop flights to the country you are in if there is a big outbreak there. You may then have trouble getting out.
8. On your return, you may find that you are quarantined depending on circumstances.
9. If you have elderly relatives, you may not be able to or want to visit them on your return.
10. Your travel health insurance may not cover you for coronavirus illness. This should be closely checked.