Chickenpox fit to fly certificate
Written confirmation that you or your child are past the infectious stage and safe to travel — in the wording TUI, Ryanair and British Airways ask for.
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 Wizz Air, Virgin Atlantic, Emirates, Qatar Airways and Air India do not publish a specific chickenpox waiting period.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.
Why the NHS date and the airline date differ
The NHS advises staying off school or work until every spot has crusted over, which is about 5 days after the spots first appear. That is a public health rule about infectiousness, and it counts from when the rash appeared.
Airlines count differently. Their clock starts at the last new spot — and in chickenpox new spots keep appearing in crops over several days. If the first spots came on Monday and the last new one appeared on Thursday, the NHS clock and the airline clock are three days apart before you even start counting. That gap is why people arrive at check-in genuinely believing they have waited long enough and are turned away.
Work to the airline’s rule. Count from the last new spot, and be honest with yourself about which day that was.
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
How long after chickenpox can you fly?
Airlines count from the last new spot, not the first. TUI, Jet2, easyJet and Ryanair all require 7 days from the last new spot; British Airways requires 6 days from the last crop, with the spots crusted over and no fever. That is usually longer than the NHS rule for returning to school, which is about 5 days from when the rash started.
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 — 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 — 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.