Certificate for cancellation of travel

Last updated: July 27, 2026

A travel cancellation certificate is a medical statement that documents that illness, injury, or other acute health condition makes it necessary to cancel or interrupt a planned trip. Insurance companies and travel organizers use the certificate as objective evidence when assessing whether your expenses for flights and hotels can be refunded via a cancellation insurance. The certificate is issued by an authorized doctor who describes the time of onset of the illness, diagnosis category, and medical justification for why the trip cannot be completed.

Jakob Fraes

Specialist in General Medicine, Ph.D.

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Read more about Certificate in connection with cancellation of travel. Everything you should know.

When should you obtain a certificate - and why is the timing crucial?

Insurance policies almost always require that the health condition has been established before the first day of travel, and that you seek medical attention as soon as possible after the first symptoms. The earlier the certificate is issued, the stronger your position in the compensation case, because the company can see that the illness did not occur after the trip had started.

For acute conditions - such as flu with fever, stomach infection, sprain or pregnancy complications - you should contact your doctor on the same or next business day. If the time limit is exceeded, the insurance company may refuse reimbursement, citing late medical contact or a "known condition" that was not an emergency.

What does the travel cancellation certificate contain?

Medical history

When did the symptoms start, how quickly did they develop, and what treatments have been tried?

Objective examination

Temperature, blood pressure, auscultation of heart/lungs and relevant function tests (e.g. gait test for knee injury).

Diagnosis and urgency

The doctor classifies the condition according to ICD-10 and assesses whether it is an acute condition or a worsening of a chronic disease.

Fitness to travel

The assessment includes ergonomics, risk of infection, the need for ongoing treatment, and the possibility of being strapped in for extended periods.

Recommendation

Clear conclusion whether the trip should be canceled completely, postponed or can be completed with consideration.

The certificate is submitted in Danish or English, depending on the insurance company's requirements, and contains a clear indication of the date and time for both examination and onset of the illness.

What is the cost of a certificate for cancellation of a trip?

Travel cancellation certificates are subject to a co-payment and cost:

Price: 1,800

You must book a 30-minute physical consultation for this certificate.

Typical pitfalls

A large proportion of travel cancellation claims that insurance companies reject or delay are due to formal errors rather than doubts about the illness itself. The most frequent issue is certificates that lack a precise date for the onset of symptoms or a clear medical justification for why the trip cannot be completed. Other common errors include omitting the travel or booking number in the certificate, the consultation date being after the planned departure date, or the certificate being sent from a private email instead of the doctor's secure mailbox. Finally, delayed medical contact may raise suspicion that the illness was not acute.

You can prevent these pitfalls by seeing a doctor on the same day the first symptoms appear, having your travel information ready on your mobile, and ensuring that the certificate is sent directly from the clinic to the insurance company's digital portal.

Read through the certificate with the doctor before signing it, so that even small typing errors in name or passport number are corrected immediately. A complete and correct certificate the first time often saves weeks in case processing - and means that you get your travel expenses reimbursed faster.

Ready to book an appointment?

Click on "Book now", select the doctor and time that suits you, and get your certificate quickly and safely – so you can focus on getting well and getting your travel expenses refunded.