There are a few steps you need to follow before you visit a medical examiner to obtain your first Class 1, 2 or 3 medical certificate. The following information will guide you through this process.
For information about a DL9 medical certificate see Use of a DL9 driver licence medical by PPL holders.
Before you can apply for your initial medical certificate, you will need to register with CAA. After registering, you will receive a CAA participant ID number that you will use for all future aviation activities.
To register with MyAviation, go to Online Services and then Register online. There will be a number of steps to complete registration. Helpful videos are available at Request help along with an online form if you need assistance to register.
A medical certificate application fee must be paid before the medical examination. The fee is $132.83 (including GST) for New Zealand residents and $115.50 for non residents.
Payment options are:
Have your CAA participant ID number available when making the payment as it will be requested.
Once payment has been completed:
Note: The medical certificate application fee is additional to the medical examiners fee.
Please contact med@caa.govt.nz if you do not receive the email notification.
You will need to choose a medical examiner and make an appointment with them. Most of our Medical Examiners are based in New Zealand but there are some based overseas. Click on the relevant link below to find a Medical Examiner near you.
You now need to complete pages 1-3 of the application for medical certificate form. Ensure you note the receipt number at the top of page 1. Page 4 will be completed in the presence of your medical examiner.
Some medical examiners use an electronic version of the application form, they will let you know this at the time of making a booking.
Application for Medical Certificate (24067-001) [PDF 2.2 MB]
You must complete the form and provide accurate and truthful responses. A 'Yes' response to any medical history question must be accompanied by additional explanation on page 3. Please be thorough in your answers, even if it seems minor, no longer relevant or relates to an issue from a long time ago.
Take your completed application form when you visit your medical examiner.
The application form is your responsibility, as the applicant. Your medical examiner should only write in the final section as witness to your signature.
Your medical examiner will need to confirm your identity, so please provide one of the following documents as evidence of your identity:
There are a number of tests that are required to be completed as part of your first medical examination. The tests that are required for each class of medical certificate are outlined in Timetable for routine examinations.
Your medical examiner will advise you which tests can be completed at the time of the examination and which ones are outsourced. If you need a CAA Special Eye Report you will need to attend a CAA Accredited optometrist or any ophthalmologist. Go to list of accredited optometrists(external link) to see who is near you.
Your medical examiner may request additional investigations or reports. This may include tests that your medical examiner cannot perform themselves or information about a past medical history. If there is going to be a delay in providing this information, your medical examiner will defer the assessment until it has been received.
When the requested reports have been received, your medical examiner will complete a medical assessment report. This report informs you of the decision made.
If you are eligible for a medical certificate, your medical examiner will issue a medical certificate with any conditions or restrictions as necessary.
If you do not meet the medical standards, your medical examiner cannot issue a medical certificate. When the standards are not met, with your consent, your medical examiner can apply for consideration of “flexibility”. This is done by your Medical Examiner applying for an Accredited Medical Conclusion (AMC). In most cases a medical certificate is issued following this risk assessment process.
Declining to provide consent, your Medical Examiner can only make an assessment without applying flexibility to the medical standards. This may result in a medical certificate not being issued, when this may have been possible following an AMC.
For more information about the AMC process, see Accredited medical conclusion.
An AMC application may or may not result in the issue of a medical certificate. Each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis considering the medical condition(s), its treatment, your type of flying or operation, and your aviation experience.
The Civil Aviation Act 2023 provides for conditions, restrictions, or endorsements to be placed on a medical certificate. These are imposed when they are necessary to ensure the safe performance of a medical certificate holder’s duties.
In practice such conditions, restrictions, or endorsements may:
You must comply with all conditions, restrictions and endorsements on your medical certificate to maintain its validity. For pilots this is outlined in CAR Rule Part 61.35 and for controllers in CAR Rule Part 65.25. Not complying means that you must not use the privileges of your medical certificate until you have done so.
Under the Civil Aviation Act 2023 you have the right of review for decisions made on your medical certificate, such as the decision to decline a medical certificate or to impose conditions or restrictions on your medical certificate. Requests for review can be made to:
See Review a medical decision for more information.
This booklet explains all things medical – from types of medical certificates and the application process, through to how endorsements work and how to renew your medical.
