We provide quality assurance of the New Zealand aviation medical certification system, from providing advice to the Director and the Ministry of Transport, to developing policy, appointing medical examiners, monitoring enforcement, assessing appeals, and answering inquiries.
We also make clinical and regulatory decisions about medical privileges, and are responsible for maintaining our aviation medical records.
Read the Medical certification section of the Civil Aviation Act 1990(external link).
We're seeking feedback on the General Directions for Exceptions for Temporary Medical Conditions, which was last updated in 2019. Submissions close 20 January 2024.
Consultation - GD Exceptions for Temporary Medical Conditions
To become a licensed pilot or an air traffic controller, you must have a medical certificate.
Apply for a medical certificate
Use of a DL9 driver licence medical by PPL holders
From 5 April 2021, private pilot licence holders are able to exercise a wide range of licence privileges on a DL9 driver licence medical certificate. For more information about flying on a DL9 medical, please see Pilot licensing.
Please note: To be able to fly on a DL9 driver licence medical certificate, your DL9 needs to be at least a Class 2 (2,3,4,5) medical certificate with passenger (P) endorsement. Please email pages 1 and 4 (only) to licensing@caa.govt.nz within 7 days of the certificate being signed by the health practitioner. Reference CAR Part 61.35(d).
To apply for a medical certificate, you need to complete the 24067/001 Application for Medical Certificate [PDF 432 KB] (except page 4 which is completed during your medical examination).
After you’ve completed the form, you’ll need to visit a medical examiner. You can find medical examiners and optometrists near you by using these directories:
Directory of New Zealand Medical Examiners
Directory of Overseas Medical Examiners
List of accredited optometrists(external link)
The application form is your responsibility, as the applicant. Your medical examiner should only write in the final section as witness to you signing the form.
The medical examiner will need to confirm your identity, so you will need to bring one of the following documents as evidence of your identity:
Following the medical examination, and any reports or tests that may have been requested, your medical examiner will complete a medical assessment report.
This report will inform you of the decision made. If eligible, you’ll be issued with a medical certificate with any conditions or restrictions as necessary.
If not eligible, you may, within 20 working days, ask the convener in writing to review the decision.
When more investigations or reports are required the assessment will be deferred until those become available.
If your medical certificate has been lost, stolen, or destroyed, you need to complete all sections of 24067-407 Application for Replacement of a Medical Certificate [PDF 186 KB].
The medical certificate replacement fee is $99.00 (including GST). It's payable at the time of the replacement application.
The fee can by paid online via our online payment system(external link).
Once payment is completed, email notification will be sent to the email address you have provided, and to the CAA medical unit. The notification will confirm that payment has been made and will note the CAA receipt number.
Note: Within the application form you must write a statutory declaration. This is a written statement of fact that is signed in the presence of a person authorised by section 9 of the Oaths and Declarations Act 1957. This includes solicitors, Justices of the Peace, and Notary Publics.
The Civil Aviation Act 1990 provides for conditions, restrictions, or endorsements to be placed on a medical certificate. These are placed when the safe performance of the applicant's duties is dependent upon compliance with those conditions, restrictions, or endorsements.
In practice such conditions, restrictions, or endorsements will be mainly of an operational nature.
Medical practitioners and aviation operators are legally required to advise us if they believe or suspect that a licence holder has a medical condition that may interfere with aviation safety. For more information, read:
Medical Information Sheet 002 Medical Practitioner Obligations [PDF 357 KB]
The medical certificate application fee is $120.75 (including GST). It’s payable at the time of each application, from 01 July 2017. The fee must be paid at the time of the application and before a medical examination takes place.
The fee can be paid online via our online payment system(external link) or by making a manual payment.
Once payment is completed, email notifications will be sent to the email address provided, the CAA medical unit, and your medical examiner, if chosen. The notification will confirm that payment has been made and will note the CAA receipt number. This email will need to be provided to your medical examiner at the time of application.
Note: The medical certificate application fee is in addition to what medical examiners charge. The fee reflects the cost associated with processing your application.
CAA does not require a payment for NZTA DL9 Medical Certificates.
Read information on Accredited Medical Conclusion fees.
You are legally required to advise us if you’re aware of, or suspect, a change in your medical condition that may interfere with aviation safety. For more information, read:
Medical Information Sheet 004 You Must Advise the CAA [PDF 473 KB]
If an applicant is dissatisfied with a decision made on their application, such as it being declined or having conditions or restrictions added, they have three review options.
Section 27L of the Civil Aviation Act 1990 provides for review of decisions regarding medical certificates or applications. Under this section an applicant may, within 20 working days, request the convener to review a decision. The type of decisions that can be reviewed by the convener are:
The convener can only review certain categories of decisions. Please refer to S27L & M of the Civil Aviation Act.
Please note: Convener reviews are usually paper-based, although there may be exceptional circumstances where a Ministry of Transport appointed medical convener considers it is necessary for some of the process to be in-person.
The Ministry of Transport has more information on the review process, including a guide and an application for review.
Aviation Medical Convener review(external link)
Section 27P of the Act affirms the right of any person affected by any decision taken by the Director under sections 27B, 27I(7), 27I(11), 27L, or 27M to appeal to the District Court under section 66 of the Act. This right of appeal does not apply to a decision taken under section 27B(5)(b) which permits the Director to require an applicant to undertake further tests, examinations or re-examinations or to provide further information as specified.
An applicant also has the right to make an application for Judicial Review of any decision made by the Director pursuant to functions under the Act or powers granted under the Civil Aviation Rules.
We cannot provide advice to applicants regarding their rights to District Court appeal or Judicial Review. Assistance and advice should be sought from a lawyer when considering either a District Court appeal or Judicial Review.
If you have any questions about this topic, use our contact form, or email med@caa.govt.nz
