Getting an English Medical Certificate in Japan: What Travelers Need to Know

Being asked for a medical certificate while you are away from home can add paperwork to an already stressful illness or injury. Your insurer, airline, or employer may use different forms and wording, and you may not know what to request from a clinic in Japan.

The practical first step is to confirm who needs the document and what information they expect before your medical consultation.

When to See a Doctor

An English medical certificate is based on a medical examination. If you are ill or injured and need formal documentation, arrange a consultation so a doctor can assess your condition and determine what can appropriately be recorded.

In a life-threatening emergency, call 119 for an ambulance. Our clinic provides outpatient care and is not an emergency room.

Three Common Reasons for a Certificate

• Travel-insurance claim: An insurer may ask for a certificate or medical report to support a claim. Requirements differ by policy, so review the travel-insurance guide and confirm the required document with your insurer.
• Airline request: An airline may ask for medical information related to travel. If the question is specifically whether you are medically able to fly, see the separate guide to a Fit to Fly certificate.
• Employer request: An employer may need written confirmation related to an illness, absence, or work restriction. Ask the employer which details and dates are required.

What May Be Written in the Document

The contents depend on the purpose and on what the doctor can support after examining you. A certificate may include your identifying details, the examination date, the doctor’s assessment, and any relevant period or restriction that is medically appropriate to record.

The organization receiving the document sets its own requirements. Ask whether it has a specific form, required wording, or language requirement, and bring that request with you. A clinic cannot guarantee that a document will satisfy requirements it has not been shown.

How to Request an English Certificate

Contact the clinic before your visit and explain who is requesting the document. Share any form or instructions you received. After examining you, a doctor will determine whether a medical certificate is clinically appropriate and what it can state. This article covers medical documents generally; it does not replace the separate Fit to Fly guidance for air travel.

Fees & Insurance

Document and consultation fees depend on the request. Do not rely on an estimate from a third party. See the fees sections on the Kyoto clinic page and the Osaka Namba clinic page, and check with the organization requesting the document about reimbursement rules.

How to Visit

Contact the clinic by WhatsApp or email, or ask your hotel staff to help arrange the visit. Bring your passport, any insurance documents, and the form or written requirements from your insurer, airline, or employer.

English medical documents may be provided after an examination when clinically appropriate at Dr. Coming International Clinic Kyoto Station and Dr. Coming International Clinic Osaka Namba.