Medical Information Form (MEDIF)

Part 1 should be completed by the passenger, or on behalf of the passenger. Not all questions in Part 1 are mandatory depending on your medical condition.  Please follow the guidance in the form. Part 2 must be completed by the treating physician.

The below provides additional guidance on specific sections in Part 1.

Passenger details
All fields are mandatory so we can identify you by name and date of birth, contact you or an emergency contact using the numbers provided, communicate in your preferred language, and assess your medical condition based on your age.

Travel itinerary
All fields are mandatory to associate the MEDIF form to your travel journey

Medical diagnosis
Please provide only the medical information that is relevant to your fitness to fly and assistance you may need during your journey. You do not need to disclose your full medical history – only describe your current diagnosis or condition, any symptoms that may affect your travel and any treatment or medication you are currently receiving that Emirates should be aware. Emirates Medical Services may request further information or clarification prior to approval of the MEDIF, if strictly necessary. Emirates must be notified immediately of any change in the patient’s condition PRIOR to travel.

Travel Assistance and Special Arrangements
Complete this information only if it is applicable.
If you require wheelchair assistance, please indicate your ability to climb steps and walk within the aircraft cabin to determine the appropriate level of assistance required during your journey. If you are travelling with your own wheelchair or mobility aid, please provide details of the wheelchair type and battery (if applicable) to ensure appropriate handling, storage and compliance with safety requirements

Part 2 should be completed by the treating physician. Please follow the guidance in the form. Send the completed MEDIF form to accessibletravelassist@emirates.com.

When part 2 is submitted, the final submission will be forwarded to the passenger (using the email address provided).

The final submission then has to be reviewed by the passenger, and submitted to us for checking. Please make sure the final submission of part 1 and part 2 by the passenger is completed at least 48 hours before the flight so we have enough time to process the request.

The MEDIF should be completed based on passenger's (patient's) condition within one month from the date of commencement of air travel and submitted at least 48 hours before travel is due to commence.

Please be advised that Emirates Medical Services may request further information or clarification prior to approval of the MEDIF, if strictly necessary. Emirates must be notified immediately of any change in the patient’s condition PRIOR to travel.

If you contact us regarding a medical condition, for your health and safety, we need to check if you can fly with us and what assistance you may need. This is because some medical conditions may be affected by air travel or not allow you to complete a flight safely, and/or you may need medical equipment on board.

The MEDIF is a standardised form used by airlines to assess whether it is medically safe for you to travel and to identify any assistance you may need during your journey. The MEDIF is not required in all cases. Not all sections of the MEDIF form are mandatory – certain fields only need to be completed depending on your specific medical condition. Please refer to the guidance provided below and in the form for further details.

A MEDIF is required if the passenger has a medical condition that may:

• require oxygen, a stretcher, a medical escort, or other special medical arrangements
• require the use of medical equipment onboard
• deteriorate during the flight
• be affected by the cabin environment
• prevent them from being able to care for themselves independently
• pose a direct threat to the health or safety of the passenger or others during air travel

A MEDIF is also required where the passenger’s fitness to travel is uncertain due to recent illness, treatment, surgery, or medical instability.

A MEDIF is generally NOT required for:

• passengers requiring wheelchair assistance only, where no medical assessment, special medical assistance, or medical equipment is required during travel.
• stable, well-controlled medical conditions that are not expected to be affected by the cabin environment and are not anticipated to require medical assistance during the journey.
• the carriage or use of an approved CPAP/PAP device for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea.
• the carriage or use of an approved Portable Oxygen Concentrator (POC), provided no medical clearance is otherwise required.

Passengers travelling with a CPAP/PAP device or Portable Oxygen Concentrator (POC) must comply with the applicable equipment requirements and conditions of carriage published on the Emirates website.

If you are applying for a Frequent Traveller Medical Card (FREMEC), a MEDIF must also be completed using the PDF version of the form. Follow the process and guidance available here.

When assessing a passenger's fitness for air travel, the physiological effects of the cabin environment should be considered:

• Reduced atmospheric pressure at altitude: Cabin pressure is lower than at sea level. The resulting reduction in ambient pressure causes trapped gases within the body to expand. This may worsen certain medical conditions or affect recovery following recent medical, surgical, ophthalmic or dental procedures. Particular consideration should be given to conditions involving the ears, sinuses, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, or any condition associated with trapped gas.
• Reduced oxygen availability: Cabin altitude is typically equivalent to approximately 6,000–8,000 feet (1,800–2,400 metres), resulting in oxygen availability that is approximately 20–25% lower than at sea level. This may exacerbate symptoms in passengers with underlying cardiac, respiratory, haematological or other medical conditions.

The treating physician should assess and document:

• the diagnosis and current clinical status of the condition
• stability of the condition and response to treatment
• likelihood of deterioration during travel
• ability to tolerate the cabin environment
• mobility, ability to sit upright, and ability to perform essential self-care during the journey
• any requirements for medical support, including supplemental oxygen, medical equipment, wheelchair assistance, or a medical/non-medical escort.

The information provided in the MEDIF enables the airline medical team to assess fitness for air travel and determine any medical requirements necessary to facilitate safe travel.

The following list is not exhaustive and should not replace clinical judgement. Fitness for air travel should be assessed on an individual basis. However, the conditions below are generally considered unsuitable for air travel until stabilised, adequately treated, or resolved:

• severe anaemia or significant hypoxaemia
• severe otitis media, sinusitis, or other conditions affecting pressure equalisation
• acute contagious or communicable diseases that may pose a risk to other passengers or crew
• unstable angina, uncontrolled cardiac failure, cyanotic heart disease, or other unstable cardiovascular conditions
• recent myocardial infarction, acute coronary syndrome, or recent stroke where the condition remains unstable
• severe respiratory disease, respiratory failure, or recent pneumothorax
• gastrointestinal conditions with a risk of active bleeding, perforation, or obstruction
• uncontrolled seizures or neurological conditions associated with a risk of sudden deterioration
• unstable psychiatric illness, particularly where there is a risk to the passenger, crew, or other passengers, or where appropriate support is unavailable
• recent major surgery or significant trauma
• recent introduction of air or gas into a body cavity (e.g. pneumothorax, pneumocephalus, certain ophthalmic procedures involving intraocular gas)
• advanced pregnancy beyond accepted airline limits (see guidance here)
• infants under 7 days of age
• any condition requiring intensive medical care or monitoring that cannot be safely provided during the flight

As a general principle, any medical condition that may prevent a passenger from safely completing the journey without a significant risk of deterioration or the need for extraordinary medical assistance should be considered unsuitable for air travel until appropriately assessed and stabilised.

Allergies:
A MEDIF is not required for standard meal requests or routine food allergies. We cannot guarantee an allergen free environment on board our aircraft and we serve nuts and foods containing allergens on all our flights. A MEDIF should be completed if the passenger has a severe allergy or history of anaphylaxis that may require inflight medical intervention or special consideration.

Asthma:
All essential medications, including inhalers, should be carried in cabin baggage. Spacer devices are recommended as an alternative to nebulisers during travel.

Escorts:
Medical and non-medical escorts are responsible for assisting the passenger throughout the journey. Cabin crew cannot provide personal care or ongoing medical care during the flight.

Fractures and Casts:
Recent fractures and casts may require medical assessment. Full casts that completely encircle a limb should generally be at least 48 hours old or appropriately split prior to travel to accommodate swelling and reduce the risk of circulatory complications.

Cardiopulmonary Conditions:
Passengers with significant cardiac or respiratory disease should be assessed for the effects of reduced oxygen availability at cabin altitude and may require supplemental oxygen during travel. A recent medical report should be provided where appropriate.

Supplemental Oxygen:
Passengers who require oxygen on the ground, have low oxygen saturation, or have significant cardiac or respiratory disease should be assessed for inflight oxygen requirements. A recent medical report, including oxygen saturation measurements and any oxygen requirements, should be provided where appropriate.

Physical Disabilities:
A MEDIF is not required solely for wheelchair assistance. However, passengers must be able to maintain a seated position with the seat back upright during taxi, take-off and landing.

Inflight Care:
Cabin crew are trained in first aid. Emirates does not provide nursing care or continuous medical supervision onboard.

Terminal Illness:
Passengers with advanced or end-stage illness should undergo medical assessment prior to travel and may require a medical or nursing escort depending on their clinical condition.

We collect and use your personal information relating to the medical clearance and assistance process, including the processing of the MEDIF form (together referred to as the “MEDA Process”), to assess whether it is medically safe for you to travel and to provide any assistance or accommodations you need.

This privacy notice is complementary to the Privacy Policy which is available here. We encourage you to read the Privacy Policy from time to time, so you are fully aware of how your personal information is used. The data controller responsible for the processing of your personal information in connection with the MEDA Process is Emirates. Information about Emirates and its Data Privacy Officer can be found in the Privacy Policy.

The MEDIF form is required only for passengers whose medical condition may affect their fitness to fly or who require special medical assistance during the flight. For full details on who needs to complete the MEDIF form and the categories of passengers concerned, please refer to the guidance above and on the MEDIF form.

Personal information we collect and use relating to the MEDA Process

We collect and use personal information, including special categories of personal information, such as

• name
• date of birth
• gender
• contact details
• medical information, such as physical and/or psychological conditions, disabilities, medical treatment, or medications
• doctor and medical escort details

We will take steps to ensure that we only collect the personal information, in particular the special categories of personal information, that is strictly necessary and relevant to your condition in order for us to properly assess your medical condition and provide you with assistance. Not all sections of the MEDIF form are mandatory. You are only required to complete the fields that are relevant to your specific medical condition or assistance needs, and you may leave other fields blank, or indicate the section as not applicable, as provided within the form. This information will be shared with our medical and operational teams to assess your ability to fly with us and provide appropriate assistance.

Legal basis for processing your personal information

We process your personal information, including health data, contained in the MEDIF form on the following legal basis

Sharing your personal information with others

We may also need to share your information with third parties, including other airlines, medical professionals, airport staff, government bodies and border control authorities, solely for the purpose of arranging the appropriate assistance and equipment for your needs throughout your whole journey with us. Due to the international nature of our services, and, as we are a global business, your personal information may be transferred and stored in the United Arab Emirates and other countries which are outside your country of residence. For more information on the safeguards, including technical and organisational measures, we put in place for such transfers, please refer to the sections Transferring personal information globally and How we protect and store your personal information in our Privacy Policy.

Storage of your personal information

We will retain your information from the MEDIF form for three (3) years from the date you complete your flight with us. This retention period is necessary to comply with aviation safety and audit requirements set by civil aviation authorities; and enable Emirates to demonstrate the proper management of fitness to fly assessments and the assistance provided in case of any claims or disputes, in accordance with the limitation periods established by applicable law. After this period, your data will be securely deleted or anonymised unless a longer retention period is required by applicable law or in the event of any complaints or challenges.

Legal rights available to you

If you are subject to laws that provide you with such rights, you may have certain rights in relation to your personal information. Please refer to the section Legal rights available to help manage your privacy in our Privacy Policy.

Further information

For answers to common questions about how we collect and use your personal information in connection with the MEDA Process, including details on which sections of the MEDIF form you need to complete, please refer to the guidance above and on the MEDIF form.

For more details on how we process your personal information, including more about Emirates, our contact details, further information about the legal basis for processing personal information, and the legal rights available to help manage your privacy, please see our Privacy Policy.