New system for medical certificates
The Norwegian Maritime Authority has developed a new system for registrering medical certificates and declarations of unfitness. The existing Altinn solution will be discontinued on 1 June 2026.
MEDICAL CERTIFICATES AND DECLARATIONS OF UNFITNESS: The new system will be introduced in May. The reason for the change is that the Altinn solution will be discontinued on 1 June.
Approved seafarer’s doctors will continue to issue medical certificates and declarations of unfitness in paper format. However, as a result of the new system, the documents will have a new layout. The new medical certificate can be verified using a QR code or at verify.sdir.no.
To ensure international transparency and predictability, a circular will be submitted to the IMO. This will inform other flag States of the change and that, during a transitional period of two years, different versions of the medical certificate will be in circulation, all of which are considered valid.
Medical certificates are not yet available electronically
Medical certificates will continue to be issued in paper format and are not yet available in electronic form, unlike several other certificates issued by the Norwegian Maritime Authority.
International work is underway to modernise the regulatory framework, and electronic medical certificates may become possible in the future. Until then, the medical certificate must be carried on board in physical form.