Yellow Fever Certificate
A yellow fever certificate is official proof of vaccination required for entry to certain countries — valid from 10 days after the jab.
A yellow fever certificate is official proof of vaccination required for entry to certain countries — valid from 10 days after the jab.
Also known as
International Certificate of Vaccination, ICV, Yellow card, Carte jaune, WHO vaccination certificate, Vaccination certificate
Why travellers need to know
Yellow fever certificate requirements catch travellers on transit routes, not just at their final destination. India, for example, doesn't require the certificate for direct arrivals from Europe, but does if you transit through an endemic country in Africa or South America. The certificate only becomes valid 10 days after vaccination, so last-minute jabs don't count. Check requirements for every country in your itinerary, including transit stops.
Real-world example
You're flying from Nairobi to Mumbai with a layover in Addis Ababa. At immigration in Mumbai, an officer asks for your yellow fever certificate because you transited through Ethiopia, a yellow fever endemic country. You don't have one. You're pulled aside, given a vaccination at the airport, and quarantined in a holding area for 6 days. Your onward plans are destroyed.
Country-specific notes
🇧🇷 Brazil
Required for travel to Amazonian states
Brazil requires yellow fever vaccination for visitors entering Amazonian states (Acre, Amapa, Amazonas, Para, Rondonia, Roraima, Tocantins). Coastal cities like Rio and Sao Paulo do not require it, but the WHO recommends vaccination for all Brazil travel.
Get vaccinated at least 2 weeks before your trip. The certificate is valid for life since 2016, so a single vaccination covers all future travel.
🇰🇪 Kenya
Required if arriving from an endemic country
Kenya requires a yellow fever certificate for travellers arriving from endemic countries (most of West and Central Africa, parts of South America). Direct arrivals from Europe, Asia, or North America are exempt.
🇮🇳 India
Required if transiting through any endemic country
India enforces yellow fever certificate requirements strictly for anyone who has transited through an endemic country in the 6 days before arrival, even if it was just a flight connection.
Check your full routing. A layover in Addis Ababa, Lagos, or Bogota triggers the requirement even if your origin is London or New York.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a yellow fever certificate valid?
Since 2016, the WHO recognises yellow fever vaccination as providing lifelong immunity. A single certificate is valid for life. Some older certificates may show a 10-year validity; this is no longer enforced internationally, though individual border officers may not be aware of the change.
Where can I get a yellow fever vaccination?
Yellow fever vaccinations are only available at designated centres approved by your national health authority. In the UK, search the NaTHNaC website. In the US, check the CDC's list. Regular GPs and pharmacies cannot administer it.
Store your yellow fever certificate date in your Nomedic health record, so border officials can verify your vaccination status from your emergency card.