Yellow Fever Vaccine Requirements: A Simple Guide for 2025 Travelers

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The Yellow Fever (YF) vaccine is a key requirement for travel to many parts of the world, especially in Africa and South America. For your trip to be smooth, you need the vaccination at least 10 days before you enter a country that requires it, and you must carry the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP), often called the Yellow Card. This certificate is valid for the lifetime of the vaccinated person, a rule that took effect from 2016.


A close-up shot of an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP), also known as a Yellow Card, lying on a wooden desk. In the background, blurred, are travel items like a passport, a syringe with a vaccine vial, a world map with pushpins, a small globe, and a compass, all suggesting preparation for international travel.


When to Get the Yellow Fever Vaccine


The timing of your vaccination is critical because the Yellow Card only becomes officially valid 10 days after the shot.


  • You must be vaccinated at least 10 days prior to your departure date to allow your body enough time to build protection.

  • If you arrive in a country that requires the vaccine before the 10-day mark, you might be denied entry, put into quarantine for up to six days, or be required to get the vaccine immediately.

  • A single dose of the vaccine generally provides lifelong protection for most people.


If you are planning to receive other live vaccines like the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine, you should ideally wait at least four weeks between shots. However, if travel timing is strict, sometimes a healthcare professional may decide to give them at the same time.


Which Countries Require the Vaccine


Vaccination requirements depend heavily on the risk of Yellow Fever transmission in your country of origin or any country you transit through.


Most countries require the ICVP if you are arriving from, or have transited for more than 12 hours through the airport of, a country with a risk of YF transmission.


Examples of Countries That May Require the ICVP


The countries most commonly requiring the Yellow Card are located in the endemic areas.


Africa (High-Risk Areas):

  • Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Uganda.


South and Central America:

  • Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela.

  • Some Caribbean nations like Trinidad and Tobago may also have requirements.


Special Transit Rules:

  • Singapore requires a valid YF certificate for all travelers, including residents, if they have been in or transited for over 12 hours through a high-risk country within the last six days. Failure to comply can result in six days of quarantine or denial of entry.


Keep in mind that country requirements can change at any time, so travelers should always check the most recent official health advisories before departure.


How to Get Your Yellow Card


The Yellow Card, or ICVP, is the official document proving your vaccination status.


  1. You must receive the Yellow Fever vaccine at a WHO-approved official vaccination center.

  2. The center will issue the ICVP after your vaccination.

  3. The certificate must be fully completed in English or French.

  4. It must include your personal details, the vaccine information such as the batch number, the date administered, the signature of the administering health worker, and the official stamp of the center.

  5. If you lose your original card, you can get a replacement from the health authority or clinic that holds the original vaccination record. The replacement will be issued with the original vaccination date.


Always confirm the specific requirements for your travel route, including layovers, with the embassy or a travel health professional well in advance of your trip.