Tanzania Yellow Fever Requirements 2026
Tanzania requires proof of yellow fever vaccination for travellers arriving from or transiting through countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission. A valid International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) - commonly known as the "yellow card" - must be presented at the port of entry. This requirement is strictly enforced and travellers without valid documentation may be denied entry, vaccinated on the spot, or quarantined.
When Is a Yellow Fever Certificate Required?
Tanzania checks yellow fever proof based on route and country-entry rules. A yellow fever certificate is required if you:
- Arrive from an endemic country - countries with risk of yellow fever transmission
- Transit through an endemic country - airport transit or layover of more than 12 hours
- Have visited an endemic country in the last 10 days - based on your travel history
You do NOT need a certificate if you:
- Arrive directly from a non-endemic country with no transit through endemic areas
- Hold valid documentation of medical exemption
- Are an infant under 9 months (vaccination not recommended by WHO)
Countries That Trigger the Requirement
If you are arriving from or transiting through any of these countries, you must have a valid yellow fever certificate:
Africa
- Angola
- Benin
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Congo (Brazzaville)
- Congo (DRC)
- Cote d'Ivoire
- Equatorial Guinea
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Kenya
- Liberia
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Rwanda
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Togo
- Uganda
South America
- Argentina
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- French Guiana
- Guyana
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Suriname
- Trinidad & Tobago
- Venezuela
Common Transit Hubs
- Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) - Ethiopian Airlines hub
- Nairobi (Kenya) - Kenya Airways hub
- Lagos/Abuja (Nigeria)
- Kigali (Rwanda) - RwandAir hub
If connecting through these airports, check the latest airline and Tanzania entry rules. CDC notes the Tanzania requirement applies to longer transits through yellow-fever-risk countries.
About the Yellow Fever Vaccine
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Vaccine Name | 17D strain (live attenuated) - brands include YF-VAX, Stamaril |
| Doses Required | Single dose |
| When to Get Vaccinated | At least 10 days before travel (takes 10 days to become effective) |
| Certificate Validity | Lifetime (since July 2016, previously 10 years) |
| Minimum Age | 9 months (6 months in outbreak situations) |
| Cost | $50-$200 depending on country and clinic (often covered by travel health insurance) |
| Side Effects | Mild headache, muscle pain, low-grade fever in 10-30% of recipients; serious reactions extremely rare |
| Contraindications | Infants under 6 months, severe egg allergy, immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women (relative) |
Where to Get Vaccinated
Yellow fever vaccination must be administered at an approved yellow fever vaccination centre that can issue the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP).
By Country
- United Kingdom: NHS travel clinics, MASTA clinics, Boots Travel Health, Superdrug Health Clinics. Cost: approximately 60-85 GBP. Book at least 2 weeks before travel.
- United States: Authorized vaccination centres listed on the CDC website (wwwnc.cdc.gov). CVS MinuteClinic, Passport Health, and some hospital travel clinics. Cost: $150-$350.
- Canada: Designated Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres listed by PHAC. Travel health clinics and some pharmacies. Cost: $150-$250 CAD.
- India: Authorized centres at major government hospitals and international airports. Cost: approximately 300-500 INR at government centres.
- Australia: Approved vaccination centres listed on the Department of Health website. Travel doctors and some GPs. Cost: $100-$200 AUD.
- UAE/Dubai: DHA-approved travel clinics and hospitals. Cost: 200-400 AED.
Always verify the clinic is authorized to issue the official yellow card. Vaccination given at non-authorized centres may not be recognized at the border.
The Yellow Card (ICVP)
The International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) is a small yellow booklet that serves as your official proof of vaccination. Key points:
- Format: Standardized WHO format, yellow booklet with personal details and vaccination record
- Validity: Valid for life since July 11, 2016 (previously required renewal every 10 years). Old certificates with 10-year validity are now automatically valid for life.
- Information Recorded: Your name, date of birth, vaccine name, batch number, date of vaccination, stamp and signature of administering centre
- When Valid: Becomes effective 10 days after vaccination for first-time recipients
- Keep Safe: This is an important travel document. Carry it with your passport. If lost, contact the clinic where you were vaccinated for a replacement.
Exemptions
Certain individuals may be exempt from the yellow fever vaccination requirement:
- Infants under 9 months: Vaccination is not recommended by WHO
- Medical contraindications: Severe egg allergy, immunodeficiency (HIV with low CD4), thymus disorders, or other medical conditions certified by a physician
- Pregnant women: May receive a medical waiver (relative contraindication)
- Elderly travellers over 60: May receive a waiver if first-time vaccination is medically inadvisable (increased risk of adverse effects)
If you cannot receive the vaccine, obtain a Medical Exemption Letter from an authorized vaccination centre. The letter must be in English, on official letterhead, and clearly state the medical reason. Present this at the border. Note: Tanzanian immigration officers have discretion and may still impose quarantine measures.
Yellow Fever in Tanzania
CDC classifies yellow fever vaccination as generally not recommended for Tanzania, but route-based entry rules still apply:
- Risk Areas: Parts of western Tanzania bordering DRC and Burundi have the highest risk
- Urban Areas: Dar es Salaam, Arusha, and major cities have low but non-zero risk due to the presence of Aedes mosquitoes
- Zanzibar: Considered lower risk, but the certificate requirement still applies for travellers from endemic countries
- Recent Cases: Tanzania reports sporadic cases but no major outbreaks in recent years
- CDC recommendation: Yellow fever vaccination is generally not recommended for Tanzania, but may be considered for some travellers based on itinerary, mosquito exposure, and medical risk factors
Tip: If your route does not trigger the entry requirement, ask a travel-health clinician whether vaccination is appropriate for your itinerary and health history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick Facts
- Required: If arriving from endemic country
- Certificate: Valid for life
- Vaccine: Single dose
- Effective: 10 days after vaccination
- Cost: $50-$350 (varies by country)
- Min Age: 9 months