What should you know about yellow fever vaccine certificate?

The certificate is an official travel document, not simply a clinic receipt. Border authorities may ask for it because their entry rules aim to limit the importation of yellow fever. Requirements can differ according to your itinerary, including airport transit and the country you visited immediately before arrival.

A vaccination centre usually completes the certificate at the same appointment as the vaccine. Check that your personal details match your passport, that the vaccination date is clear, and that the document has been completed by the authorised centre.

Review the entry and transit requirements for every part of your journey before booking your appointment. Arrange vaccination early enough for any destination-specific timing rule, and bring your passport so the details can be copied accurately. Keep the original certificate with your passport during the trip and consider carrying a secure backup copy separately.

If you cannot find a previous certificate, contact the vaccination centre that issued it. They can explain whether their records support a replacement and whether you need a new travel-health assessment.

Speak with a travel-health clinician before vaccination if you are pregnant, have a weakened immune system, have had a severe allergy after a vaccine, or are travelling with an infant. Seek urgent medical help after vaccination for breathing difficulty, swelling of the face or throat, fainting that does not settle, or a severe illness.

Ask whether each destination and transit stop requires a certificate, whether your planned travel date allows enough time, and what documents you should take to the clinic. If vaccination is unsuitable for you, ask what medical documentation and travel precautions may be relevant.