Your Essential Guide to the Yellow Fever Certificate When Travelling Abroad

Travel preparation often focuses on flights, baggage, and itineraries—but one crucial item travellers sometimes overlook is the yellow fever certificate. This International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) is an official document recognised by the World Health Organization (WHO), and certain countries will refuse entry if you don’t have it.

At Bourne End Pharmacy, we are a registered Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre. We offer both the vaccine and the official certificate, supplied after a full travel health consultation. Here’s what you need to know.

What is Yellow Fever and How Is It Transmitted?

Yellow fever is a serious viral infection spread by infected mosquitoes, primarily the Aedes aegypti species. It occurs mainly in parts of Africa, Central and South America, and poses a risk to unvaccinated travellers visiting these areas. The virus targets the liver and can lead to symptoms ranging from fever, nausea, and muscle pain to severe complications like jaundice (which gives the disease its “yellow” name), internal bleeding, and organ failure.

Yellow fever is not spread from person to person — it’s transmitted exclusively through the bite of an infected mosquito. Because of the severity of the illness and its rapid progression, the yellow fever vaccine is considered essential for travel to affected countries.

What Is a Yellow Fever Certificate?

The ICVP, often called the “yellow card,” is a WHO-standard document that confirms you’ve received a gold-standard yellow fever vaccine. This proof is mandatory for travellers entering certain countries, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa and South America.

As of June 2016, the WHO declared that a single dose of yellow fever vaccine grants lifelong immunity in most people, so the certificate no longer expires after 10 years. However, some countries still incorrectly insist that your certificate be less than 10 years old. Therefore, check entry rules carefully before you travel.

Which Countries Require a Yellow Fever Certificate?

1. Countries with Mandatory Entry Rules

Some countries require the certificate from all travellers, regardless of where they come from. These include:

• -> Angola

• -> Ghana

• -> Liberia

• -> Uganda

• -> Sierra Leone

• -> Democratic Republic of the Congo

  …among others in Africa and South America. To find out whether the country(s) you are visiting require a Yellow Fever Certificate upon entry look at the UK Government’s foreign travel advice.

2. Countries That Require It If You Transit

Many countries don’t pose a yellow fever risk but will still require proof if you’ve been through a risk area. Even a short layover at a yellow fever-risk airport can trigger this rule. These destinations include:

• -> India

• -> China

• -> Indonesia

• -> Thailand

• -> Saudi Arabia

• -> Australia

• -> Malaysia

How Does the Vaccine Work—and How Soon Does It Protect You?

You’ll receive a single injection of the yellow fever vaccine (Stamaril®) at a designated centre. For most people, it provides 95–100% protection, beginning 10 days after vaccination.

Make sure to book your appointment at least 10 days before travel to ensure the certificate becomes valid in time.

Is the Certificate Valid for Life?

Technically, yes—the certificate does not expire under updated WHO rules; immunity is considered lifelong. However, some countries follow outdated rules and may still treat certificates over 10 years old as invalid. NaTHNaC recommends issuing a 10-year expiry date on all certificates as standard, unless specific country requirements differ.

Who Should Get the Yellow Fever Vaccine and Certificate?

You should consider vaccination and certification if you:

• -> Are travelling to high-risk areas of Africa or South America

• -> Are transiting through a higher-risk country

• -> Plan to spend time in rural areas, jungles, or near wildlife

• -> Are aged 9 months or older (older infants may be vaccinated in high-risk cases) 

 

The vaccine is usually not recommended for:

• -> Infants under 6 months (except in exceptional cases)

• -> People with serious egg allergies

• -> People with weakened immune systems (e.g. HIV with low CD4 counts, thymus disorders)

• -> Pregnant or breastfeeding women—unless the travel risk is very high.

In those cases, you can receive an official medical exemption letter instead of the vaccine and must practice strict mosquito bite avoidance.

What Are the Potential Side Effects?

Most people tolerate the vaccine well. Common mild reactions include:

• -> Soreness or redness at the injection site

• -> Headache or mild fever

• -> Muscle aches or fatigue (lasting up to 2 weeks) 

 

Rare but serious reactions (more common in over-60s) include:

• -> Neurological illness (YEL-AND)

• -> Vaccine-associated viscerotropic disease (YEL-AVD), which resembles yellow fever itself 

Your pharmacist will carefully review your medical history and contraindications before giving the vaccine.

How Bourne End Pharmacy Can Help You

We are proud to be a registered Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre, offering:

• -> A full travel health consultation tailored to your itinerary

• -> Administration of the yellow fever vaccine

• -> Issuance of the official WHO ICVP certificate

• -> Advice on safe insect bite prevention and other travel vaccines

• -> Re-issuance of certificates if yours is lost—provided we have batch number and date details 

What Happens If You Don’t Have a Certificate When Required?

Without a valid ICVP, authorities may:

• -> Deny you boarding

• -> Refuse entry

• -> Quarantine you for several days

• -> Charge fines or require immediate vaccination at the border (if available) 

Even short layovers count—some travellers have been turned back during transit due to missing certificates.

Step-by-Step: How to Prepare

1. Check the detailed vaccine entry requirements for each country on your itinerary.

2. Book your yellow fever jab appointment at Bourne End Pharmacy at least 10 days before departure.

3. Bring your passport and vaccination history.

4. Receive the vaccine and International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP).

5. Carry the certificate with you—preferably in your passport with a digital photo backup.

6. Avoid mosquito bites diligently: use repellent, wear long sleeves, and use nets or screens as needed.

 

A yellow fever certificate is more than paperwork—it’s protection. Whether you’re travelling through transit hubs or visiting yellow fever-risk regions, this certificate can make or break your journey.

If you’re booked to travel soon, don’t wait. Visit Bourne End Pharmacy for your yellow fever jab and official certificate, and travel with confidence knowing you’re covered.

This blog was written on behalf of Bourne End Pharmacy by Pharmacy Mentor.