Where it's required, why it matters, and where to get it in Australia.
Yellow Fever is a serious viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes in parts of Africa and South America. It can cause fever, jaundice (yellowing of the skin), organ failure, and death. There is no specific treatment — prevention through vaccination is essential.
Some countries require proof of Yellow Fever vaccination as a legal condition of entry. This is enforced through the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP), commonly called a "Yellow Card." Countries that require it for all travellers include Ghana, Uganda, and Bolivia, among others.
Many more countries require the certificate only if you're arriving from (or transiting through) a country with Yellow Fever risk. This includes most of Southeast Asia, the Pacific, and parts of Africa. Even a transit stop in a Yellow Fever country can trigger the requirement.
Countries where Yellow Fever vaccination is required for all travellers include parts of Africa (Ghana, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Mali, Burkina Faso, and others) and South America (Bolivia, French Guiana). Countries that require it for arrivals from risk areas include Thailand, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, and many others.
The International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) is a small yellow booklet issued when you receive the vaccination. A single dose provides lifetime protection — the certificate is valid for life (updated from the previous 10-year rule by WHO in 2016). Keep it with your passport when travelling.
Yellow Fever vaccine can only be administered at approved Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres. Not all GPs or travel clinics can give it. Major providers include Travel Doctor TMVC, Travelvax, and Travel Vaccination Healthcare — check our clinic finder for approved centres in your state.
The vaccine costs approximately $90-$120 in Australia. You'll need to book in advance as some clinics require the vaccine to be specially ordered.
Find a Yellow Fever approved clinic →
The Yellow Fever vaccine is generally safe. Common side effects include mild fever, headache, and muscle pain. Serious reactions are rare. The vaccine is NOT recommended for infants under 9 months, people with severe egg allergy, people who are immunocompromised, or pregnant women. If you can't receive the vaccine, your doctor can issue a medical exemption letter — but some countries may not accept exemptions.
Yellow Fever vaccination can only be administered at centres approved by the Australian Department of Health, which then issue the WHO-recognised International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP, the "yellow card"). Approved centres include:
The Department maintains the current approved-centre list. Always confirm by phone before booking — approval status can change. Booking 4–6 weeks ahead of departure is recommended; some centres run waiting lists.
Yellow Fever risk areas fall into two categories:
Endemic across most of central Africa from Senegal in the west to South Sudan in the east. WHO classifies the following as high-risk for travellers: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia (parts), Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya (parts), Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan (parts), Togo, Uganda. Some countries require certificate for entry from any traveller; others only from travellers arriving from a YF-endemic country.
Endemic across the Amazon basin. Risk countries include Argentina (parts), Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama (parts), Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela. Brazil's 2017–2018 outbreak expanded the recognised risk area into previously YF-low parts of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro states.
There is an important distinction between "Yellow Fever vaccination required for entry" (certificate must be presented at the border) and "Yellow Fever vaccination recommended for travellers" (clinical advice based on personal exposure risk). Some countries require a certificate even though their own YF risk is low — typically because they want to prevent introduction from neighbouring endemic countries. Always check the Smartraveller advisory for your specific destination and itinerary.
Australia does not require Yellow Fever vaccination for entry from any traveller, including those returning from endemic countries.
One dose of Yellow Fever vaccine (Stamaril is the registered brand in Australia). WHO updated international guidance in 2016: a single dose is now considered to provide lifelong protection, and the certificate is valid for life — not 10 years as previously. Some countries are slow to align with this update; if your destination still requires recertification, a booster can be administered at any approved centre.
Protection begins 10 days after vaccination; the certificate is valid from day 10 for international travel. If you need YF vaccination for entry, allow at least 10 days between vaccination and arrival.
Yellow Fever vaccine is a live attenuated vaccine. Contraindications include:
If you have a contraindication and your itinerary requires entry to a country with mandatory YF certificate, an approved centre can issue a medical exemption letter on official letterhead. The exemption is recognised at most borders but you should carry it together with documentation of the medical reason.
Side effects of Yellow Fever vaccine are typically mild (sore arm, low-grade fever, headache, muscle aches for 5–10 days). Serious adverse events are rare: yellow-fever vaccine-associated viscerotropic disease (YEL-AVD) and yellow-fever vaccine-associated neurotropic disease (YEL-AND) are very rare but more common in first-dose recipients over age 60. This is a key consideration in the risk-benefit discussion with the clinician.
If you have a contraindication and need to travel to a country requiring proof of vaccination, the approved centre can issue a medical waiver on official letterhead in English (and ideally translated to the destination's language). Most border authorities accept the waiver, though some have refused entry — confirm in advance with the destination's embassy. Travel insurance should also be checked, as some policies exclude cover for trips to YF-mandated destinations without certificate or accepted waiver.
Last updated: May 2026