Is the yellow fever vaccine compulsory for Tanzania?
The rule fits in one sentence: Certificate required from age 1 for travellers arriving from, or transiting over 12 hours in, a country at risk. This is the requirement the World Health Organization publishes for Tanzania, a transit of more than twelve hours at the airport of a risk country included.
Three conditions combine: age (one year and over), provenance (a country classed as risk by the WHO) and length of transit (more than twelve hours, even without leaving the airport).
No certificate required: a departure from the UK, Ireland, Switzerland or Canada, direct or with a connection in Europe, the Gulf or Turkey. Tanzania is not itself a risk country, and the US CDC does not generally recommend the vaccine for Tanzania alone.
In practice, France Diplomatie notes that proof of vaccination is often demanded indiscriminately. The rule does not change, but a hesitant traveller has reason to take this into account.
The WHO publishes a single requirement for the United Republic of Tanzania; no separate rule was found for Zanzibar.
Stopover in Nairobi or Addis Ababa: do I need the yellow fever vaccine?
Several common itineraries pass through countries the WHO classes as risk. The checker at the top of the page applies the rule to a given stopover.
Nairobi (Kenya) and Addis Ababa (Ethiopia): the WHO classes both countries as risk, even if the risk concerns only part of the territory. The Tanzanian rule targets the country, not the region: beyond twelve hours of connection, the certificate is required. A safari in Kenya before entering through Namanga amounts to arriving from a risk country.
Entebbe (Uganda), Juba (South Sudan), Bujumbura (Burundi) and Sudan are classed as risk over their entire territory.
Kigali (Rwanda) is an ambiguous case: the WHO does not class Rwanda as risk, but France Diplomatie cites it. After several days in Rwanda, it is better to be vaccinated.
Doha, Dubai, Istanbul, Cairo, Muscat, Amsterdam, London, Paris: none of these countries is a risk country. A long stopover there changes nothing.
No text addresses the case of a connection that a delay pushes beyond twelve hours. Close to the threshold, or if the airline forces a change of flight, it is better to leave vaccinated.
When to get vaccinated, and how long is the certificate valid?
Ten days. The international certificate is valid only from the tenth day after the injection. The vaccine is therefore given at the latest ten days before arrival, and in practice earlier, since appointments are not always available within the week.
For life. Since 11 July 2016, an amendment to the International Health Regulations has made the certificate valid for life, older certificates included. The WHO states that no repeat dose can be required at the border: an old yellow card remains valid.
One year. The requirement applies from the age of one. For an infant passing through a risk country, the advice of a travel vaccination centre remains necessary.
Contraindication. The vaccine contains a weakened live virus and does not suit everyone, notably in cases of immunosuppression or, depending on the case, pregnancy. A doctor then issues a certificate of contraindication, in English or French, which the health authorities must take into account. It does not protect against the disease: choosing a short stopover or one in a country without risk remains simpler.
Where to get the yellow fever vaccine in the UK
In the UK the vaccine is given only at designated yellow fever vaccination centres, whether a GP surgery, a travel clinic or a pharmacy: a practice that is not registered cannot give it. The list is published by TravelHealthPro, the UK travel health service. In France, it is given only in international vaccination centres approved by the Ministry of Health, listed on sante.fr, département by département.
The centre checks for contraindications, vaccinates and completes the international certificate of vaccination (the yellow card) with the date, batch and its stamp. Only this card is presented on arrival.
France Diplomatie advises consulting early enough to allow time for repeat doses of the other vaccines. The consultation is charged; no national price was found.
Which other vaccines for Tanzania, and malaria?
No other vaccine is required at the border. The US CDC and the Institut Pasteur recommend several depending on the stay, on top of routine vaccines being up to date.
| Vaccine | For whom |
|---|---|
| Hepatitis A | Unvaccinated travellers, from age one |
| Typhoid | Most travellers, from age two |
| Polio | Single lifetime repeat dose before departure (CDC) |
| Hepatitis B | Unvaccinated, long or repeated stays |
| Rabies | Long or remote stays, young children |
| Meningococcal meningitis | Prolonged stay in contact with the population (Institut Pasteur) |
| Cholera | Affected areas (CDC); present in Tanzania according to France Diplomatie |
| Mpox | Adults planning intimate contact with new partners (CDC) |
Malaria has no vaccine for travellers. According to the CDC, it is present all year below 1,800 metres, which means Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, the coast and the northern parks. Prevention combines preventive medication prescribed by a doctor and protection against bites: an impregnated mosquito net, which France Diplomatie stresses, and repellent. A fever during or after the stay means consulting without delay.
Start my assisted application
- The e-visa file prepared with you and checked before filing: photo, passport, dates.
- Insurance for the first point of entry and the Afya Msafiri form at the right time.
- Follow-up until the visa is issued, with real delays as a benchmark.
The certificate is presented at the health check, with the QR code of the Afya Msafiri form. A Kilimanjaro climb goes through Moshi or Arusha, below 1,800 metres: malaria prevention applies throughout the stay.
Frequently asked questions
Is the yellow fever vaccine compulsory for Tanzania?
Not for a direct flight from Europe or a stopover in a country without risk. Yes, from the age of one, after a stay or transit of more than 12 hours in a risk country.
Stopover in Nairobi: do I need the yellow fever vaccine for Tanzania?
Yes if the connection exceeds 12 hours: the WHO classes Kenya among risk countries. Below that, the rule does not require it, even though France Diplomatie notes that it is often asked for.
Stopover in Addis Ababa: do I need the yellow fever vaccine?
Yes beyond 12 hours of transit: Ethiopia is also on the WHO list of risk countries.
How long before departure should I have the yellow fever vaccine?
At the latest ten days before arrival: the certificate is valid only from the tenth day after the injection.
Is the yellow fever vaccine valid for life?
Yes. Since 11 July 2016 the certificate has been valid for life, older certificates included, and no repeat dose can be required.
Where can I get the yellow fever vaccine in the UK?
Only at a designated yellow fever vaccination centre; the UK list is on TravelHealthPro. In France, the list is published on sante.fr.