If your travels include parts of Africa or South America, yellow fever vaccination is likely to come up. It is one of the few travel vaccines that can be an entry requirement, and in Australia it can only be given by an approved Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre.
This guide explains who needs the yellow fever vaccine, how the certificate works, what happens when you come home to Australia, and where to get vaccinated.
Key points
- Yellow fever is a mosquito-borne viral infection found in tropical parts of Africa and South America.
- The vaccine is recommended for people aged 9 months and over travelling to areas with a risk of yellow fever, and some countries require proof of vaccination for entry.
- In Australia, only approved Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres can give the vaccine and issue the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis. Every TMA member clinic is an approved centre.
- Your certificate becomes valid 10 days after vaccination and is valid for life.
- When you arrive in Australia, you need to declare if you have been in a yellow fever risk country in the previous 6 days.
Every TMA member clinic is an approved Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre.
What is yellow fever?
Yellow fever is a viral infection spread by the bite of infected mosquitoes. The Australian Immunisation Handbook notes it is endemic in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and South America, with West Africa carrying the highest burden of disease. There is no specific treatment, which is why vaccination and mosquito bite prevention are so important for travellers to risk areas.
Which countries have a risk of yellow fever?
The Australian Government's yellow fever fact sheet (April 2026) lists these yellow fever risk countries and areas.
Africa: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Togo and Uganda.
South and Central America: Argentina (Misiones and Corrientes provinces only), Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador (excluding the Galápagos Islands), French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela.
The list is updated from time to time, and risk within a country can vary by region. Your travel doctor will check your exact itinerary, including popular trips such as Kenyan safaris, the Amazon, Iguazú Falls and the Galápagos.
Who needs the yellow fever vaccine?
The Australian Immunisation Handbook recommends yellow fever vaccine for people aged 9 months and over travelling to an area with a risk of yellow fever virus transmission. You may also need proof of vaccination if:
- the country you are visiting requires it for entry, which some do for all arriving travellers, or
- you are travelling from a yellow fever risk country to another country that requires it, including transits in some cases.
Entry rules differ by country and can change, so check the requirements for every country on your itinerary well before you leave.
Where can I get the yellow fever vaccine in Australia?
Only approved Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres can give the yellow fever vaccine in Australia and issue a valid International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP). These centres are approved by state and territory health departments.
Every Travel Medicine Alliance (TMA) member clinic is an approved Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre, so you can have your yellow fever vaccine, your other travel vaccines and your certificate in the one appointment. Find your nearest TMA clinic.
How the yellow fever certificate works
After your vaccine, you receive an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis, often called the yellow card. Keep it with your passport.
- When it becomes valid: 10 days after vaccination. Plan your appointment so you are vaccinated at least 10 days before you arrive in a country that requires the certificate.
- How long it lasts: for life. Since June 2016, international rules recognise yellow fever certificates as valid for the life of the person vaccinated, including older certificates with a "valid until" date.
- If you lose it: contact the clinic that vaccinated you, as they keep a record and may be able to help.
Do I need a yellow fever booster?
For most healthy adults and children, one dose provides lifelong protection. The Handbook notes that a booster may be recommended in some situations, such as for people travelling to areas with an ongoing outbreak, people staying long term in high-risk areas, people who were pregnant at their first dose, and people who had HIV at the time of their first dose. Your travel doctor can advise if this applies to you.
Who should not have the yellow fever vaccine?
Yellow fever vaccine is a live vaccine, so it is not suitable for everyone. According to the Handbook, your doctor will take particular care if you:
- are under 9 months of age
- are 60 or older, as there is a higher risk of serious side effects
- are pregnant
- have a weakened immune system, including from medicines or treatments
- have a history of a thymus disorder
- have had anaphylaxis to eggs or a previous dose
If the vaccine is not suitable for you, an approved centre can assess whether a medical exemption letter is appropriate. The Handbook notes the letter must be issued by an approved centre on its letterhead, signed, dated and stamped, and it is valid only for the trip it was written for. A country can still decide whether to accept it.
Coming home to Australia after a yellow fever risk country
According to the Australian Government fact sheet, travellers arriving in Australia must declare if they have been in a yellow fever risk country or area in the previous 6 days, and may be asked to show their vaccination certificate. Australia does not refuse entry to travellers who have not been vaccinated or cannot prove it. Instead, they are referred to a biosecurity officer and given information on what to do if symptoms develop.
If you become unwell with a fever within 6 days of arriving, see a doctor and tell them where you have travelled.
When should I get the yellow fever vaccine?
The vaccine needs to be given at least 10 days before you arrive in a country that requires the certificate. In practice, aim to see a travel doctor 4 to 6 weeks before you leave. Trips to Africa and South America often need several vaccines and sometimes malaria tablets, and this gives time to fit everything in.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the yellow fever vaccine valid?
For life. The certificate becomes valid 10 days after vaccination and does not expire.
Can my GP give the yellow fever vaccine?
Only if the practice is an approved Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre. All TMA member clinics are approved centres.
Do I need a yellow fever vaccine for Bali, Thailand or Europe?
No, these destinations do not have yellow fever transmission. Some Asian countries do require a certificate if you arrive from a yellow fever risk country, so tell your doctor if your trip combines Asia with Africa or South America.
Do I need yellow fever vaccine for a safari in Kenya or a trip to Peru?
Both Kenya and Peru are on the Australian Government's list of yellow fever risk countries. Whether vaccination is recommended depends on the regions you visit, so take your itinerary to your appointment.
I am over 60. Can I still have the vaccine?
Possibly. The risk of serious side effects is higher from age 60, so your doctor will weigh this against your risk of yellow fever and any entry requirements before recommending it.
Get your yellow fever vaccine at a TMA clinic
TMA clinics are approved Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres with substantial experience in travel medicine, located across Australia. Bring your itinerary and vaccination records, and your doctor will plan your yellow fever vaccine, certificate and other travel health needs together. Find your local travel medicine doctor, make an appointment, or call 1300 42 11 42.
This article provides general information only and is not a substitute for individual medical advice. Recommendations and entry requirements change, so speak with your doctor and check official sources before you travel.
Sources
- Australian Immunisation Handbook: Yellow fever
- Australian Government Department of Health: Yellow fever fact sheet (April 2026)
- National Guidelines for Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres and Providers
- Australian Immunisation Handbook: Vaccination for international travellers
Get your yellow fever vaccine and certificate at a TMA clinic near you.
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