THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH
YELLOW FEVER ENTRY REQUIREMENTS IN TANZANIA MAINLAND
16th NOVEMBER 2023
Yellow fever is a serious disease that is monitored internationally and therefore classified by the International Health Regulations (IHR), 2005, as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). All PHEIC require specific monitoring procedures and measures that are commensurate with and restricted to public health measures to meet the IHR, 2005 purpose.
Tanzania is mapped by the World Health Organization as a low-risk country because no yellow fever virus has been isolated in the country. However, the abundance of yellow fever vectors and other favorable ecological conditions pose a potential risk for yellow fever if the virus is introduced into the country. Furthermore, being bordered by yellow fever-endemic countries has also increased the vulnerability of Tanzania being infected with the virus.
In order to conform to International Health Regulations, 2005 requirements and safeguard public health security in Tanzania:
Yellow fever vaccination is mandatory for travelers arriving from yellow fever endemic countries. This condition also applies to travelers subjected to long flight connections (transit) in a yellow fever endemic country for twelve hours (12 hrs) or more as per the Public Health Act of 2009, s35 (2)(e).
Yellow fever vaccination, which is given as a single dose, should be administered ten (10) days before entering the country. A single dose is capable of providing life protection against the virus.
Travelers with medical reasons approved by an authorized medical officer shall submit medical proof upon arrival in Tanzania.
Exempted people due to medical reasons and age (above 60 and below 1 year) should seek medical attention in case of fever, headache, or muscle and joint aches while in Tanzania.
Failure to produce a valid certificate of vaccination against yellow fever to those eligible may lead to refusal of entry or vaccination upon arrival and being kept under close public health observation for not more than 10 days.
Travelers coming from countries that are not in the below list of countries with risk of yellow fever transmission and have not transited into those countries for 12 hours or more will not be subjected to yellow fever vaccination at points of entry upon arrival.
Note:
Travelers coming from countries that are NOT IN THE LIST BELOW will not be subjected to yellow fever screening and vaccination at points of entry upon arrival.
Travelers coming from yellow fever endemic countries who will not produce proof of yellow fever vaccination may lead to refusal of entry or being vaccinated and kept under close public health observation for not more than 10 days.
For TANZANIANS travelling to yellow fever endemic countries (see list above), IT IS RECOMMENDED TO BE VACCINATED 10 days before travel.
For TANZANIANS coming from yellow fever endemic countries who will not produce a valid certificate of vaccination against yellow fever will be vaccinated upon arrival and kept under close public health observation for not more than 10 days
The cost of yellow fever vaccination is 50 USD for foreigners and Tsh. 30,000 for residents and East African Community members. A government receipt shall be issued for any vaccination charges paid
LIST OF COUNTRIES FOR WHICH A VALID CERTIFICATE OF VACCINATION AGAINST
YELLOW FEVER IS REQUIRED FOR ENTRY IN TANZANIA
Countries from Africa
Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria
Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Togo, Uganda.
Countries from South America
Argentina, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Brazil, Colombia (Including Galapagos Islands), Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela (Republic of Bolivarian)
Source: WHO, International Health and Travel, Annex 1 Update as of 3 January 2023
Learn More https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/tanzania?s_cid=ncezid-dgmq-travel-single-001
