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 Emergence of International Concern (PHEIC). All PHEIC require specific monitoring procedures and measures that 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 vector and other favorable ecological conditions pose potential risk for yellow fever if the virus is introduced into the country. Furthermore, being bordered with 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;

1. Yellow fever vaccination is mandatory to travelers arriving from yellow fever endemic countries. This condition also applies to travelers subjected to long flight connection (transit) in yellow fever endemic country for twelve hours (12hrs) or more as per the Public Health Act of 2009, s35 (2)(e).
2. 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 a life protection against the virus.
3. Travelers with medical reasons approved by authorized Medical Officer shall submit a medical proof upon arrival in Tanzania.
4. ⁠Exempted people due to medical reasons and age (above 60 and below 1 year) should seek medical attention in case of fever, headache, muscle and joint aches while in Tanzania.
5. Failure to produce a valid certificate of vaccination against yellow fever to those eligible may lead to refusal of entry or vaccinated upon arrival and kept under close public health observation for not more than 10 days.
6. Travelers coming from countries which are not in the below list of countries with risk of Yellow fever transmission and are not transited into those countries 12 hours and above will not be subjected to Yellow fever vaccination at Points of Entry upon arrival.

Note:

• Travelers coming from countries which 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 a proof of yellow fever vaccination may lead to refusal of entry or 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) ARE 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 Africa Community members. 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 Africa Republic, Chad, Congo, Cote d'Ivore, 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

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