The Yellow Fever Certificate (ICVP) Explained

The yellow fever certificate is the small yellow booklet checked at borders around the world. Officially it is an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP), issued under the World Health Organization’s International Health Regulations — and there are two things about it that catch travellers out more than anything else.

This guide is part of our complete guide to the yellow fever vaccine in Hampshire.

It is valid for life

Since 11 July 2016, when an amendment to Annex 7 of the International Health Regulations came into force, a yellow fever certificate has been valid for the lifetime of the person vaccinated. The old ten-year rule is gone.

Three consequences worth knowing:

• It applies retroactively. A certificate issued decades ago is still valid. If you were vaccinated in 1998 and still have the booklet, that is very likely all you need.
• Countries cannot demand a booster. The amendment is legally binding on all States Parties to the Regulations, so no border may require proof of revaccination on the grounds that your last dose was more than ten years ago.
• The change followed the evidence. In 2014 the WHO’s expert immunisation group concluded that a single dose gives sustained, probably lifelong protection, and that boosters are not needed.

So before you book anything, dig out your old certificate. If you find it, you may not need an appointment at all, and we will tell you so.

But it only starts working 10 days after your jab

The certificate does not work from the moment of the injection. It becomes valid 10 days after the date of primary vaccination.

This is the single most common reason travellers get turned away. If a border demands your certificate, you must have been vaccinated at least ten days before you arrive — not ten days before you booked, and not the week you fly. Book with a fortnight in hand wherever possible.

Where certificates come from

Certificates can only be issued by a designated Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre, at the time of vaccination. This is not a form you can obtain separately or retrospectively from a GP surgery or ordinary pharmacy — the centre that gives the vaccine is the body authorised to certify it.

Our Bosmere Pharmacy in Havant is a NaTHNaC-designated centre, which is why we can both vaccinate and certify in the same appointment.

What if I’ve lost my certificate?

It happens often. The centre that vaccinated you holds a record, so your first move is to contact them — they can usually issue a replacement from their records.

If that is not possible — the centre has closed, records are unavailable, or you were vaccinated abroad and cannot obtain proof — you may need to be revaccinated in order to hold a valid certificate. There is no safety problem with a further dose, but it does mean the ten-day clock starts again, which is why this is worth resolving well before departure rather than at check-in.

If your travel is imminent and your certificate is missing, contact us and we will talk through the realistic options for your dates.

If you cannot be vaccinated: the Medical Letter of Exemption

Where vaccination is ruled out on medical grounds but your destination demands a certificate, a designated centre can assess you and issue a Medical Letter of Exemption (MLoE). It documents that vaccination is contraindicated, and under the International Health Regulations a receiving country is asked to take it into consideration.

Two things to be aware of. Acceptance is at the destination country’s discretion, so it does not guarantee entry the way a certificate does. And the letter offers no protection against the disease itself — a traveller heading into a risk area without the vaccine is relying entirely on avoiding mosquito bites. For some itineraries we will suggest changing the route instead.

→ Who cannot have the yellow fever vaccine, and how exemption assessments work.

Practical points for travellers

• Carry it with your passport. A certificate in a drawer at home is no use at a border.
• Check the details before you leave the centre. Your name should match your passport, and the date, batch number, signature and official stamp should all be present.
• Photograph it. A photo will not satisfy a border official, but it makes replacement far easier if you lose the original.
• Keep it forever. Since it is valid for life, it is worth storing with your passport documents permanently — it will serve every future trip.

Frequently asked questions

How long is a yellow fever certificate valid?
For the lifetime of the person vaccinated, since 11 July 2016. The previous ten-year limit no longer applies.

My certificate is from 2005 — is it still valid?
Yes. The change applies retroactively, and no country may demand revaccination on the basis of its age.

How soon can I travel after the vaccination?
Your certificate becomes valid 10 days after vaccination, so allow at least that.

Can I get a certificate without the vaccine?
Only as a Medical Letter of Exemption, where vaccination is medically contraindicated and after assessment at a designated centre.

Will an exemption letter definitely get me in?
No. Countries are asked to take it into consideration, but acceptance is at their discretion.

Do children need their own certificate?
Yes. Each vaccinated person has their own, from nine months of age.

Where can I get one in Hampshire?
At our Bosmere Pharmacy in Havant, serving Portsmouth, Fareham, Chichester and the surrounding area.

General information for UK travellers, checked against NaTHNaC/TravelHealthPro guidance and the WHO International Health Regulations (2005), as amended 11 July 2016. Requirements change; your route and paperwork are checked at consultation.