Tanzania Yellow Fever Requirements

Short answer: most travelers flying directly from the US, UK, Canada, Australia or mainland Europe do not need a yellow fever certificate to enter Tanzania. If your journey involves arriving from, or transiting more than 12 hours through, a country with yellow fever risk, you will need one.

When it's required

Tanzania requires proof of yellow fever vaccination — an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP, the "yellow card") — from travelers arriving from or transiting through countries with risk of yellow fever transmission. This includes most of sub-Saharan Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and Rwanda are common transit points for travelers connecting to Tanzania) and parts of South America.

The 12-hour transit rule matters: a short layover under 12 hours in a risk country, where you don't leave the airport, generally doesn't trigger the requirement. A longer layover, or leaving the airport for any reason, generally does.

When it's not required

If you're flying directly from a non-endemic country (the US, UK, most of Europe, Australia, Canada, etc.) with no stopover in a risk country, you do not need the certificate to enter — though the World Health Organization still recommends the vaccination for travelers' own protection, regardless of the entry requirement.

Practical notes

• The vaccine should be administered at least 10 days before travel.
• Carry your certificate with you, including if you're continuing on to Zanzibar — checks sometimes happen there too.
• Requirements can change — always confirm current rules with your airline or embassy before you travel, not just from this page.