
Depending on their nationality and where they are traveling from, foreign citizens may be required to have proof of a yellow fever vaccination certificate to enter Egypt as well as an Egyptian visa to enter the country in order to prevent the spread of this dangerous disease.
Read on to find out more about yellow fever and Egypt, and remember to check which other vaccines required for Egypt you may need before traveling.
What Is Yellow Fever?
Yellow fever is a viral infection spread through mosquito bites in affected areas, and can cause symptoms including chills, fever, headache, back pain, nausea, and fatigue.
Around 15 percent of those infected can also develop more serious symptoms of yellow fever, including jaundice, bleeding, and organ failure.
Is the Yellow Fever Vaccine Needed for Egypt?
A yellow fever vaccine for Egypt is not an obligatory Egypt entry requirement for all foreign citizens visiting the country.
The only travelers who need a yellow fever certificate for Egypt are those who meet both the following criteria:
- Arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission
- Aged 9 months or older
This includes those who have spent more than 12 hours in transit in these areas.
Which countries do you have to arrive from to need a yellow fever certificate from Egypt
You will need a yellow fever certificate if you are arriving from any country that Egypt considers to have a risk of yellow fever transmission.
This includes the following countries:
- Angola
- Argentina
- Benin
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Colombia
- Republic of the Congo
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Côte d'Ivoire
- Ecuador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- French Guiana
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
- Kenya
- Liberia
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Rwanda
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Suriname
- Tanzania
- Togo
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Uganda
- Venezuela
- Zambia
Travelers from all of the countries listed above who cannot show proof of yellow fever shots for Egypt are likely to be placed in quarantine for up to 6 days before being allowed into the country.
How Do I Get a Yellow Fever Certificate for Egypt?
If you plan to arrive in Egypt from a country that poses a risk of yellow fever, you should talk to your health care provider about whether you should get the vaccine.
Those who require a vaccine certificate are advised to get yellow fever shots for Egypt at least 10 days before the intended date of travel. Yellow fever vaccination availability may be limited in your country of residence, and the nearest vaccine center may be some distance away, so it is important to contact a clinic well in advance to ensure enough time to get the shots.
After getting the vaccine, you receive a signed and stamped International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP), or yellow card, which you can then present upon arrival in Egypt to gain access to the country.
A single dose of yellow fever vaccine provides lifelong protection for most travelers, and all new and existing yellow fever vaccine certificates are now valid for life. However, boosters are still advised after 10 years have passed if traveling to a high-risk area.
Egypt Yellow Fever Certificate Exceptions
Although most people have mild reactions to a yellow fever vaccine, including headaches, muscle aches, and mild fevers, the vaccination may have serious side effects for some, especially infants, adults over 60, and those with weakened immune systems.
Pregnant and breastfeeding women are generally advised to avoid the vaccine unless travel to an area with risk of yellow fever transmission is unavoidable.
If you are unable to get a yellow fever vaccine for Egypt for medical reasons, your medical practitioner may issue a vaccination waiver and advise you to take meticulous anti-mosquito bite measures in yellow fever risk areas.
Once you have made sure whether or not a yellow fever vaccine is required for travel to Egypt, you should check Egypt visa requirements to see if you need a travel document for the country.