What the ICVP actually is

The International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis is a WHO-recognised document, yellow in colour, issued under the International Health Regulations (2005). Its specific format is regulated by WHO and individual countries can refuse entry to travellers without it for diseases where the certificate is required — currently only Yellow Fever.

A valid ICVP must include:

• Your full name (matching your passport exactly)
• Date of birth
• Date of vaccination
• Vaccine batch number and manufacturer
• Official stamp of the designated centre
• Signature of the clinician administering the vaccine

The certificate becomes valid 10 days after vaccination (to allow immunity to develop) and is valid for life — since 2016, WHO has accepted single-dose lifetime validity for most healthy adults.

Which countries require ICVP for entry

Yellow Fever certification is required by 47 countries (as of 2026) for travellers arriving from countries with risk of Yellow Fever transmission. The current main categories:

Required from all travellers (regardless of origin):

• Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, French Guiana, Ghana, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Togo, Uganda

Required only if arriving from a country with Yellow Fever risk:

• Brazil, Burkina Faso, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Nigeria, Peru, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and more

Always check the latest country requirements via NaTHNaC's TravelHealthPro website before travel — rules change.

Who can issue a valid ICVP in the UK

Only NaTHNaC-designated Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres can issue a valid ICVP. NHS GP practices can't unless individually designated (most aren't). Most private travel clinics can, but not all.

You can search the official register at TravelHealthPro. Preston Clinic at Frenchwood Pharmacy is a designated centre — premises 1033851.

Who can't have the Yellow Fever vaccine

The vaccine is a live attenuated virus, so it's contraindicated for:

• Infants under 9 months (and ideally not under 1 year)
• Pregnant women (unless travel is unavoidable in a high-risk area)
• Breastfeeding women (case-by-case)
• Severe egg allergy (the vaccine is cultured in eggs)
• People with severely weakened immune systems (HIV with CD4 below 200, active cancer treatment, post-transplant)
• People over 60 years old (case-by-case — risk of vaccine-associated serious adverse events rises with age)

If you can't have the vaccine, you can be issued a medical exemption certificate instead — also using the ICVP format, but stating the medical reason for non-vaccination. This is accepted by most countries as alternative documentation.

What to expect at your appointment

The full appointment takes about 30 minutes:

1. Risk assessment — we review your itinerary, age, medical history, and any contraindications
2. Vaccination — given subcutaneously, usually in the upper arm
3. Certificate completion — name, batch number, signature, stamp, dates
4. Observation period — 15 minutes after vaccination to monitor for immediate reactions
5. Briefing — what to expect over the next few days, when to seek help

Yellow Fever vaccine side effects

Most people have minimal reaction:

• Sore arm at injection site (common, settles in 24–48 hours)
• Mild flu-like symptoms — low-grade fever, headache, fatigue (about 25%, days 3–7 post-vaccination)
• Serious vaccine-associated reactions are rare but the reason age 60+ travellers get a careful assessment

Common pitfalls

• Vaccinating too late. The certificate is valid 10 days after vaccination. If you're flying in 9 days, you'll be refused entry.
• Name mismatch. Your certificate must show your full name as on your passport. If you've changed your name (marriage etc), bring documentation.
• Lost certificate. A replacement requires either a re-vaccination or a check against the original vaccination record. Don't lose it.
• Photocopies. Most border controls require the original yellow document. Carry it in your travel documents folder, not in your suitcase.