Canada Does Not Decide Which Countries “Require” Yellow Fever Vaccination — Your Destination Does

When it comes to yellow fever vaccination, many Canadian travellers assume that Canada decides whether the vaccine is required for certain destinations. In reality, Canada does not set yellow fever entry rules. Instead, each destination country creates its own border requirements, and Canada advises travellers to follow them while also recommending vaccination for medical safety when visiting areas where the disease is endemic.

Below is a clear breakdown of how Canada frames yellow fever requirements, how endemic risk differs from entry rules, and what Canadian travellers need to know before planning their trip.

How Canada Frames Yellow Fever Requirements

Canada’s guidance comes through the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). PHAC makes two key recommendations for travellers:

You should receive the yellow fever vaccine if you are travelling to:

• A country that requires proof of yellow fever vaccination for entry, or
• A country or region where yellow fever transmission occurs, regardless of border rules.

Canada also notes that some countries require proof of yellow fever vaccination based not only on your destination, but also on where you have recently travelled or even transited (such as layovers in endemic zones).

To provide accurate information, PHAC directs clinicians and travellers to the World Health Organization (WHO) lists, which include:

• Countries with risk of yellow fever transmission
• Countries that require yellow fever vaccination as a condition of entry

These WHO-designated lists are internationally recognized and updated regularly.

Endemic Countries vs. Countries With Entry Requirements

One of the most important distinctions Canadians often miss is the difference between disease risk and border rules.

1. Endemic Countries (Medical Risk)

These are countries where yellow fever transmission occurs, meaning you may be exposed to infected mosquitoes.

Many endemic countries do not require proof of vaccination for entry, but Canada may still recommend vaccination because of health risk.

2. Countries With Entry Requirements

Some countries require travellers to present a valid International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) for yellow fever.

This may apply:

• To everyone entering the country
• Only if you are arriving from a yellow-fever–risk country
• Only if you transited an endemic country for more than a specified period

Because of this, Canada’s guidance must remain flexible:

• Canada may recommend vaccination for medical reasons even if a country does not require it at the border.
• Canada may also issue a medical waiver for travellers who cannot receive the vaccine but must enter a country with strict border requirements.

What This Means for Canadian Travellers

When Canadians ask, “Do I need the yellow fever vaccine for my trip?”, the answer has two parts:

1. Entry Requirement Check

Look up each country on your itinerary and determine:

• Does the country require yellow fever vaccination for all travellers?
• Does it require vaccination only if arriving from a risk country?
• Does it require vaccination if you are transiting through an endemic region?

2. Medical Recommendation Check

Regardless of border rules, Canada recommends yellow fever vaccination for:

• Travellers 9 months and older
• Who are immunocompetent
• Who are travelling to or passing through areas with yellow fever transmission
• Especially where mosquito exposure will be significant

This is a health protection decision, separate from legal entry requirements.