⏱️ Golden rule: Consult a healthcare professional 4 to 6 weeks before departure. Some vaccines require multiple spaced doses, and the yellow fever vaccine must be given at least 10 days before entering a risk country to be valid at the border.

Mandatory vs recommended: an important distinction

A mandatory vaccine is an administrative requirement imposed by a country to enter its territory. Without it, you can be refused entry. In 2026, this concerns only yellow fever (some countries) and meningococcal ACWY (Saudi Arabia for Hajj/Umra).

A recommended vaccine is medical protection advised based on your destination and profile. Not mandatory does not mean not necessary. Yellow fever, for example, may not be required to enter a country but can still be present within it.

The two vaccines that can be mandatory

🟡
Yellow fever
Mandatory
Required for travel to yellow fever zones in sub-Saharan Africa and South America. Must be administered at an approved International Vaccination Centre (CVI) in France. The certificate (yellow card) is valid for life after one dose. Must be done at least 10 days before entry.
🕌
Meningococcal ACWY
Mandatory
Required by Saudi Arabia for Hajj and Umra pilgrims. A specific attestation must mention the vaccine type and validity date. French ACWY vaccines (Nimenrix, Menquadfi) are accepted.

Recommended vaccines by destination

🌍
Sub-Saharan Africa
Recommended
Yellow fever (often mandatory), hepatitis A, typhoid, meningococcal ACWY (meningitis belt), rabies (adventure travel), malaria prophylaxis.
🌏
South-East Asia
Recommended
Hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, Japanese encephalitis (extended rural stays), rabies (children and adventure travel). No yellow fever in Asia.
🌎
South America
Recommended
Yellow fever (mandatory in some countries), hepatitis A, typhoid, rabies (forest or isolated trips). Dengue in endemic zones.
🌐
All destinations (baseline)
Recommended
Before any trip: check your French routine vaccines are up to date — DTP (diphtheria, tetanus, polio), whooping cough, MMR. Travel is a good moment to catch up on any delays.

The yellow card: what you need to know

The International Certificate of Vaccination (commonly called the "yellow card") is the official document issued by an approved CVI after yellow fever vaccination. It is recognised worldwide by the WHO.

Preparing your trip: 5 steps

1

8 weeks before — identify your destination and its requirements

Check diplomatie.gouv.fr (French Ministry of Foreign Affairs country advice) and Vaccination Info Service for vaccine recommendations specific to your destination.

2

6 weeks before — consult a professional or CVI

GP, pharmacist or international vaccination centre. Verify your routine vaccines are up to date and identify travel vaccines needed.

3

4–5 weeks before — get vaccinated

Some vaccines need two doses spaced apart. Yellow fever must be done at least 10 days before entry into the country.

4

Before departure — gather your documents

Yellow card (if yellow fever), ACWY attestation (if Hajj/Umra), up-to-date vaccination record. Photograph all documents.

5

On return — record new vaccinations

Enter the travel vaccines in your carnet de santé, Mon espace santé, and Vaxelia. They are part of your lifelong vaccination history.

Your vaccination record, even in flight mode

Vaxelia works without internet. No signal, no network, 35,000 feet up — your vaccinations are there. Export to PDF before you leave for border checks.

📱 Download Vaxelia — Free

Related articles

Sources: Ameli.fr · Vaccination Info Service · Service-public.fr (January 2026) · Institut Pasteur de Lille · Diplomatie.gouv.fr. Consult a healthcare professional before any trip abroad.