Do I need a vaccine to enter India
India does not require routine vaccinations for entry for most foreign travelers. Currently, there are two vaccination requirements that apply — Yellow Fever and Polio — but both are conditional: they apply only to travelers arriving from or transiting through specific countries. If neither condition applies to your travel history, no vaccination proof is required at Indian immigration.
India vaccination entry requirements vs health recommendations — the difference
Legal entry requirements are enforced by Indian immigration authorities at the port of entry. Health recommendations are made by international travel health agencies in your home country.
Legal entry requirement
Enforced at Indian immigration. Required documents must be presented at the port of entry. Non-compliance results in quarantine or refusal of entry.
Health recommendation
Issued by CDC (USA), NHS (UK), and equivalent agencies. Not checked at Indian immigration. A personal health decision made with your doctor.
Yellow Fever vaccination requirement for India
India requires proof of Yellow Fever vaccination for travelers who are arriving from, or have transited through, a country classified as a Yellow Fever endemic or risk country within the 6 days prior to arrival in India.
The certificate is checked at the port of entry by immigration authorities. Travelers who cannot produce a valid original certificate are subject to quarantine for 6 days at the port of entry.
Yellow Fever vaccine certificate for India
The valid document is the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) — commonly called the Yellow Card. It must be the original document — photocopies and digital copies are not accepted — issued by an authorized vaccination center.
The 10-day rule for Yellow Fever and India
A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate becomes valid only 10 days after the date of vaccination. If your journey to India involves a transit stop — even a brief one — in a Yellow Fever endemic country within 6 days of arriving in India, you are subject to this requirement.
Verify the current list of Yellow Fever endemic countries before travel at mohfw.gov.in
Polio vaccination requirement for India
In limited cases, travelers arriving from countries with ongoing poliovirus transmission are required to carry proof of recent polio vaccination. This requirement applies to nationals and residents of affected countries — not to travelers who are passing through an airport in those countries on a connecting flight.
Which nationalities must show polio proof for India
The nationals of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nigeria, Somalia, Syria, Cameroon, Malawi, Mozambique, Madagascar, Congo and DR Congo are subject to this requirement.
Polio vaccination certificate requirements for India
Travelers to India from affected countries must possess a polio vaccination certificate issued by authorized health officers of their respective countries. The certificate is valid only after taking an additional dose of OPV/IPV at least four weeks prior to travel to India, and it remains valid for a period of one year.
Vaccines recommended for India travel
International health authorities — including the CDC (USA), NHS (UK), and equivalent bodies in other countries — may recommend certain vaccinations for travelers visiting India. These are health recommendations, not legal entry requirements. They are not checked or enforced at Indian immigration.
Whether to follow these recommendations is a personal health decision. Consult your doctor before travel, particularly for longer trips to India.
Which vaccines do CDC and NHS recommend for India travel
The following vaccines are commonly recommended by international travel health agencies for India travel:
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Typhoid
• Tetanus
• Rabies
• Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR)
• Japanese Encephalitis
• Cholera
None of the above are required for entry into India. They are referenced here because travelers frequently encounter them when researching India travel health and need to understand the distinction between requirement and recommendation.
Rabies — active travel notice for India
Stray animals including dogs and monkeys are common in India. Avoid contact with wild and unfamiliar animals. If bitten, scratched, or licked by a wild or unfamiliar animal in India, seek immediate medical attention.
Frequently Asked Questions — India Vaccination Requirements
India does not require routine vaccinations for entry for most foreign travelers. Two requirements apply conditionally — Yellow Fever and Polio — but only for travelers arriving from or transiting through specific countries. If neither condition applies to your travel history, no vaccination proof is required.
Travelers who are arriving from, or have transited through, a Yellow Fever endemic or risk country within 6 days before arrival in India must show proof. The current list of endemic countries is maintained by the WHO and available at ihpoe.mohfw.gov.in. Travelers from non-endemic countries are not required to show Yellow Fever proof.
The valid document is the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP), commonly called the Yellow Card. It must be the original document — photocopies and digital copies are not accepted. It must be issued by an authorized vaccination center and becomes valid only 10 days after vaccination.
Nationals and residents of countries with ongoing poliovirus transmission must carry proof of polio vaccination. This currently includes Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nigeria, Somalia, Syria, Cameroon, Malawi, Mozambique, Madagascar, Congo, and DR Congo. It does not apply to travelers transiting through these countries on a connecting flight.
International health authorities commonly recommend Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid, Tetanus, Rabies, MMR, Japanese Encephalitis, and Cholera for India travel. None of these are legal entry requirements — they are health recommendations not checked at Indian immigration. Consult your doctor before travel.
A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate only becomes valid 10 days after the date of vaccination. If your journey involves a transit through a Yellow Fever endemic country within 6 days of arriving in India, you must have received your vaccination at least 10 days before that transit stop.
No. Recommended vaccines — such as Hepatitis A, Typhoid, or Rabies — are not checked or enforced at Indian immigration. Only Yellow Fever and Polio certificates are subject to entry checks, and only for travelers from specific countries.
in India