Do French Travellers Need Vaccinations for Eswatini in 2026?

Last checked July 2026 — always confirm with official sources before travelling.

For French citizens travelling to Eswatini in 2026, the main compulsory health document is a yellow fever vaccination certificate when the itinerary includes arrival from a country with yellow fever transmission risk. Eswatini does not require yellow fever vaccination for every visitor, and the CDC does not recommend the vaccine for travel to Eswatini itself.

The CDC recommends typhoid vaccination for most travellers, particularly people staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities and rural areas. Rabies pre-exposure vaccination is an individual decision based on animal exposure and access to prompt post-exposure treatment. Arrange a travel-health appointment at least eight weeks before departure, especially if you need several vaccines or take regular medication.

Quick answer: required and recommended vaccines for French travellers

Vaccine or health measure	Is it required to enter Eswatini?	What French travellers should know
Yellow fever	Only for arrivals from countries with yellow fever transmission risk, including qualifying transit routes	Carry the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) if your itinerary triggers the rule.
Typhoid	No entry requirement identified in the supplied official guidance	Recommended for most travellers, especially for rural travel, smaller cities, or staying with friends and relatives.
Rabies	No entry requirement identified	Discuss pre-exposure vaccination if you may work with or spend substantial time around animals, or could have difficulty reaching post-exposure treatment.
Routine immunisations	No Eswatini-specific entry requirement identified in the supplied research	Ask a French healthcare professional to review your personal vaccination record before departure.
Malaria prevention	Not a vaccine or border-entry requirement	Risk depends on the area and itinerary; ask a travel-medicine clinician about mosquito precautions and prescription prophylaxis.

These rules apply to the journey, not simply to the traveller's nationality. A French passport holder can therefore face a different document check after travelling through a yellow fever-risk country than on an itinerary that avoids such countries. Confirm every transit airport and the current entry rule before departure.

Yellow fever certificate rules for Eswatini

Eswatini requires yellow fever vaccination proof for travellers aged nine months or older who arrive from countries with risk of yellow fever virus transmission. The rule also covers an airport transit or layover of more than 12 hours in a risk country.

For a French traveller, the important detail is the complete routing. A ticket that begins in France may still trigger the certificate requirement if the journey includes a qualifying transit through a country with yellow fever transmission risk. Ask the airline and check the official Eswatini or CDC country guidance using the exact flight itinerary, including overnight airport stops and separate tickets.

The CDC states that a completed ICVP is valid for the life of the vaccinated person under the International Health Regulations. The certificate must show evidence of vaccination or, where appropriate, a medical waiver. Keep the original certificate accessible during check-in and border formalities rather than placing it in checked luggage.

The CDC says yellow fever vaccination is not recommended for travel to Eswatini itself. That is different from an entry rule: a vaccine may not be recommended because of destination risk, yet proof can still be demanded when a traveller has arrived from a risk country.

If a medical condition means yellow fever vaccination is contraindicated, ask a qualified travel-health clinician about the correct medical-waiver documentation before travelling. The CDC notes that countries may require an ICVP showing either vaccination or a medical waiver. Confirm in advance that Eswatini and every transit country will accept the documentation.

Recommended vaccinations for a trip to Eswatini and timing

Typhoid

The CDC recommends typhoid vaccination for most travellers to Eswatini, with particular emphasis on visitors staying with friends or relatives or travelling to smaller cities and rural areas. This recommendation is based on travel circumstances, so discuss your accommodation, food plans, safari camps, rural excursions and length of stay with a healthcare professional.

Rabies

Rabies pre-exposure vaccination is not described as a universal requirement for Eswatini. The CDC recommends discussing it with a healthcare provider when your activities increase the chance of contact with potentially rabid animals or when prompt access to safe post-exposure prophylaxis could be difficult.

That assessment may be relevant to travellers planning walking safaris, conservation work, cycling, remote camping, animal handling or extended rural travel. Do not approach wild or unfamiliar domestic animals, even if they appear healthy. If you are bitten or scratched, seek medical care urgently.

Routine and personal vaccinations

The supplied country guidance does not provide a complete French immunisation schedule or identify a universal list of routine vaccines for every visitor. Ask your doctor or a travel clinic to review your routine protection and medical history rather than assuming that a safari itinerary has the same needs as a city break.

Book this consultation at least eight weeks before travel. GOV.UK travel-health guidance uses that lead time for checking vaccine recommendations and arranging vaccinations, and it allows time to discuss pregnancy, chronic conditions, allergies and medicines. Travellers combining Eswatini with South Africa can use their full route for one joined-up assessment; many visitors enter Eswatini through South Africa.

For planning context, compare your route and season with the Eswatini safari routes, weather and costs for August 2026. Once your parks and border crossings are fixed, give the complete itinerary to the clinician.

Malaria in Eswatini: risk areas, tablets and prevention

Malaria is reported in certain areas of Eswatini, and prevention is not an entry vaccination requirement. The supplied travel guidance advises travellers to discuss chemoprophylaxis with a clinician and to use mosquito-bite precautions, including repellent and insecticide-treated mosquito nets where appropriate.

Do not choose an antimalarial medicine solely from a general online list. The appropriate prescription depends on your exact destination, travel dates, health history, pregnancy status, allergies and other medicines. The research supplied does not establish one universally correct drug, dosage or start date for French visitors, so obtain personalised medical advice before departure.

• Tell the clinician every place you will visit, including parks, border crossings and overnight stops.
• Use an effective mosquito repellent and follow the product instructions.
• Wear clothing that reduces exposed skin, particularly around dawn and dusk.
• Use a properly protected room or an insecticide-treated net where supplied.
• Seek medical advice promptly if you develop a fever during or after the trip.

Malaria risk can differ between parts of a country and between itineraries. A lodge-based safari, a rural community visit and a short urban stay should not automatically be treated as identical exposure patterns. For accommodation ideas, see SafariFind's guide to Eswatini safari lodges for wildlife in 2026.

Health documents and travel insurance

Carry your passport, vaccination record and any ICVP required by your route. If you have a yellow fever certificate or medical waiver, keep the original document available for airline and immigration checks. The CDC says travellers must comply with a destination's proof-of-vaccination requirements by presenting an ICVP with vaccination evidence or a medical waiver.

Travel insurance should cover treatment in Eswatini, emergency assistance, medical evacuation and repatriation. GOV.UK warns that basic healthcare is available but that common medicines may be in short supply; serious accidents, emergencies and specialised treatment may require transfer to South Africa. It also advises travellers to have accessible funds for evacuation and repatriation.

Check exclusions before buying cover. Confirm that safari activities, walking activities, pre-existing conditions and any planned cross-border travel are included. The medical facility or insurer may require payment arrangements before treatment or evacuation, so save the emergency assistance number offline.

Health requirements are separate from immigration rules. French citizens should check the current entry and visa position in the dedicated guide to whether Eswatini requires a visa for French citizens in 2026.

Medication rules and what to pack

The legal status of medicines can differ between countries. GOV.UK advises travellers to check best practice for travelling with medicines and to confirm the local regulation of prescribed or over-the-counter products.

• Carry essential prescription medicines in their original labelled packaging.
• Bring a copy of your prescription and, where useful, a doctor's letter explaining the medicine and dose.
• Keep medicines in hand luggage and pack enough for the planned trip, allowing for delays.
• Ask the prescribing doctor or pharmacist whether any medicine requires special documentation.
• Pack personal first-aid supplies, sun protection, insect repellent and any regular medical devices.
• Carry your insurance policy and emergency-assistance details in both paper and offline digital form.

Do not start, stop, share or change prescription antimalarial treatment without professional advice. If you use medication for a chronic condition, pregnancy-related treatment or a controlled medicine, raise this during the pre-travel consultation rather than at the airport.

Health facilities and emergencies in Eswatini

Basic healthcare is available in Eswatini, but the supplied UK travel advice reports shortages of common medicines. For serious accidents, emergencies or specialised treatment, transfer to South Africa may be necessary.

For an ambulance in Eswatini, call 977 or 933 and ask for an ambulance. GOV.UK also advises contacting your insurance company quickly if you are referred to a medical facility.

Before leaving France, save your insurer's emergency number, your accommodation's contact details and the address of the nearest suitable medical provider. Tell your travelling companions about allergies, regular medicines and emergency contacts. If you are pregnant, have a significant health condition or need regular specialist treatment, confirm before departure that the destination and insurance policy can support the care you may need.

French travellers can compare safari packages on SafariFind after confirming their health plan and route. Health advice is informational, not legal or medical advice; requirements and clinical recommendations can change, so verify them with official sources and a qualified healthcare professional before travelling.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do French citizens need a yellow fever certificate for Eswatini?

Not solely because they are French or travelling from France. Eswatini requires proof for travellers aged nine months or older arriving from a country with yellow fever transmission risk, including qualifying airport transits. Check the complete itinerary before departure.

Does a transit through a yellow fever country affect entry to Eswatini?

Yes, it can. The CDC says Eswatini's rule includes airport transits or layovers of more than 12 hours in countries with yellow fever transmission risk.

Is yellow fever vaccination recommended for Eswatini?

The CDC says yellow fever vaccination is not recommended for travel to Eswatini itself. However, proof can still be required because of the traveller's previous routing.

How long is the yellow fever certificate valid for Eswatini?

The CDC states that a completed International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis is valid for the life of the vaccinated person under the International Health Regulations.

Is typhoid vaccination recommended for a trip to Eswatini?

Yes, the CDC recommends typhoid vaccination for most travellers, especially those staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities and rural areas.

Do I need rabies vaccination for an Eswatini safari?

Not automatically. Rabies pre-exposure vaccination should be discussed with a healthcare provider if your activities increase animal exposure or if prompt access to post-exposure treatment could be difficult.

Do French travellers need malaria tablets for Eswatini?

Malaria prevention depends on the locations and dates of your trip, and malaria is reported in certain areas. Ask a travel-health clinician whether prescription prophylaxis is appropriate for your itinerary; the supplied guidance does not identify one medicine suitable for everyone.

How early should I arrange Eswatini travel vaccinations?

Start at least eight weeks before departure. This gives a travel-health professional time to review your itinerary, check vaccine recommendations and arrange any required vaccinations.

What health documents should I carry to Eswatini?

Carry your vaccination record and, if your route triggers the rule, the original yellow fever ICVP or accepted medical-waiver documentation. Keep the documents accessible during airline and border checks.

Is travel insurance with medical evacuation cover important for Eswatini?

Yes. The supplied UK travel advice recommends insurance covering local treatment and unexpected medical evacuation because serious or specialised care may require transfer to South Africa.

What is the emergency ambulance number in Eswatini?

Call 977 or 933 and ask for an ambulance. Contact your insurer quickly if you are referred to a medical facility.