Eswatini Vaccinations & Health Rules 2026 for Swedish Travellers

Quick answer: Eswatini does not have a yellow fever transmission risk, but travellers aged 9 months or over may need an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis if arriving from, or transiting through, a country with yellow fever transmission risk. Yellow fever vaccination is not routinely recommended for travel to Eswatini itself. Swedish travellers should also check routine immunisations, consider typhoid vaccination according to their itinerary, arrange a malaria assessment for lowveld travel and obtain appropriate travel insurance.

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

Vaccinations and health rules: quick reference

Vaccine or health measure	Required for entry?	What Swedish travellers should know
Yellow fever	Only for certain itineraries	A certificate is required for travellers aged 9 months or over arriving from countries with yellow fever transmission risk, including travellers who have transited through an airport in such a country.
Routine vaccines	Not an Eswatini-specific entry requirement in the supplied guidance	Review routine protection, including diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and measles, mumps and rubella, with a healthcare professional.
Typhoid	Not an entry requirement in the supplied guidance	The CDC recommends considering typhoid vaccination for most travellers, especially those staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities or rural areas.
Malaria prevention	Not a vaccine entry requirement	Medication and mosquito-bite prevention are recommended for specified lowveld areas, including the Lubombo district and named towns and locations.
Health form	May be required	Air travellers may need to complete a health form; health questions may also be asked at land borders and King Mswati III International Airport.

These rules apply according to the traveller’s route and health circumstances, not simply the passport nationality. Before booking, Swedish citizens should also review the separate Eswatini visa requirements for Swedish citizens in 2026, because immigration and health rules are separate parts of entry planning.

Yellow fever certificate rules for Swedish travellers

There is no yellow fever risk in Eswatini, and yellow fever vaccination is not recommended for ordinary travel to the country. The important distinction is between a health recommendation and an entry certificate rule: Eswatini can require proof of vaccination because of where a traveller has come from or travelled through, even though yellow fever is not transmitted in Eswatini.

Travellers aged 9 months or over arriving from a country with yellow fever transmission risk must present a yellow fever vaccination certificate. The requirement can also apply after transit through an airport in a risk country. The CDC specifically states that this includes airport transits or layovers lasting more than 12 hours in countries with yellow fever transmission risk.

Check every stop on the complete itinerary, including connecting airports. A route involving South Africa or another transit country should not be assessed from the flight’s first departure point alone; the relevant question is whether the itinerary includes a country or airport covered by Eswatini’s yellow fever rule. If the route might trigger the rule, ask a travel clinic to confirm whether you need vaccination and an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis before departure.

A completed yellow fever certificate is considered valid for the life of the vaccinated person under the International Health Regulations, so a booster cannot generally be required solely because more than 10 years have passed since vaccination. Carry the original certificate with your passport if the rule applies to your itinerary. The certificate requirement and the medical suitability of the vaccine are separate issues: a clinician should assess individual risks before vaccination.

Some guidance differs on how transit rules are described. NaTHNaC states that the certificate requirement applies to travellers transiting through an airport in a yellow fever risk country, while HealthyTravel describes an exemption for passengers who remain in the airport transit area and a six-day timing condition. Because the supplied official and specialist summaries are not identical in wording, Swedish travellers should confirm the current interpretation with an authorised travel clinic, the relevant Eswatini authorities and the airline before flying.

Recommended vaccinations and timing

Routine immunisations

Start by checking that your routine vaccinations are up to date. Norway’s public health institute, in its Eswatini travel advice, highlights diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio vaccination, as well as measles, mumps and rubella vaccination, as relevant routine protection for travellers. Your personal recommendation depends on your age, previous doses, medical history and the Swedish vaccination records available to your healthcare provider.

Do not treat a standard vaccination check as a substitute for an individual consultation. Pregnancy, immune-system conditions, chronic illness, allergies and medicines can affect which vaccines or preventive medicines are appropriate.

Typhoid and other risk-based vaccines

The CDC recommends typhoid vaccination for most travellers to Eswatini, particularly people staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities or rural areas. Discuss it with a travel-medicine clinician if your trip includes rural accommodation, extensive local food exposure or limited access to medical care. The decision should be based on the itinerary rather than on Swedish citizenship alone.

Travel-health providers may also assess hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies and other vaccines according to activities, duration, accommodation, food and water exposure and personal risk factors. Rabies pre-exposure vaccination is particularly an individual decision: the CDC says clinicians should consider occupational or recreational activities that increase exposure to potentially rabid animals and whether prompt access to safe post-exposure treatment could be difficult.

Animal encounters deserve practical planning on a safari. Do not touch wild or unfamiliar animals, and ask your guide what to do if an animal bites or scratches you. Travellers comparing a first-time Eswatini safari park itinerary should share the planned reserves and activities with their clinician, because rural travel and animal exposure can change the health assessment.

When to seek advice

Book a travel-health appointment well before departure. The UK travel advice recommends checking Eswatini health risks at least 8 weeks before travel, and the NIPH advises beginning vaccination well before departure so there is time for the recommended protection to take effect. If departure is sooner, still seek advice rather than assuming that no vaccination or malaria planning is possible.

Malaria: risk areas, prophylaxis and prevention

Malaria risk in Eswatini is concentrated in lowveld areas. The NIPH describes risk due predominantly to Plasmodium falciparum throughout the year, with the highest risk from November through May in lowveld areas below 600 metres, including the entire Lubombo district and Big Bend, Mhlume, Simunye and Tshaneni.

For these areas, mosquito-bite prevention and preventive malaria medication are recommended. Whether a prescription is suitable, which medicine is selected and how it is taken must be decided with a healthcare professional who knows your medical history and itinerary. Do not start, stop or share antimalarial medicine without medical advice.

Reduce mosquito exposure by using repellent, covering exposed skin and following accommodation advice about screened rooms or mosquito nets. NIPH notes that mosquito-borne infections may pose an increased risk and directs travellers to insect-bite prevention measures. Malaria symptoms can occur after travel, so tell a healthcare professional about your Eswatini trip if you develop a fever or become unwell.

Lowveld travel can include wildlife reserves and safari properties. If your plans combine Eswatini with South Africa’s luxury safari lodges or a wider regional route, give the clinic the full schedule rather than only the Eswatini portion. Travellers can compare safari packages on SafariFind after checking that the planned route has been included in their health assessment.

Health documents and travel insurance

Carry your vaccination records and any yellow fever certificate required by your itinerary. A certificate is relevant when the route meets Eswatini’s yellow fever entry conditions; it is not a routine requirement for every traveller. Keep paper documents protected and retain copies separately from the originals.

Air travellers may need to complete a health form, and health-related questions may be asked on arrival at a land border and at King Mswati III International Airport. Requirements can change, so check the latest instructions with the airline and official Eswatini authorities shortly before departure.

Arrange travel insurance that covers medical treatment and evacuation. The UK travel advice warns that basic healthcare is available but common medicines can be in short supply, and serious accidents, emergencies or specialist treatment may require transfer to South Africa. Confirm that safari activities, existing medical conditions and medical evacuation are covered before you travel.

Medication rules and what to pack

Bring enough regular prescription medicine for the trip, in its original packaging, together with a copy of the prescription or a doctor’s letter. The UK government advises travellers to check the legal status and regulation of medicines before travel because medicines prescribed or purchased in one country can be regulated differently in another.

Ask your prescriber or pharmacist whether your medicine requires supporting documentation or special handling. Keep essential medicine in hand luggage where possible, and follow storage instructions. Do not assume that a medicine available over the counter in Sweden will be available in Eswatini.

A practical safari health kit can include prescribed medicines, insect repellent, sun protection, a thermometer, basic wound-care supplies and any personal items recommended by your clinician. The contents should reflect your health needs and destination, not a generic packing list. Food and water precautions are also relevant: the CDC’s typhoid guidance identifies contaminated food and water as the exposure context for its recommendation.

If you are pregnant, have a chronic condition, take immune-suppressing treatment or have another significant health concern, arrange medical advice before booking or travelling. For a specialist animal-focused trip, such as an Eswatini rhino safari, mention all planned activities, walking and vehicle-based excursions during the consultation.

Health facilities and emergencies in Eswatini

Basic healthcare is available in Eswatini, but shortages of common medicines are reported. For serious accidents, emergencies or specialised treatment, travellers may need to go to South Africa; local private hospitals may arrange evacuation if the traveller is fully insured or can provide funds in advance.

For an ambulance in Eswatini, call 977 or 933 and ask for an ambulance. Contact your insurer promptly if you are referred to a medical facility, because the insurer may need to authorise treatment or organise evacuation.

Before departure, save your insurer’s emergency number, your accommodation’s contact details and the route to the nearest suitable medical facility. Safari lodges and guides may have their own emergency procedures, but they do not replace insurance or professional medical advice.

This article is informational and not legal or medical advice. Requirements, disease risks, certificates and recommendations can change; confirm your complete itinerary, health documents and personal vaccination plan with official sources and a qualified healthcare professional before travelling.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Swedish citizens need a yellow fever vaccination for Eswatini?

Not usually, unless the itinerary involves arrival from or transit through a country with yellow fever transmission risk. Eswatini has no yellow fever risk itself, and vaccination is not routinely recommended for travel there.

When does Eswatini require a yellow fever certificate?

Eswatini requires a certificate for travellers aged 9 months or over arriving from a yellow fever risk country or transiting through an airport in one. The CDC includes airport transits or layovers lasting more than 12 hours in a risk country.

Is the yellow fever certificate valid for life?

Yes. A completed International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis is considered valid for the life of the vaccinated person under the International Health Regulations.

Which routine vaccines should Swedish travellers check before Eswatini?

Travellers should review routine protection including diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and measles, mumps and rubella with a healthcare professional. The appropriate schedule depends on age, previous doses and medical history.

Is typhoid vaccination recommended for Eswatini?

The CDC recommends typhoid vaccination for most travellers, especially those staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities or rural areas. Discuss your food, water and accommodation plans with a travel-health clinician.

Do I need malaria tablets for Eswatini?

Preventive malaria medication is recommended for specified lowveld areas, including the Lubombo district and Big Bend, Mhlume, Simunye and Tshaneni. A clinician should decide whether medication is suitable and which option fits your itinerary and health history.

Where is malaria risk highest in Eswatini?

Risk is concentrated in lowveld areas below 600 metres, including the entire Lubombo district and named locations such as Big Bend, Mhlume, Simunye and Tshaneni. The NIPH reports risk throughout the year, highest from November through May.

How early should I arrange Eswatini travel vaccinations?

Start planning at least 8 weeks before travel where possible. This allows time to review routine vaccinations, consider multi-dose courses and arrange malaria advice, although you should still seek professional advice for a later departure.

Can I take prescription medicine to Eswatini?

You should check the medicine’s legal status and carry it in its original packaging with supporting prescription information. Medicines regulated or available in Sweden may be treated differently in Eswatini, so confirm requirements before departure.

What is Eswatini’s emergency ambulance number?

The UK government travel advice lists 977 or 933 for an ambulance in Eswatini. Contact your travel insurer quickly if you are referred to a medical facility.