Rwanda Vaccinations & Health Rules for Indian Travellers 2026

Quick answer: Rwanda requires a yellow-fever vaccination certificate for travellers aged 1 year and older arriving from a country with yellow-fever transmission risk or an active outbreak; travellers arriving from non-endemic countries without an active outbreak generally do not need one. Indian citizens should assess their entire route, including airport transfers, rather than relying only on their departure city.

For most travellers, a travel-health consultation should cover routine vaccinations, hepatitis A, typhoid and malaria prevention. CDC guidance lists hepatitis A and typhoid considerations for Rwanda, while the final recommendation depends on your itinerary, accommodation, activities, medical history and vaccination record. This guide is informational, not medical or legal advice.

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

Rwanda vaccination requirements for Indian citizens: at a glance

Health item	Rwanda entry position	What Indian travellers should do
Yellow fever certificate	Required for travellers aged 1 year or older arriving from a yellow-fever-risk country or a country with an active transmission outbreak.	Check every country and airport on your route. Carry the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis if your itinerary triggers the rule.
Hepatitis A	Recommended for unvaccinated travellers visiting Rwanda.	Ask a travel-health clinician whether you need the vaccine and how it fits your schedule.
Typhoid	CDC recommends considering it for many travellers, particularly those staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities and rural areas.	Discuss it if you will eat widely outside tourist establishments, travel rurally or have limited access to treated food and water.
Routine vaccines	The research identifies routine vaccination review as part of travel preparation but does not specify a Rwanda-only schedule.	Take your Indian immunisation record to a doctor or travel clinic for an individual review.
COVID-19 documentation	The available Rwanda Biomedical Centre material does not establish a current COVID-19 vaccine or testing requirement specifically for foreign visitors from India.	Confirm the latest entry notice with Rwanda’s official authorities and your airline before departure.

Requirements are based on your travel route, not simply your passport. An Indian citizen flying directly from a non-risk country may be treated differently from an Indian citizen arriving after travel through a yellow-fever-risk country. Rwanda’s official health guidance distinguishes travellers coming from non-endemic countries from those coming from endemic or active-outbreak countries.

Yellow fever certificate rules for Rwanda

When is a yellow fever certificate required?

Rwanda’s Biomedical Centre states that a yellow-fever vaccination certificate is not required for residents or non-residents arriving from a non-endemic country without an active yellow-fever transmission outbreak. A certificate is mandatory for travellers arriving from a yellow-fever-endemic country or a country with an active yellow-fever transmission outbreak.

CDC country guidance describes the requirement as applying to travellers aged 1 year or older who are travelling from countries with risk of yellow-fever-virus transmission. The U.S. State Department similarly warns that yellow-fever proof may be required when travelling from a country with yellow fever or an outbreak.

Because the available research does not classify every possible Indian departure or transit itinerary, do not assume that an India-to-Rwanda journey is exempt or subject to the certificate rule. Check the current yellow-fever-risk list and Rwanda’s official entry information for your specific route.

Do airport transits count?

Potentially. CDC guidance says the full itinerary should be considered, including transfers through airports where a traveller may need to pass immigration, obtain accommodation during a long layover or otherwise leave the transit zone. This means a connection can matter even when Rwanda is not your first African arrival.

Before booking flights, list every country where you will land or transit. Ask the airline and the nearest officially designated yellow-fever vaccination centre whether your connection affects Rwanda’s entry requirement. The certificate should be recorded on the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis when proof is required.

Certificate timing, validity and medical exemptions

Rwanda’s Biomedical Centre states that a yellow-fever certificate is invalid when it is presented less than 10 days after vaccination, and that a traveller from an active-outbreak country may be quarantined until the certificate becomes valid. Plan the vaccination well before departure rather than arranging it immediately before a flight.

CDC guidance notes that countries may require an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis showing vaccination or a medical waiver. If yellow-fever vaccination is medically contraindicated, ask a qualified doctor about a waiver before travel and confirm that Rwanda and your airline will accept it. The research does not establish a universal Rwanda fee for vaccination, quarantine or vaccination on arrival; confirm any current fee on the official portal.

Rwanda’s Biomedical Centre says that travellers from an active-outbreak or known endemic country without a certificate may be vaccinated on arrival, with related quarantine or vaccination costs covered by the traveller. Do not use this as a substitute for arranging the correct documentation in advance.

Recommended vaccinations and when to arrange them

Book a travel-health appointment early enough for a clinician to review your routine immunisations, destination route and medical conditions. One Rwanda travel-health source advises planning vaccinations 6–8 weeks before departure, although the appropriate schedule varies by vaccine and patient.

Hepatitis A

CDC lists hepatitis A vaccination for unvaccinated travellers going to Rwanda and says it is recommended for unvaccinated travellers aged 1 year or older. Infants aged 6–11 months may also be vaccinated for travel, but that travel dose does not count toward the routine two-dose series. A clinician can explain whether a dose, series or alternative protection is appropriate for your age and circumstances.

Typhoid

CDC describes typhoid vaccination as recommended for many travellers to Rwanda, especially people staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities and rural areas. It is a risk-based decision rather than a stated universal entry requirement in the research. Food and water precautions remain important even after vaccination.

Routine immunisations

Ask your clinician to review the vaccinations in your personal record before a safari. The available research identifies routine boosters, including tetanus, diphtheria and polio, as relevant travel-health topics, but it does not provide a Rwanda-specific Indian schedule or a fixed booster deadline. Do not restart or repeat a vaccine series without medical advice.

Hepatitis B, rabies and other selective vaccines

Hepatitis B and rabies may be considered for some travellers, depending on likely blood exposure, medical treatment, animal contact, trip length and access to care. Discuss these vaccines if you are planning a longer stay, remote travel, trekking, work involving healthcare or close contact with animals.

For a gorilla trek, review your health plan before confirming permits and departure dates. SafariFind’s guide to planning a Rwanda gorilla safari around permits can help with the logistics, while your clinician should address fitness, medicines and infection risks.

Malaria in Rwanda: prevention and prophylaxis

Malaria is identified in the Rwanda travel-health guidance as a non-vaccine-preventable disease for which travellers should consider prevention. The correct prescription depends on your itinerary, duration, health conditions, current medicines and the clinician’s assessment of risk.

Arrange a medical consultation before departure if you may need prescription antimalarial medication. Do not choose a medicine based only on another traveller’s experience: contraindications and dosing can differ between individuals. The research supplied for this article does not establish one universal drug, dose or start-and-stop schedule for every traveller.

Reduce mosquito bites

• Use an effective insect repellent as directed on the product label.
• Wear clothing that reduces exposed skin, particularly during periods of mosquito activity.
• Use screened accommodation or a mosquito net where appropriate.
• Ask your clinician whether you need tablets as well as bite-avoidance measures; one does not automatically replace the other.

Seek medical attention promptly for fever or serious illness during the trip or after returning home, and tell the clinician that you have travelled to Rwanda. The research does not provide a single post-travel monitoring period, so follow medical advice based on your symptoms and itinerary.

Health documents and travel insurance

Carry your passport, vaccination record and, if applicable, your yellow-fever International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis in both paper and secure digital form. CDC states that travellers must comply with a country’s entry requirements by showing an ICVP with vaccination evidence or a medical waiver where required.

Keep a written list of prescription medicines, generic names, allergies, diagnoses and emergency contacts. If you have a medical condition, are pregnant, are immunocompromised or are travelling with a child, obtain personalised advice before vaccination or malaria-prophylaxis decisions. CDC specifically identifies additional hepatitis A considerations for travellers who are immunocompromised or have chronic medical conditions.

Travel insurance with medical treatment and evacuation cover is a sensible part of safari planning. The supplied research does not specify a Rwanda insurance mandate, coverage limit or premium, so confirm the policy wording rather than assuming that a standard policy covers trekking, remote-area transport or pre-existing conditions.

Visa and health rules are separate checks. Rwanda requires a tourist visa according to the U.S. State Department’s travel information. For passport-specific planning, see Rwanda visa requirements for Indian citizens in 2026.

Medication rules and what to pack

Pack enough regular medication for the trip and keep it in labelled original packaging. Carry it in your hand luggage where possible, together with the prescription or a doctor’s letter. These are preparation recommendations; the research supplied here does not provide a definitive list of medicines prohibited or controlled by Rwanda.

• Prescription medicines and a copy of the prescription.
• Yellow-fever certificate or medical waiver, if your route requires it.
• Personal first-aid supplies and any clinician-recommended malaria medication.
• Insect repellent and suitable clothing for reducing mosquito bites.
• Hand hygiene supplies and safe-food and safe-water precautions for reducing gastrointestinal illness.

Ask Rwanda’s diplomatic mission or the relevant official medicines authority about documentation for controlled medicines before departure. Do not bring a replacement drug or stop a prescribed treatment without medical advice.

Health facilities and emergencies in Rwanda

Plan healthcare access around your itinerary. A city hotel, Akagera wildlife safari park visit and mountain gorilla trek may involve different distances from medical services; confirm the arrangements with your operator before travel. You can compare safari packages on SafariFind, then ask each operator how it handles illness, evacuation and changes to activities.

Save your insurer’s assistance number, your tour operator’s emergency contact and the address of your accommodation offline. Rwanda Biomedical Centre lists emergency contact number 114 and the email address covid@rbc.gov.rw on its traveller information page. Confirm that these contacts remain appropriate for your specific emergency before relying on them.

If you become unwell, tell medical staff about your vaccination history, medicines, recent animal contact, mosquito exposure and travel route. Keep your health documents accessible, especially if you crossed a country with yellow-fever transmission risk.

Plan your Rwanda safari health checklist

• Check every country and airport in your itinerary for yellow-fever implications.
• Book a travel-health appointment several weeks before departure.
• Review hepatitis A, typhoid and routine vaccinations with a clinician.
• Ask whether malaria prophylaxis is appropriate for your route and medical history.
• Arrange an ICVP or medical waiver if Rwanda’s rules apply to your itinerary.
• Carry medicines, prescriptions, insurance details and vaccination records securely.
• Recheck Rwanda’s official requirements shortly before flying because health rules can change.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Indian citizens need a yellow fever vaccine for Rwanda?

Indian citizens need proof of yellow-fever vaccination if they are aged 1 year or older and arrive from a country with yellow-fever transmission risk or an active outbreak. Rwanda generally does not require the certificate for travellers arriving from non-endemic countries without an active outbreak, so check your complete itinerary rather than nationality alone.

Does a transit airport affect Rwanda’s yellow fever requirement?

Yes, a transit airport can affect the assessment. CDC says the full itinerary should be considered, including transfers involving immigration, accommodation or a long layover, so confirm the route with the airline and official authorities.

How long before Rwanda travel should I get the yellow fever vaccine?

Rwanda’s Biomedical Centre states that a yellow-fever certificate is invalid when presented less than 10 days after vaccination. Arrange it earlier and confirm the current rule before departure.

Is the yellow fever certificate valid for life?

The supplied official sources confirm the certificate requirement and its 10-day validity threshold, but they do not state a general lifetime-validity rule in the available research. Confirm the current certificate-validity position with an officially designated vaccination centre and Rwanda’s authorities.

What vaccines are recommended for Rwanda from India?

Hepatitis A and, for many travellers, typhoid are the principal travel vaccines identified in the research. Review routine immunisations and discuss hepatitis B or rabies if your activities or medical circumstances create additional risk.

Is hepatitis A required for Rwanda?

No entry requirement is identified for hepatitis A in the supplied research, but CDC recommends hepatitis A vaccination for unvaccinated travellers going to Rwanda. The advice can differ for infants, older adults and people with certain medical conditions.

Do I need typhoid vaccination for a Rwanda safari?

Typhoid vaccination is not identified as a universal Rwanda entry requirement, but CDC recommends considering it for many travellers, especially those visiting rural areas, smaller cities or friends and relatives. Ask a clinician whether it fits your food, water and accommodation plans.

Do I need malaria tablets for Rwanda?

You may need prescription malaria prophylaxis, but there is no single medicine or schedule that applies to every traveller. A clinician should assess your route, trip duration, health history and current medicines, alongside mosquito-bite prevention.

What health documents should Indian travellers carry to Rwanda?

Carry your vaccination record and, when required by your route, an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis or a medical waiver. Also keep prescriptions, medicine details, insurance information and emergency contacts accessible.

How much does a Rwanda yellow fever vaccination or quarantine cost?

The supplied research does not provide a reliable current fee. Rwanda’s Biomedical Centre says the traveller covers costs related to quarantine or vaccination on arrival in the circumstances it describes, so confirm the current fee on the official portal before travelling.

Do Indian citizens need a visa for Rwanda?

A visa is required according to the U.S. State Department’s Rwanda travel information. Check the current passport-specific process and conditions before booking flights.