Yellow Card, COVID & Travel Health Guides

Since the WHO International Health Regulations were amended in 2016, a single dose of yellow fever vaccine provides life-long protection, and the yellow card issued against that dose is valid for the rest of your life. A handful of destinations still ask for a stamp within ten years out of habit. The card itself does not expire as long as it was correctly issued by an accredited Port Health centre.

No. Yellow card is only required for travel into countries with yellow fever risk, and for travel between yellow-fever-endemic countries and certain non-endemic destinations that screen on arrival. Europe, North America and most of Asia do not demand a yellow card from a Nigerian traveller. Always cross-check the destination embassy site and the WHO IHR list before booking.

Yellow cards in Nigeria are issued only by NPHCDA Port Health Services, at accredited centres in major airports and a network of designated facilities across the country. Genuine appointments are booked through portal.health.gov.ng or at the Port Health counter. Anyone selling a yellow card on the side of an airport or through WhatsApp is selling a fake.

NPHCDA publishes the official Port Health fee, which is modest compared with what some travellers end up paying. Inflated fees at the counter usually combine the legitimate vaccination cost with arbitrary 'expediting' or 'card printing' charges. Always ask for a receipt that matches the published Port Health rate, and refuse any extras that are not on the official schedule. (TODO: verify current published fee against latest NPHCDA notice.)

No. The yellow card is the documentary record that you actually received the yellow fever vaccine. A card without an underlying vaccination is fraudulent, and any system that prints one without administering the shot is selling a fake. Border officers in destination countries have been known to test cards against the issuing centre, and a fraudulent card can mean refused entry and a travel ban.

Yes, with one important caveat. Yellow fever vaccination is recommended from nine months of age, so very young infants are usually exempt and travel with a doctor's note instead of a card. Children old enough to be vaccinated need their own yellow card, tied to their own passport. The card is not shared with a parent.

Yes. The NPHCDA system that issued COVID-19 certificates is still operational and accessible through portal.health.gov.ng. If your record is missing, retrieval works through the vaccination centre that captured your dose, with your phone number and NIN. A small number of destinations still ask for the certificate at the gate, especially for medical staff and long-stay students.

No. NigeriaHowTo is independent and never issues yellow cards, COVID certificates or embassy medical reports. Yellow cards are issued by NPHCDA Port Health Services. Medical reports come from accredited Nigerian teaching hospitals. Anyone messaging you offering to deliver either through NigeriaHowTo is not us.