Destination guide
Travel vaccines for Ghana
Ghana asks every visitor for proof of Yellow Fever vaccination — you upload it with your e-Visa and show it on arrival. Here's what UK travellers are advised, including the certificate we issue and malaria tablets.
Overview
What vaccinations do I need for Ghana?
For Ghana, a Yellow Fever vaccination is required of all travellers aged 9 months and over, and the certificate must be uploaded with your e-Visa application. Most travellers are also advised Hepatitis A, Typhoid, and an up-to-date Tetanus, Diphtheria and Polio booster. Depending on your trip, some travellers add Hepatitis B, Rabies, Meningitis (ACWY) or Cholera. Malaria risk is high countrywide all year, so antimalarial tablets are advised too.
This is a general guide based on UK travel-health advice from TravelHealthPro (NaTHNaC) and NHS Fit for Travel; your exact needs are confirmed at a short consultation at our Timperley clinic near Manchester, where we also issue the official Yellow Fever certificate ready for your visa application.
Plan ahead
Get your certificate before you apply for the visa
Because Ghana's e-Visa needs your Yellow Fever certificate uploaded, get vaccinated early — the certificate only becomes valid 10 days after the jab. Malaria tablets may also need starting before you go. Aim for 4–6 weeks ahead, but come in anyway if you're travelling sooner.
Recommended vaccinations
Vaccines commonly advised for Ghana
Grouped by how often they're recommended. Your personal list is confirmed at consultation. Vaccine guidance is based on public health information from TravelHealthPro (UKHSA/NaTHNaC) and NHS Fit for Travel.
Yellow Fever (including certificate)
Required
Required from all travellers aged 9 months and over — and the certificate must be uploaded with your Ghana e-Visa application. We issue the official certificate, valid for life.
Hepatitis A
Most travellers
Spread through contaminated food and water — advised for nearly all trips.
Typhoid
Most travellers
Recommended for most travellers, especially those visiting friends and relatives or staying longer.
Tetanus, Diphtheria & Polio
Most travellers
A combined booster is recommended if you're not up to date.
Hepatitis B
Some travellers
Advised for longer stays, healthcare work, or possible medical/dental treatment — can be considered for all travellers.
Rabies
Some travellers
Often advised — rabies is present and prompt treatment can be hard to reach, especially on longer or rural trips.
Meningitis (ACWY)
Some travellers
Ghana sits in the African meningitis belt — advised for longer stays, backpackers and those in close contact with the local population.
Cholera
Some travellers
Considered for higher-risk trips, relief work, or where sanitation is poor.
Chikungunya
Some travellers
Spread by daytime-biting Aedes mosquitoes; a newer vaccine may suit some travellers alongside strict bite avoidance.
Dengue
Some travellers
Dengue occurs in Ghana. The dengue vaccine may be considered for travellers aged 4 and over who have had a previous, laboratory-confirmed dengue infection — bite avoidance remains essential for everyone.
Measles (MMR)
Some travellers
Make sure you have had two documented doses of MMR, as measles still circulates in many regions.
Tuberculosis
Some travellers
BCG is usually only relevant for longer stays or close community contact, typically younger travellers who have not had it before.
Entry rules — separate from your jabs
Yellow fever certificate: what Ghana requires
A yellow fever certificate requirement is a legal condition of entry — it is not the same thing as the vaccine being recommended for your health. The recommendation (when there is one) appears in the vaccine list above; the entry rule is below.
Ghana requires a yellow fever certificate from ALL arrivals
Every traveller aged 9 months or older must show a valid International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) — or a medical exemption letter — to enter Ghana, whichever country they arrive from. The certificate becomes valid 10 days after vaccination, so plan ahead.
Separately, yellow fever transmission does occur in Ghana — so the vaccine itself may be advised for your health; see the vaccine list above and we'll confirm at your consultation.
Yellow Fever & your visa
Yellow Fever certificate for your Ghana visa
Ghana requires proof of Yellow Fever vaccination from every traveller aged 9 months and over — and the e-Visa application won't go through without a scanned copy of your certificate uploaded. It's also checked at the border on arrival. As a registered Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre, we vaccinate you and issue the official ICVP certificate in one visit, ready for your visa application.
- Required from all travellers aged 9 months and over
- Must be uploaded with your Ghana e-Visa — sort it before you apply
- Single dose, valid for life; certificate valid 10 days after vaccination
- We're a registered Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre and issue the official certificate
Malaria & mosquitoes
Malaria in Ghana
Malaria risk is high throughout Ghana, in all areas, all year round — including cities such as Accra and Kumasi. Antimalarial tablets are recommended for essentially every trip, so we'll advise the most suitable option for your itinerary and supply it on the day.
- High risk countrywide, all year — tablets advised for all travellers
- Use repellent, cover up after dusk, and sleep under a treated net
- Seek urgent medical help for any fever during or after your trip
FAQ
Ghana travel vaccines — FAQs
Getting ready for Ghana?
Book a quick consultation at our Timperley clinic near Manchester and we'll sort your Yellow Fever certificate for your visa, vaccinations and malaria tablets for your trip.