Every few years, the Federal Government of Nigeria changes the policy of obtaining a yellow card in Nigeria. In the last six years, I’ve owned two yellow card certificates and I am about to get the third one. Two cards in six years don’t seem like that many but when you consider that these cards should last a minimum of 10 years, you realize that it is one too many.
I remember when I got my first card – you know, we always remember our firsts. She was so young and full of sunshine and hope; excited to see the world, excited to experience the menace of Nigerian immigration officers and the condescension of immigration officers abroad.
Sadly, she never got to experience any of these things. Barely two weeks after I had her, the Government had not only declared that she was invalid but had also declared that the vaccines could no longer be given in private hospitals. So, I had to get another card.
That short fan fiction brings us back to the reason for this post. It’s 2019 and Nigerian travellers are required to get a new (e)yellow card. But before I get into details of the process of obtaining one, I’ll like to elaborate more on this card and its importance.
What Exactly is a Yellow Card and Why is it Important?
Yellow (fever) cards or certificates are needed to show proof that you have received a vaccination against the disease. The vaccines are administered to prevent an outbreak and to protect travellers who may be exposed to infection in areas where the disease is prevalent.
Countries with Risk of Yellow Fever Transmission
AFRICA – Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Togo, Uganda.
AMERICAS – Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela
Source: WHO Yellow Fever Fact Sheet
Source: https://www.cdc.gov/yellowfever/
There is no treatment or cure for the disease at this time. However, you can prevent infection by getting vaccinated and avoiding mosquito bites.
How and Where to Get the New Yellow Card Certificate in Nigeria
The steps below detail the process of getting the new yellow card online;
- Start your online application by logging on to the Yellow Card Nigeria portal: https://yellowcardnigeria.com/
- Click on the ‘Register’
- Fill in your personal information
- Click “Pay Now” and generate a receipt
- Make a payment of ₦2,000 on the same page (or go to the bank with the RRR code provided) and print the payment confirmation
- Go to the Port Health Services Office closest to you with the printed documents and a copy of your passport biodata page
- A vaccine will be administered after your payment has been confirmed.
You would not need to take the vaccine again if you have done so before and it is still valid. When I went to get my second yellow card, I mentioned that I had already been vaccinated, so I wasn’t given another one. I just paid for the card.
Where is the Port Health Office in Lagos Located?
The Port Health office in Lagos is located at Airport Rd, Mafoluku Oshodi, Lagos, right by the toll gate on your way to the International airport. Look out for a yellow-coloured building to your left (before the toll) if you’re coming from Ikeja.
Countries that Require Yellow Fever Vaccination (and Cards) for Entry
As a rule, my yellow card accompanies my international passport everywhere it goes. That being said, some countries don’t need proof of vaccination. You can find a list of countries that do here.
Final Thoughts…
From April 1st, 2019, all old yellow cards will become invalid. Personally, I think this would be a source of ruckus and more extortion, especially at the land borders. I can imagine the officials telling you that there is a different charge for ‘new entries.’ It would be a miracle if travel went smoothly after this change.
Edit #1:
- If you have taken the vaccine in the past, you don’t need to take it again. Simply go to the Port Health office with the old card and you will be fine.
- Children below 10 years have been immunized at 9 months. There’s no need to take another vaccine or bring them at all.
- Pregnant women and nursing mothers are exempted from taking the vaccine
- Adults above 60 years are also exempted from taking the vaccine
- If you have registered on the website, you will be provided with a RRR code. You can use that code to pay at any bank or through your bank’s mobile/internet banking app.
- Apart from the Port Health office at Ikeja, you can get the vaccine and yellow card at Tincan Island Sea Port, Apapa Sea Port, Idiroko border, Seme border and all Federal Secretariats.
Edit #2: Update March 2020
- Emirates Airlines now requires all international travellers flying from and into Nigeria to have a yellow card certificate
- Read the Nigerian CDC Site FAQ to find out if you are exempted from taking the vaccine
I’d like to hear your thoughts… Have you travelled recently with the new yellow card? Was it easy getting and travelling with one?
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Hi amarachi, pls do the port health service open on Sunday.Thanks
Hi Abu, I know they open on Saturdays but not sure about Sundays.
Hello, your site was really helpful. Aside the payment of 2000 online, is there any payment at the hospital again? What is the vaccination experience like? do i have to go the hospital really early (say 6am or 7am) because of crowd? i Just want to be prepared when i get there. Also what time are they active on weekends?
Hi Roseline, I’m happy you found my blog helpful. There’s no other payment to be made and the vaccination is quick and easy, as far as you’re there early and you’ve had something to eat.
You’re going to the Port Health office (not a hospital) and yes, you should try to go early. I went at about 6am (even though they don’t resume until 8), I was number #14 or so. Don’t know what the crowd is like these days but the earlier, the better.
Hi Amarachi,
I am German and plan to travel to Nigeria in about 6 weeks. I got the yellow fever vaccination already a few weeks ago here in Germany and I got a vaccination certificate. For me it is not clear if I need such a yellow ecard to travel to Nigeria or if the vaccination certificate is sufficient. And is there a possibility to get this yellow ecard for a vaccination some weeks ago?
Thanks a lot for your advice!
Regards, Silke
Hi Silke, your vaccination certificate received in Germany should be sufficient.(If it is a small yellow or mustard colored certificate, then we’re most likely referring to the same card). The eyellow card referred to in this article is obtained in Nigeria.
Hi Amarachi! I just wanted to say thank you. I got my yellow fever vaccine back home in Botswana and wasn’t sure if I need to get a new one here in Nigeria. Your replies to other commenters has basically confirmed that since it wasn’t issued in Nigeria I don’t need to get a new one. So thank you very much and God bless you.
You’re welcome, Rachel!
I reside in the UK. I’ll travelling to Nigeria from the UK this Saturday. A friend just told me that I’ll need a Yellow Card. Please advice.
Hi Oladayo, yes it is compulsory to have the yellow fever certificate in order to visit Nigeria.
You may be prevented from boarding if you don’t have it (if you read through the comments, you’ll see an example of this)
Hi Amarachi. First, thanks for this post. It’s been immensely helpful.
Second, on the forms application page, do I really need 2 addresses? Because it’s strangely feels like the 2nd column should be a continuation for the first.
Help please…
You’re welcome, glad to hear that. You need just one address. There might be a limit on the first text box. The second is for if that happens.
Hello, I lost my card but I have a copy and my passport (not Nigerian) and my Resident Card with me. What do I have to do to obtain a replacement or New Card? Please advise, thank you.
Hi Alejandro, you need to go to the Port Health office again. Since you have a copy of the old card, you can just show them that – along with the payment you’ve made for the new card.
Hello, I am planning to travel on the 22nd, but I’ll just be getting the new card on the 20th. Who can I confirm from if I’d be allowed to travel with my old card?
Hi, you would be allowed to travel with it. I just did last week. I went to the airport with both cards. Presented the new e-yellow card but the lady told me she couldn’t let me travel with it since it was gotten 2 days before my trip. I showed her the old one and she let me travel with it. She even asked me to always present that first.
Okay noted.
Thank you.
Am travelling 22 Nov, 2021, and i want to go for it on Sunday hope is not to late.
Hello, your yellow card should be valid for at least 10 days before your travel. If you’re taking it a day before your trip, you’re probably going to have issues at the airport. If you have taken the vaccine before, you should travel with your old card in addition to the new one or ask if it is possible to backdate the new card.
Please I want to know if the column for state means your state of origin or state of resident. Thanks
I put in my state of residence
Please do they open on weekends. Saturday to be precise. Thanks
Yes, they do.
Good day,I was making research online and got to this post.
Please I want to know if it’s advisable for my 5 year old Son and my 6 month pregnant wife can get the vaccination ,because we will be embarking on a trip soon.
Also have been trying to register on the yellow card website for almost a week now ,but to no avail ,the page doesn’t redirect to the payment page,what other option do I have if i keep trying and get the payment done successfully,where around Sango Otta or Abeokuta can i get the vaccination and the card?
The airport health authority you talking about,is it the building around the toll gate entrance of the Airport ?
I will appreciate a quick reply
Children below 10 years have been immunized at 9 months. There’s no need to take another vaccine or bring them at all. Go to the Port Health office (yes, the one around the toll gate) with their immunization card and you can get the yellow card. Also, pregnant women are not expected to take the vaccine.
If you have registered on the website, you will provided with a RRR code. You can use that to pay at any bank or through your bank’s mobile/internet banking app. Apart from the Port Health office at Ikeja, you can get the vaccine and yellow card at Tincan Island Sea Port, Apapa Sea Port, Idiroko border, Seme border and all Federal Secretariats.
Thank you Amarachi for the reply ,concerning my child immunization,my son was not born in Nigeria,he was born in Cairo Egypt,though he received all his necessary immunization there back then.
My concern are,his Egyptian immunization card is fully written in Arabic,i wonder how our health authority can read this,however we have all his original genuine document Such as his birth certificate in ENGLISH stating that he was born in Egypt which has our Nigerian embassy in Cairo notarization stamps,so would they be able to process his card without him being vaccinated again with this above circumstances
Finally I have been able to make the payment for three of us online successfully,I should be ready to visit the airport health authority by 29th of this month ,I hope they won’t tell me it been a while i made the payment ?
It won’t matter how long since you made the payment for the card. As long as you have the receipt, you would be fine. I also think you’ll be fine with your child’s immunization card. Just ensure it was in fact given to him (for your own peace of mind). I don’t think they argue with you whether or not it was given.
Also confirm if the child got an OPV. In Nigeria, children are administered this in schools and elsewhere, I’m not sure if it’s the same thing in Egypt.
Thanks once again Amarachi for your precious replies.
OPV is mandatory in Egypt ,so my child got all required vaccines ,I think am all clear now. By 29th I will go to the Airport health authority ,I shall give a feedback here on whatever the result I get from there.
Have a wonderful weekend
Regards !
Thanks for the quite helpful post. However, I live in Abeokuta, must I travel to Lagos to get the card, after paying online? Thanks, again.
Hello IK.. sorry I don’t have a lot of information about the Port Health service in Abeokuta. I know you can get the vaccine and card at all land borders, so if you’re close to one, that would be great.
Hi Amarachi, thanks for sharing this information with us. I’d like to know how long it takes for me to be scheduled for an appointment after making the payment? Also, can I register and delay my payment till when I am ready to go for the appointment? Looking forward to your response
Hi Lola,
Yes, there’s an option to register and pay later. You can go to the Port Health office anytime after registration