Rwanda Vaccinations & Health Rules for New Zealanders 2026

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

For New Zealanders travelling to Rwanda in 2026, a yellow fever certificate is generally not required when arriving from a country without yellow-fever transmission risk. Rwanda does require proof from travellers aged 1 year and over arriving from a yellow-fever-risk country, and qualifying transit can affect the requirement. Routine vaccinations should be up to date, while typhoid vaccination is recommended by the CDC for most travellers, particularly those visiting rural areas or smaller cities.

Health requirements depend on your complete itinerary, not only your passport. Before booking a gorilla trek or safari, arrange personalised advice from a New Zealand travel-health clinic and check the latest Rwanda Biomedical Centre, CDC and New Zealand SafeTravel information.

Quick answer: required vs recommended vaccines for Rwanda

Vaccine or health measure	Rwanda entry position or travel advice
Yellow fever	Required for travellers aged 1 year and over arriving from a country with yellow-fever transmission risk. It is generally not required when arriving from a non-endemic country, but routing and transit points matter.
Routine vaccines	Be up to date before travel. CDC examples include chickenpox, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, influenza, measles-mumps-rubella, polio and shingles vaccines.
Typhoid	Recommended for most travellers, especially people staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities and rural areas.
COVID-19	CDC advises eligible travellers to remain up to date with COVID-19 vaccination. The supplied Rwanda information about proof of full vaccination applies to Rwandan travellers departing by air, not clearly to New Zealand visitors entering Rwanda.
Other vaccines and medicines	Discuss your itinerary, activities, medical history and length of stay with a travel-health professional. The right advice can differ for a city stay, rural travel, animal contact or trekking.

For a Rwanda-only itinerary from New Zealand, the key entry question is usually whether your route includes a yellow-fever-risk country or a transit that triggers an immigration checkpoint. Separately, travellers should plan for mosquito-borne disease, food and water risks and limited medical facilities.

Yellow fever certificate rules for New Zealand travellers

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

The CDC gives the same practical distinction: vaccination is required for travellers aged 1 year and over travelling from countries with risk of yellow fever virus transmission, while it is not required for people travelling directly from the United States. Because that CDC example is specific to the United States, New Zealanders should apply the underlying route-based rule to their own itinerary rather than assume that nationality alone determines the result.

Does transit through another country count?

Check every stop on your itinerary, including long airport connections. CDC guidance says the full travel itinerary should be considered because transfers through airports in yellow-fever-risk countries may matter if the traveller must pass through immigration, for example to obtain accommodation during a long layover. Ask your airline and a designated yellow fever vaccination centre to assess the exact routing before departure.

If vaccination is required, carry the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) issued by an authorised vaccination provider. Rwanda Biomedical Centre says a certificate less than 10 days after vaccination is invalid for the relevant entry process; it also says an unvaccinated traveller arriving from an active-transmission or endemic country may be vaccinated on arrival, with quarantine or vaccination costs paid by the traveller. Do not rely on this as a travel plan: confirm current procedures with the airline and Rwandan authorities before flying.

NaTHNaC states that, under the International Health Regulations, a yellow fever certificate is valid for the vaccinated person for life and cannot be rejected merely because more than 10 years have passed since vaccination became effective on the certificate. Keep the original certificate with your passport and confirm that any medical waiver will be accepted before relying on it.

Recommended vaccinations and timing

Routine vaccines

CDC recommends checking routine vaccination status before every trip. Its Rwanda guidance lists chickenpox, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, influenza, measles-mumps-rubella, polio and shingles among the routine vaccines travellers may need to review. Ask a New Zealand clinician to check your childhood and adult records, including whether a catch-up dose or booster is appropriate for your age and health history.

Typhoid

Typhoid is recommended by the CDC for most travellers to Rwanda, with particular emphasis on people visiting smaller cities or rural areas and those staying with friends or relatives. Discuss vaccination even if your itinerary is a high-end lodge circuit: food and water exposure can vary, and the decision depends on your health, activities and eating arrangements.

Other destination vaccines

Do not treat an online checklist as a personal prescription. Canadian government travel advice says travellers should discuss pre-travel vaccines and medications with a travel-health provider based on their plans, and recommends making an appointment preferably 6 weeks before travel. Even when departure is closer, the same source says an appointment remains worthwhile.

Bring your vaccination history and explain whether you will trek, camp, visit rural communities, handle animals, stay for an extended period or continue to another African country. If your plans include a gorilla trek, read this guide alongside SafariFind’s Rwanda gorilla safari planning advice; permits and health preparation are separate issues, but both should be considered before confirming dates.

Malaria: risk areas, prophylaxis and prevention

Malaria prevention should be part of your Rwanda consultation. The CDC’s Rwanda traveller guidance includes malaria prevention information, but the supplied research does not provide a current region-by-region risk map or identify one universally suitable antimalarial medicine. A clinician should therefore choose any prophylaxis after reviewing your route, dates, accommodation, pregnancy status, other medicines and medical history.

Do not start, stop or share prescription antimalarial medicine without medical advice. Ask when to begin and end any prescribed course, what side effects require attention and what to do if fever develops during or after the trip. The CDC’s country page should be checked again shortly before departure because prevention guidance can change.

Mosquito-bite prevention remains important. Travel-health advice recommends protecting yourself from mosquito bites, and NaTHNaC specifically advises avoiding bites at all times in relation to yellow fever. Use the repellent and clothing strategy recommended by your clinician, take particular care during outdoor activities and follow accommodation guidance about screens or mosquito nets.

Rwanda’s low potential for yellow fever exposure does not remove the need to consider mosquito protection or malaria prevention. If your itinerary also includes another country, assess that country’s entry rules and disease risks separately before travelling.

Health documents and insurance

Carry your passport, vaccination record, any required ICVP, prescriptions and a written list of regular medicines. If you need a yellow fever certificate, make sure the name and passport details are consistent and keep the document accessible during transit.

New Zealand’s SafeTravel advice says medical facilities are very limited throughout Rwanda and recommends comprehensive travel insurance that includes medical evacuation by air. Confirm that your policy covers trekking, safari activities, emergency treatment, hospitalisation and evacuation, and check any exclusions connected with pre-existing conditions or following official travel advice.

Health documentation is separate from immigration permission. If you are also checking entry permission, use SafariFind’s guide to whether New Zealander citizens need a Rwanda visa; do not assume a visa or an approved safari booking replaces health documents.

Rwanda’s public-health requirements can change during an outbreak. Rwanda Biomedical Centre’s traveller page includes instructions for people arriving from an active yellow-fever-transmission outbreak country, including health screening, self-reporting and possible quarantine. New Zealand’s SafeTravel page also reported potential enhanced screening and entry restrictions for travellers who had visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo or Uganda in connection with a 2026 Ebola public-health emergency. Check both sources close to departure if your route includes those countries.

Medication rules and what to pack

Keep essential prescription medicines in their original labelled packaging and carry enough for the planned trip plus a reasonable contingency. Ask your prescriber whether a letter describing the medicine, dose and medical condition is appropriate, particularly for controlled medicines or injectable treatments. Confirm Rwanda’s current import rules with an official Rwandan authority or your airline before departure; the supplied research does not establish a complete medication-by-medication list.

A practical health kit can include your prescribed medicines, copies of prescriptions, routine first-aid supplies, hand-cleaning products, insect repellent and any clinician-recommended malaria or diarrhoea treatment. These are preparation suggestions rather than a substitute for medical advice. Avoid buying prescription medicines locally unless a qualified healthcare professional confirms the product and dose.

Protect food and water safety according to your clinician’s advice, especially when travelling outside Kigali or visiting rural areas. Typhoid vaccination is not a replacement for careful food and water choices, and the CDC particularly highlights rural and smaller-city travel when recommending it.

Health facilities and emergencies in Rwanda

Plan on the assumption that specialist care may not be available where you are staying. SafeTravel describes Rwanda’s medical facilities as very limited and specifically recommends insurance with air medical evacuation. Before a remote safari or trek, save your insurer’s emergency number, tell your operator about relevant medical conditions and confirm how evacuation decisions are made.

Rwanda Biomedical Centre lists 114 and covid@rbc.gov.rw as emergency contact information on its traveller page. Use the current contact details published by Rwanda Biomedical Centre for public-health questions and verify local emergency arrangements with your accommodation or safari operator on arrival.

Fever, severe diarrhoea, breathing difficulty, dehydration, confusion or a serious bite or injury warrants prompt medical assessment. If you become unwell after returning to New Zealand, tell the clinician where you travelled, the dates and whether you used malaria prophylaxis; this helps them assess travel-related illness.

Once your health plan is clear, you can compare safari packages on SafariFind, including wildlife-focused itineraries and gorilla experiences. Travellers considering Akagera can also review SafariFind’s guide to Rwanda safari animals in Akagera while checking whether the planned activities change their health consultation.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Do New Zealander citizens need a yellow fever certificate for Rwanda?

Not usually when arriving from a country without yellow-fever transmission risk, but Rwanda requires proof for travellers aged 1 year and over arriving from a risk country. Your transit history matters, so check every airport on the itinerary with official authorities and the airline.

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

Yes, it can. CDC guidance says the complete itinerary should be considered where a transfer through a yellow-fever-risk country involves passing immigration, including during a long layover.

How long before Rwanda travel should I get vaccinations?

Arrange a travel-health appointment preferably 6 weeks before departure. The exact timing depends on the vaccine, your records and your itinerary; a yellow fever certificate is not valid for the relevant entry process until 10 days after vaccination.

Is typhoid vaccination recommended for Rwanda?

Yes, the CDC recommends typhoid vaccination for most travellers to Rwanda, especially those visiting smaller cities or rural areas or staying with friends and relatives.

Do I need malaria tablets for a Rwanda safari?

Ask a travel-health professional to assess whether malaria prophylaxis is appropriate for your exact itinerary. The suitable medicine and schedule depend on route, health history, dates and other medicines, so this research does not support one universal regimen.

What routine vaccines should New Zealanders check before Rwanda?

Check routine protection including chickenpox, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, influenza, measles-mumps-rubella, polio and shingles vaccines. A clinician should review your records and recommend any catch-up doses or boosters.

Is travel insurance with medical evacuation recommended for Rwanda?

Yes. New Zealand SafeTravel recommends comprehensive insurance that includes medical evacuation by air because medical facilities are very limited throughout Rwanda. Check that safari, trekking and pre-existing-condition terms are covered.

What health documents should I carry to Rwanda?

Carry your vaccination records, any required International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis, prescriptions and insurance emergency details. If your route includes a yellow-fever-risk country, confirm the certificate requirement before departure.

Are COVID-19 vaccination certificates required for New Zealanders entering Rwanda?

The supplied Rwanda Biomedical Centre information does not establish a general COVID-19 certificate requirement for New Zealand visitors entering Rwanda. CDC advises eligible travellers to remain up to date with COVID-19 vaccination, so check current official entry advice before flying.

What should I do if I become sick in Rwanda?

Seek prompt medical help and contact your insurer if evacuation or specialist treatment may be needed. SafeTravel warns that medical facilities are very limited, and Rwanda Biomedical Centre lists 114 as traveller-related emergency contact information.