Brazil waives ICVP for Spain arrivals but keeps 90 day rule for risk zones
| Spain arrivals | 0 days |
|---|---|
| High-risk zone arrivals | 90 days |
Travelers flying direct from Spain to Brazil don't need a yellow fever vaccination certificate at the border, Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed in guidance current to July 6, 2026.
What happens at the Brazilian border
Brazilian immigration checks passports and visa status on arrival but doesn't ask for proof of yellow fever vaccination from arrivals coming out of Spain or most of Europe. Brazil hasn't required a general yellow fever certificate from foreign travelers since 2008, a position the foreign ministry and ANVISA both restate in documents updated this year.
The International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) only gets checked if a traveler has been in or transited through, a designated yellow fever risk country in the 90 days before arrival. Brazil's list includes Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, Angola, Gabon, Liberia, Sudan and Nigeria, among others. Spain isn't on it.
Who still needs the certificate
The 90-day rule catches more travelers than it looks. A digital nomad hopping Lima to Madrid to São Paulo within three months of leaving Peru will be asked for the ICVP at check-in or on landing, even if the final leg departs from Spain. Long airport transits in listed countries, generally 12 hours or more, can also trigger the requirement.
Anyone who does need it should get vaccinated at least 10 days before arrival at an authorized center and carry the yellow ICVP booklet with the vaccine batch, date and official stamp. A single dose is treated as lifelong protection under current WHO rules, so boosters aren't required.
What to prepare anyway
Skipping the vaccine is fine for entry, but it's worth reconsidering for the trip itself. Brazil's Ministry of Health recommends yellow fever vaccination for travelers heading to the Amazon, Pantanal, Iguaçu Falls and parts of Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo state. Spain's health ministry echoes that advice for anyone venturing beyond the coastal cities.
The certificate also matters on the way out. Onward travel from Brazil into Bolivia, Peru or other neighbors often does require the ICVP, so nomads planning a multi-country loop through South America should get the vaccine before leaving home rather than scrambling for a clinic mid-trip. The full list of regional entry points sits in the Brazil country guide.
Frequently asked questions
Do travelers arriving directly from Spain need a yellow fever certificate for Brazil?
When does Brazil require the ICVP for yellow fever?
Which countries can trigger Brazil's yellow fever certificate rule?
Can a long airport transit in a risk country trigger the yellow fever requirement for Brazil?
How long before arrival should I get the yellow fever vaccine if I need it for Brazil?
Does Brazil recommend yellow fever vaccination for travel inside the country?
Is the yellow fever vaccine boostered for Brazil travel?
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