Public Health Advisory: Travel Health Precautions and Yellow Fever Vaccination Requirements

Posted On: May 5, 2026

In view of the upcoming school holiday travel season, the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) reminds schools, staff, and students—especially those involved in overseas school trips—to observe appropriate health precautions when travelling. These measures help reduce the risk of infectious diseases contracted overseas. Schools are also reminded of Singapore’s yellow fever vaccination entry requirements for incoming travellers from affected countries.

Pre-travel preparation

Staff and students are advised to consult a travel health clinic or doctor four to six weeks before departure for a health risk assessment. This allows sufficient time to receive recommended vaccinations and preventive medications based on travel plans and medical history.

Travellers should also ensure that routine vaccinations and boosters under the National Childhood Immunisation Schedule or National Adult Immunisation Schedule are up to date.

Health precautions during travel

Common travel-related illnesses include acute respiratory infections, diarrhoeal diseases, and mosquito-borne infections.

To reduce risk, travellers should:

Maintain good personal hygiene and wash hands frequently, using hand sanitiser when necessary
Wear masks in crowded or enclosed settings
Eat only fully cooked food and drink bottled or properly boiled water
Avoid food and drinks from unsafe or unhygienic sources, including street food where hygiene is uncertain
Use insect repellent containing DEET, Picaridin, or IR3535 to prevent mosquito bites

After returning to Singapore

Returning travellers who feel unwell should seek medical attention promptly and wear a surgical mask to reduce the risk of transmission.

They should inform healthcare providers of their recent travel history, including destinations, activities, and any possible exposures such as contact with sick individuals, animals, insect bites, environmental sources, or contaminated food or water.

Yellow fever vaccination requirements

Travellers entering Singapore, including residents, who have recently visited countries with risk of yellow fever transmission within six days prior to arrival, must present a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate upon entry.

This requirement applies to:

All affected countries listed in the Annex
Any area, region, or city within those countries
Travellers who had airport transit exceeding 12 hours

Travellers without a valid certificate may be quarantined for six days under the Infectious Diseases Act at a designated government facility.

Schools organising overseas trips or hosting visitors from affected countries should take note of these requirements to avoid disruption to travel or exchange programmes.

Additional information

For more guidance on staying safe while travelling, please visit the CDA website:
https://www.cda.gov.sg/public/health-and-safety-abroad/

Information on yellow fever requirements is available at:
https://www.cda.gov.sg/public/diseases/yellow-fever

Read more here: ADVISORY TO PEIS ON TRAVEL HEALTH

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