Health records for international travel from India: what documents you actually need
- Seht Health Team
- Jul 8
- 5 min read
Most Indian travellers bring their passport and visa and think about health documents only when the airline check-in agent asks for one. Here is the complete list of what to prepare, destination by destination.
Health records for international travel from India fall into two categories: documents required by destination countries (vaccination certificates, pre-travel medical clearance) and documents that are not required but that become critically important if you fall ill abroad. Most travellers prepare the first category reluctantly and the second category not at all. This guide covers both.
For managing your medical history in one organised place for travel, read: request medical records from hospital India (https://www.seht.in/post/request-medical-records-hospital-india-legal-right)
What you’ll learn: • Which countries require which vaccination certificates for Indian travellers • What to carry if you have a chronic condition or take regular medication • How to link your CoWIN certificate to your passport for international use • What health documents protect you if you fall ill abroad • How Seht organises your travel health folder in one profile |
Documents required by destination countries
Yellow Fever vaccination certificate (most common hard requirement)
Yellow Fever vaccination is a mandatory entry requirement for Indian travellers visiting countries in sub-Saharan Africa and South America, and for travellers arriving from yellow-fever-endemic countries into many others. The International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) the yellow card is the only accepted document. Digital copies are generally not accepted for Yellow Fever; the original yellow card issued at an authorised Yellow Fever vaccination centre is required.
Authorised Yellow Fever vaccination centres in India: all major government medical colleges and hospitals (AIIMS, Safdarjung, RML), and designated district hospitals. Cost: approximately ₹300-400 at government centres. The certificate is valid from 10 days after vaccination and is lifelong for most vaccines administered after 2016.
CoWIN COVID-19 vaccination certificate for travel
Most countries no longer require COVID-19 vaccination certificates for entry as of mid-2026. However, some require proof of vaccination for specific visas (including some student and long-term work visas), and cruise lines and some tour operators may still require it. The CoWIN certificate is available at cowin.gov.in and through the Aarogya Setu app. For international travel, link your passport number to your CoWIN certificate (via the Raise an Issue Correction in Certificate function on cowin.gov.in) so that the passport number appears on the certificate.
Destination region | Vaccination required | Recommended to carry even if not required |
Sub-Saharan Africa | Yellow Fever (mandatory, yellow card) | Typhoid, Hep A, Malaria prophylaxis documentation |
South America | Yellow Fever (mandatory for most countries) | Typhoid, Hep A |
South-East Asia (Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, etc.) | Generally none mandatory | Typhoid, Hep A, Japanese Encephalitis for rural areas |
UK, Europe, USA, Canada, Australia | Generally none mandatory for tourism | COVID-19 certificate may be needed for some student/work visas |
Middle East (UAE, Saudi Arabia) | Generally none; Haj/Umrah has specific requirements | Meningitis (mandatory for Haj); COVID certificate for some visa types |
Neighbouring countries (Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh) | Generally none | Typhoid, routine vaccinations up to date |
In simple terms: Yellow Fever is the one vaccination certificate that can physically prevent you from boarding a plane or entering a country it is enforced at airports, not just on visa forms. All other vaccination certificates are recommended but rarely checked at entry. The more important health documents for most travellers are the ones that protect you if you fall ill abroad, not the ones required at the border. |
What to carry if you have a chronic condition or take regular medication
This is the category most travellers underestimate. A tourist with no medical conditions needs very few health documents. A traveller with diabetes, a heart condition, or epilepsy who is carrying controlled medications needs significantly more preparation.
A doctor’s letter on letterhead confirming the diagnosis and the need for each medication, including controlled substances (essential for carrying insulin, opioid-based pain medication, benzodiazepines, or any Schedule H1 drug across international borders)
A current prescription in English for all medications being carried some countries require this as customs documentation
Medications in original pharmacy packaging with the label intact loose pills in unmarked containers are a customs risk in many countries
Emergency health summary in English blood group, allergies, current conditions, and medications formatted to be immediately readable by foreign emergency medical personnel. Seht’s emergency health card, available in English, is exactly this document.
Travel insurance documentation that includes medical repatriation cover not just the standard travel insurance, but specifically coverage for emergency medical care abroad and, if needed, medical evacuation back to India
How to link your CoWIN certificate to your passport
Go to cowin.gov.in and log in with your registered mobile number
Click on ‘Raise an Issue’
Select ‘Correction in Certificate’ and choose the person whose details to update
Enter your passport number exactly as it appears on the passport this can only be done once, so verify carefully
Download the updated certificate the passport number now appears on the certificate
Aarogya Setu also enables a one-time name change to match the certificate name to the passport name important if there is any spelling variation. This is available through the app settings.
For sharing these records with any doctor abroad, read: Sharing health records with a specialist in India: what to send, how to send it (https://www.seht.in/post/sharing-health-records-specialist-india)
When you need more than documents medical clearance for travel
Get a formal medical clearance certificate from your GP or specialist before travelling if: ⚠ You have had a cardiac event, surgery, or hospitalisation in the past 3 months ⚠ You are more than 28 weeks pregnant most airlines have specific policies on this ⚠ You have a condition that may require in-flight medical attention oxygen requirements, etc. ⚠ You are travelling immediately post-surgery particularly relevant for deep-vein thrombosis risk on long-haul flights |
Emergency: If you fall seriously ill abroad, call the local emergency number, then contact the Indian Embassy or Consulate in that country they maintain lists of Indian-speaking doctors and can assist with medical repatriation. The Seht emergency health card in English can be shared with foreign emergency teams via WhatsApp.
FAQs
What health documents do I need for international travel from India?
Required documents depend on the destination. Yellow Fever vaccination certificate (yellow card) is mandatory for travel to sub-Saharan Africa and South America. For Haj/Umrah to Saudi Arabia, a Meningitis vaccination certificate is required. For most other destinations, no vaccination documents are mandatory for Indian tourists. However, always carry a doctor’s letter and prescriptions for any chronic medications, and your emergency health summary in English.
How do I link my CoWIN certificate to my passport for international travel?
Go to cowin.gov.in, log in, click Raise an Issue, then Correction in Certificate, and enter your passport number. This can only be done once, so verify the passport number carefully. The updated certificate includes your passport number and is recognised internationally. Aarogya Setu also allows a one-time name change if your name on the certificate differs from your passport.
Can I use Seht for international travel health documentation?
Yes. Seht’s emergency health card, available in English, summarises your blood group, current medications, allergies, and active conditions in a format that any foreign emergency medical team can use. The card is shareable via WhatsApp without requiring the recipient to download an app. Seht also stores your vaccination certificates, CoWIN certificate, Yellow Fever card, and all relevant travel health documents in one organised profile.
Download Seht — free on iOS and Android
Your emergency health card in English. Your CoWIN certificate. Your doctor’s letter for controlled medications. Your Yellow Fever certificate. All of it in one Seht profile shareable to any emergency team in any country, even without internet access.
Download free:
Sources and references
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare — Yellow Fever authorised vaccination centres India. https://mohfw.gov.in
CoWIN — Vaccination certificate and passport linking portal. https://www.cowin.gov.in
WHO — International travel health and vaccination requirements. https://www.who.int/ith
Disclaimer: This blog is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Seht helps families stay informed, but is not a substitute for professional healthcare guidance.
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