← Back
South Asia

🇮🇳 Vaccines for India

Entry requirements & recommendations for travel to India

India needs proper planning. Typhoid and Hepatitis A top the list, but rabies is what catches people out. India has more rabies deaths than any other country in the world — it's not a distant theoretical risk. Pre-exposure vaccination doesn't make you immune but it buys you critical time if something happens; without it, post-exposure treatment requires immunoglobulin that's expensive and hard to find outside major cities. Japanese Encephalitis is worth discussing if you're heading anywhere rural, particularly in summer. Healthcare quality varies enormously — excellent in Mumbai and Delhi, very limited in rural areas.

Medical disclaimer: This is general information only — not personal medical advice. Requirements and risks change. Always consult a qualified travel health clinic before departure.
Required for entry
Yellow Fever
Certificate required if arriving from endemic country or having transited through one.
💉 1 dose (lifetime)
📅 Book at least 3 weeks before travel
⚡ Effective: 10 days after vaccination. Certificate valid for life.
🛡 Protects for: Lifetime (single dose).
Required for entry
Recommended by WHO & CDC
Hepatitis A
Food and water contamination — very common risk.
💉 2 doses
📅 Book at least 4 weeks before travel
⚡ Effective: 2 weeks after 1st dose. Full protection after 2nd dose (6–12 months later).
🛡 Protects for: 1st dose ~1 yr. 2nd dose: lifetime.
Recommended
Typhoid
Highly endemic — contaminated food and water, street food.
💉 1 dose
📅 Book at least 3 weeks before travel
⚡ Effective: 2 weeks after vaccination.
🛡 Protects for: 3–5 years. Booster recommended if re-exposure.
Recommended
Hepatitis B
Blood and sexual contact.
💉 3 doses
📅 Book at least 26 weeks before travel
⚡ Effective: After full 3-dose course. Accelerated 3-week schedule available — ask your clinic.
🛡 Protects for: Lifetime after full course.
Recommended
Japanese Encephalitis
Risk in rural agricultural areas especially during monsoon season.
💉 2 doses
📅 Book at least 7 weeks before travel
⚡ Effective: After 2nd dose (28 days after the 1st).
🛡 Protects for: Booster after 1 year if ongoing exposure.
Recommended
Rabies
India has highest rabies burden in the world. Dog bites are very common.
💉 3 doses
📅 Book at least 5 weeks before travel
⚡ Effective: After 3rd dose. 2nd dose 7 days after 1st, 3rd dose 21 days after 1st.
🛡 Protects for: Pre-exposure reduces post-bite treatment needed. Boosters based on blood tests.
Recommended
Disease risks
  • ⚠Malaria (risk varies by region — low in major cities, higher in rural/northeastern states)
  • ⚠Dengue (urban and rural)
  • ⚠Typhoid
  • ⚠Rabies (very high burden)
  • ⚠Japanese Encephalitis (rural areas, monsoon season)
  • ⚠Chikungunya
Notes: Yellow Fever required from endemic countries. Hepatitis A and Typhoid strongly recommended. Rabies pre-exposure vaccination strongly recommended — India has the world's highest rabies burden. Japanese Encephalitis for rural/monsoon travel. Malaria prophylaxis for rural areas.
Approximate cost per person
Required vaccines
~€74
(~$81)
per person · full courses
Yellow Fever (1 dose)€74 ($81)
Recommended vaccines
~€975
(~$1063)
per person · full courses
Hepatitis A (2 doses)€140 ($152)
Typhoid (1 dose)€45 ($49)
Hepatitis B (3 doses)€189 ($207)
Japanese Encephalitis (2 doses)€264 ($288)
Rabies (3 doses)€273 ($297)
Malaria tablets (4 weeks) (1 dose)€64 ($70)

💡 Approximate figures based on private European travel clinic rates (April 2026). Actual costs vary by clinic and country. Not all recommended vaccines will apply to every trip — discuss your specific itinerary with a travel health clinic.

Often combined with
NepalSri LankaBangladeshBhutan
When to book

Book at least 8 weeks before travel. Rabies is 3 doses over 5 weeks and is the priority — book this first. Hepatitis A and Typhoid can be done closer to departure. If you're travelling to rural areas, Japanese Encephalitis needs 7 weeks. Don't leave it until the last minute — most clinics in peak season are busy.

Common questions
Do I need vaccines to travel to India?
No vaccines are required for entry to India for most nationalities. However, Hepatitis A, Typhoid, and Rabies are strongly recommended. India has the highest rabies death toll in the world — pre-exposure vaccination is important, especially if you'll be outside major cities.
Is Rabies a real risk in India?
Yes. India accounts for roughly 35% of global rabies deaths. Dog bites are common in cities and rural areas alike. Pre-exposure vaccination does not make you immune but significantly improves your options if bitten — without it, post-exposure immunoglobulin treatment is required and is often unavailable or unaffordable in smaller towns.
Do I need malaria tablets for India?
It depends where you're going. Malaria risk exists in rural areas, particularly in states like Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and parts of northeast India. There is no significant malaria risk in Delhi, Mumbai, or most major cities. Discuss your specific itinerary with a travel clinic.
Is the tap water safe in India?
No. Tap water in India is not safe to drink. Stick to bottled water and avoid ice in drinks from street stalls. This is also why Hepatitis A and Typhoid vaccination is important — both are spread through contaminated food and water.

Data based on WHO International Travel and Health and CDC Yellow Book 2026. Last verified: April 2026. Always verify current requirements with a travel health clinic before departure.