The vaccinations recommended for Pakistan travel start with routine vaccines plus hepatitis A and typhoid, according to the CDC, and anyone who stays four weeks or more needs proof of a recent polio dose to fly out of the country. This guide sets out what's recommended, what's required to exit, and what to know about malaria and rabies if you're heading into rural or northern areas.
Vaccines recommended before you go
According to the US CDC's travel health guidance for Pakistan, most travellers should be:
- Up to date on routine vaccines: MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), DTaP/Tdap, polio and influenza.
- Vaccinated for hepatitis A, recommended for almost all travellers to Pakistan regardless of where they're staying.
- Vaccinated for typhoid, also recommended for most travellers. Pakistan has an ongoing outbreak of extensively drug-resistant (XDR) typhoid, so this one is worth taking seriously rather than skipping.
- Considering hepatitis B, generally suggested for travellers under 60 who haven't already had it.
See a travel medicine provider or your GP 4 to 6 weeks before you fly, since some vaccines need time to take effect and some are given as a course rather than a single dose.
Polio: the rule for leaving Pakistan
Pakistan is one of the last two countries where wild poliovirus still circulates, and the rule bites when you leave, not when you arrive. Under the World Health Organization's temporary recommendations, which its polio emergency committee extended again in August 2026, Pakistan must make sure that residents and visitors who have stayed four weeks or more get a polio dose before travelling abroad, and must stop residents without proof at the point of departure.
- Who needs it: Pakistani residents of any age travelling abroad, and foreign visitors who have been in Pakistan for four weeks or more. A short holiday of under four weeks is outside the WHO rule, but carry proof of a recent dose anyway if you have one, because airport staff do not always ask how long you stayed.
- Timing: the dose must be given between four weeks and twelve months before you leave. Someone leaving at short notice without one is given a dose at departure and a record of it.
- How to get proof: a dose given at a public health facility in Pakistan is logged in the National Immunization Management System, and you can then download a certificate with a QR code from nims.nadra.gov.pk for PKR 100 (2026). If you were vaccinated abroad, carry the yellow International Certificate of Vaccination.
What changed in September 2026. From 15 September 2026 the health ministry made a NADRA-integrated digital certificate mandatory for Hajj and Umrah travellers, covering polio, meningitis, yellow fever and influenza; no other vaccination card is accepted for pilgrims (Arab News, Express Tribune; checked October 2026). Karachi airport gave Umrah passengers until 25 September to switch. Some travel blogs report that the NADRA certificate is now checked on every international departure, but the official notices we found name pilgrims only. If you are not going on Hajj or Umrah, the NIMS certificate is still the simplest proof to carry, so get one if you are vaccinated in Pakistan.
Build this into your trip from the start rather than discovering it at check-in. If you're already up to date on polio from childhood, a single adult booster is generally enough; unvaccinated travellers need the full course, which takes longer to arrange.
Malaria: relevant outside the high mountains
Malaria risk exists across most of Pakistan below around 2,500 metres, so it applies to Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad and most of the plains, but not to the high valleys of Gilgit-Baltistan, which generally sit above that altitude. The CDC recommends antimalarial medication such as atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline or mefloquine for travel in the areas at risk, alongside standard precautions against mosquito bites: repellent, covering up in the evenings and sleeping under a net or in a screened room where relevant. Discuss the right option for your itinerary and any other medication you take with a doctor before you travel.
Rabies: worth considering for rural trips
Dogs carrying rabies are present in Pakistan, and post-exposure treatment is not reliably available in rural areas and smaller towns, which makes prevention more important than in a country where hospital care is closer at hand. A pre-exposure rabies vaccination course is generally recommended for travellers who will spend significant time outdoors, in rural areas or away from good medical care, which covers a lot of the northern areas most tourists visit. If you're bitten or scratched by any animal in Pakistan, wash the wound thoroughly and seek medical care promptly rather than waiting to see if it becomes a problem.
Other everyday health basics
- Drink bottled or properly treated water, and be cautious with ice in smaller towns.
- Carry a basic travel medical kit, including rehydration salts, any regular medication with a spare supply, and something for an upset stomach.
- Get comprehensive travel insurance that covers medical evacuation, particularly if your trip includes trekking or the northern areas, where the nearest proper hospital can be hours away.
- Altitude affects your health planning too. If your trip includes Khunjerab Pass, Deosai or high trekking routes, altitude, not infectious disease, becomes the bigger practical concern; our travel guide covers altitude alongside the rest of the practical planning for a first trip north.
Frequently asked questions
What vaccinations do I need before travelling to Pakistan?
The CDC recommends being current on routine vaccines plus hepatitis A and typhoid for most travellers, with hepatitis B, rabies and malaria prevention considered depending on where you're going and for how long. See a travel clinic 4 to 6 weeks ahead.
Do I need a polio certificate to leave Pakistan?
Yes, if you have stayed four weeks or more: you need a polio dose given between four weeks and twelve months before departure, and proof of it. Since 15 September 2026 Hajj and Umrah travellers must show a NADRA-integrated certificate. It is not required to enter the country, only to leave.
Is malaria a risk in northern Pakistan?
Malaria risk is generally limited to areas below about 2,500 metres, which covers the cities and plains but not most of the high valleys in Gilgit-Baltistan. Check the risk for your specific route with a travel doctor.
Do I need a rabies vaccine for Pakistan?
It's not required, but it's worth considering if your trip involves rural areas, trekking or extended time outdoors, since post-exposure treatment can be hard to reach quickly in remote parts of the country.
Is tap water safe to drink in Pakistan?
No, stick to bottled or properly treated water throughout your trip, including for brushing your teeth, and be cautious with ice outside larger hotels and restaurants.
