Travel health

Oceania vaccine requirements by country

Australia and New Zealand are among the easiest destinations on earth. Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu are at the other end, and the remote islands in between call for hepatitis A, typhoid and good evacuation cover. Here's what each of the 15 countries asks for.

countries covered: 15
have very limited medical care outside the capital: 8
have malaria risk in some or all areas: 3
are malaria-free: 12

General guidance, not medical advice. Entry rules change and depend on your route, health and nationality. Check the destination's embassy and see a travel health clinic 6 to 8 weeks before you go. Last checked September 2026.

The quick answer

Do you need any vaccines to enter Oceania?

Usually not. No country here requires vaccines from travellers flying in from Europe, North America or most of Asia. The two things to know are the yellow fever rule and where malaria is.

Only if arriving from a risk country

Yellow fever rules for Africa and South America travellers

There's no yellow fever in Oceania. Australia and most Pacific islands ask for a certificate only if you arrive from a country with yellow fever risk. Australia's rule is the strictest: it applies if you were in a risk country at any point in the 6 days before you land. New Zealand has no yellow fever rule.

Australia
New Zealand

Malaria tablets advised

Only three countries have malaria

Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu are the only places in Oceania with malaria. Everywhere else, including Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and French Polynesia, is malaria-free.

Papua New Guinea
Solomon Islands
Vanuatu

What to get

The vaccines that matter most for Oceania

Routine vaccines cover Australia and New Zealand. For the Pacific islands, four things come up most. See the vaccine field guide for doses and timing.

Hepatitis A and typhoid

Recommended for the Pacific islands

Advised for almost all the Pacific islands, where food and water safety varies. Australia and New Zealand need routine vaccines only.

Malaria

Only in three countries

Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu have malaria; the other 12 countries here are malaria-free. Tablets are strongly advised for all three, and risk in Papua New Guinea and the Solomons includes the capitals.

Dengue

Avoid mosquito bites

Dengue outbreaks have hit several Pacific islands in recent years, including Samoa, Fiji and Tonga. There's no routine travel vaccine, so use repellent and cover up, especially around dawn and dusk.

Measles (MMR)

Make sure you're covered

Samoa's 2019 measles epidemic killed more than 80 people, mostly children, and smaller island nations remain vulnerable. Check you've had two doses of MMR before any Pacific trip.

All 15 countries

Oceania vaccine requirements by country

Open a country for its entry rules, recommended vaccines and malaria risk. Use the filters to narrow the list.

Filter countries by name

Showing 15 of 15

A

Australia

Yellow fever: if from a risk countryNo malaria

Required for entry

Yellow fever certificate if you were in a yellow fever risk country in the 6 days before arrival (age 1 and over)

Also consider

Japanese encephalitis, for long periods outdoors in rural areas of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia

Malaria: No malaria.

Japanese encephalitis has spread to parts of mainland eastern Australia since 2022, mainly along the Murray-Darling river system. Bats carry Australian bat lyssavirus, so never handle them.

Rules change. Check with the embassy and a travel clinic before you go.Australia travel guide

F

Fiji

Yellow fever: if from a risk countryNo malaria

Required for entry

Yellow fever certificate only if you arrive from, or had a long transit in, a country with yellow fever risk

Also consider

Nothing extra beyond routine vaccines

Malaria: No malaria.

Dengue outbreaks happen regularly. Use repellent, especially around dawn and dusk.

Rules change. Check with the embassy and a travel clinic before you go.Fiji travel guide

French Polynesia

Yellow fever: if from a risk countryNo malaria

Required for entry

Yellow fever certificate only if you arrive from, or had a long transit in, a country with yellow fever risk

Also consider

Typhoid, for the Marquesas, the Tuamotus or longer stays

Malaria: No malaria.

Dengue circulates across the islands; use repellent. Papeete has French-standard hospitals.

Rules change. Check with the embassy and a travel clinic before you go.French Polynesia travel guide

K

Kiribati

Yellow fever: if from a risk countryNo malaria

Required for entry

Yellow fever certificate only if you arrive from, or had a long transit in, a country with yellow fever risk

Also consider

Nothing extra beyond routine vaccines

Malaria: No malaria.

Medical care is very limited outside the capital. Make sure your travel insurance includes medical evacuation.

Rules change. Check with the embassy and a travel clinic before you go.Kiribati travel guide

M

Marshall Islands

Yellow fever: if from a risk countryNo malaria

Required for entry

Yellow fever certificate only if you arrive from, or had a long transit in, a country with yellow fever risk

Also consider

Nothing extra beyond routine vaccines

Malaria: No malaria.

Medical care is very limited outside the capital. Make sure your travel insurance includes medical evacuation.

Rules change. Check with the embassy and a travel clinic before you go.Marshall Islands travel guide

MicronesiaFederated States of Micronesia (FSM)

Yellow fever: if from a risk countryNo malaria

Required for entry

Yellow fever certificate only if you arrive from, or had a long transit in, a country with yellow fever risk

Also consider

Nothing extra beyond routine vaccines

Malaria: No malaria.

Medical care is limited, especially on Chuuk and the outer islands. Make sure your travel insurance includes medical evacuation.

Rules change. Check with the embassy and a travel clinic before you go.Micronesia travel guide

N

Nauru

Yellow fever: if from a risk countryNo malaria

Required for entry

Yellow fever certificate only if you arrive from, or had a long transit in, a country with yellow fever risk

Also consider

Nothing extra beyond routine vaccines

Malaria: No malaria.

Medical care is very limited and flights are infrequent. Make sure your travel insurance includes medical evacuation.

Rules change. Check with the embassy and a travel clinic before you go.Nauru travel guide

New Zealand

No entry vaccinesNo malaria

Required for entry

No vaccines required for entry

Also consider

Nothing extra beyond routine vaccines

Malaria: No malaria.

No malaria, no rabies and excellent healthcare. Routine vaccines, especially MMR, are all you need.

Rules change. Check with the embassy and a travel clinic before you go.New Zealand travel guide

P

Palau

Yellow fever: if from a risk countryNo malaria

Required for entry

Yellow fever certificate only if you arrive from, or had a long transit in, a country with yellow fever risk

Also consider

Typhoid, for longer stays

Malaria: No malaria.

Rules change. Check with the embassy and a travel clinic before you go.Palau travel guide

Papua New Guinea

Yellow fever: if from a risk countryMalaria: high risk

Required for entry

Yellow fever certificate only if you arrive from, or had a long transit in, a country with yellow fever risk

Also consider

Cholera, for humanitarian work

Malaria: High risk in all areas below 1,800 m, including Port Moresby.

The most medically challenging destination in Oceania. Medical care outside Port Moresby is very limited, and security in Port Moresby and the Highlands needs careful planning. Travel insurance with medical evacuation is essential.

Rules change. Check with the embassy and a travel clinic before you go.Papua New Guinea travel guide

S

Samoa

Yellow fever: if from a risk countryNo malaria

Required for entry

Yellow fever certificate only if you arrive from, or had a long transit in, a country with yellow fever risk

Also consider

Nothing extra beyond routine vaccines

Malaria: No malaria.

A measles epidemic killed more than 80 people, mostly children, in 2019, and dengue outbreaks have followed. Make sure your MMR is complete and use repellent.

Rules change. Check with the embassy and a travel clinic before you go.Samoa travel guide

Solomon Islands

Yellow fever: if from a risk countryMalaria: high risk

Required for entry

Yellow fever certificate only if you arrive from, or had a long transit in, a country with yellow fever risk

Also consider

Nothing extra beyond routine vaccines

Malaria: High risk across all the main islands, including Honiara, Gizo and the Marovo Lagoon.

Medical care is very limited outside the capital. Make sure your travel insurance includes medical evacuation.

Rules change. Check with the embassy and a travel clinic before you go.Solomon Islands travel guide

T

Tonga

Yellow fever: if from a risk countryNo malaria

Required for entry

Yellow fever certificate only if you arrive from, or had a long transit in, a country with yellow fever risk

Also consider

Nothing extra beyond routine vaccines

Malaria: No malaria.

Care is reasonable in Nuku'alofa but limited on the outer islands. Measles and dengue outbreaks have occurred, so check your MMR and use repellent.

Rules change. Check with the embassy and a travel clinic before you go.Tonga travel guide

Tuvalu

Yellow fever: if from a risk countryNo malaria

Required for entry

Yellow fever certificate only if you arrive from, or had a long transit in, a country with yellow fever risk

Also consider

Nothing extra beyond routine vaccines

Malaria: No malaria.

Funafuti has only a small hospital and flights are infrequent. Make sure your travel insurance includes medical evacuation.

Rules change. Check with the embassy and a travel clinic before you go.Tuvalu travel guide

V

Vanuatu

Yellow fever: if from a risk countryMalaria: most areas

Required for entry

Yellow fever certificate only if you arrive from, or had a long transit in, a country with yellow fever risk

Also consider

Nothing extra beyond routine vaccines

Malaria: Risk across the islands, highest in the north (Espiritu Santo, Malekula) and on Tanna. Lower in Port Vila.

Medical care is very limited outside the capital. Make sure your travel insurance includes medical evacuation.

Rules change. Check with the embassy and a travel clinic before you go.Vanuatu travel guide

Common questions

Oceania travel vaccines: questions answered

Do I need any vaccines to travel to Australia?

No vaccines are required for most visitors. You'll need a yellow fever certificate if you were in a country with yellow fever risk in the 6 days before you arrive (age 1 and over). Make sure your routine vaccines are up to date. If you'll spend long periods outdoors in rural eastern Australia, ask your doctor about the Japanese encephalitis vaccine.

Do I need any vaccines for New Zealand?

No. New Zealand has no vaccine entry requirements, no malaria and no rabies. Make sure your routine vaccines, especially measles (MMR), are up to date.

Do I need malaria tablets for the Pacific islands?

Only for Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, French Polynesia, Palau and the other Pacific islands are malaria-free, as are Australia and New Zealand.

Which vaccines do I need for Fiji?

None are required for entry unless you arrive from a country with yellow fever risk. Hepatitis A and typhoid are recommended, and routine vaccines should be up to date. Dengue outbreaks happen regularly, so pack insect repellent.

Is there rabies in Australia or the Pacific islands?

There's no rabies in dogs or other land animals in Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea or the Pacific islands. Australian bats carry a related virus, Australian bat lyssavirus, so never handle bats, and get medical care the same day if one bites or scratches you.

Check the official word

Where this information comes from

Yellow fever entry rules follow the CDC Yellow Book's country list, alongside WHO and UK guidance. Use these to double-check anything important for your trip.

CDC Yellow BookYellow fever: which countries require proof, and where the vaccine is recommended CDC Travelers' HealthVaccines and malaria advice for every destination TravelHealthPro (UK)Country-by-country advice from the UK health service

Last checked: September 2026.

Planning more than one region?

Every region page uses the same labels, so you can compare rules at a glance. Then read the full country guide for safety, visas, money and local tips.

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