Yellow Fever Vaccine & Yellow Card (ICV) in the Philippines 2026: BOQ Guide

Quick Answer: The Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) is the only authorized issuer of the yellow fever vaccine and the International Certificate of Vaccination (ICV, or "yellow card") in the Philippines. Book through icv.boq.ph (the site formerly at boq.pisopay.com.ph). Travel blogs that itemize the receipt report a total of around ₱2,030 (vaccine plus card fees) — BOQ's own fee page wasn't reachable for direct confirmation, so treat that as a reported figure and confirm at booking. Since a 2016 WHO rule change, a completed ICV is valid for the lifetime of the vaccinated person, not the older 6-year figure still cited in some Philippine regulations.

Table of Contents

• What is the ICV or "yellow card"?
• Who actually needs a yellow fever vaccine and ICV?
• Where do you get it? BOQ vaccination sites
• How much does it cost?
• How long is the certificate valid — 6 years or for life?
• How do you book an appointment, step by step?
• What do you need to bring?
• Can BOQ issue an ICV for other vaccines?
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Conclusion

What is the ICV or "yellow card"?

The International Certificate of Vaccination (ICV) is the official WHO-format document — nicknamed the "yellow card" because of its color — that records vaccinations a traveler needs to cross certain borders. In the Philippines, it's issued exclusively by the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ), an agency under the Department of Health. The ICV itself isn't a medical requirement to protect your health inside the Philippines — the country has no yellow fever risk. It exists because some destination countries, and countries you transit through, legally require proof of vaccination before they let you in.

Most Filipino travelers only need this card because they're headed to, or connecting through, a country in Africa or South America where yellow fever is endemic. Airlines and immigration officers can and do turn away travelers who show up without it when it's required, so it's worth sorting out weeks before departure, not the night before your flight.

Who actually needs a yellow fever vaccine and ICV?

You need it if your itinerary includes a country that officially requires proof of yellow fever vaccination for entry — typically countries with endemic yellow fever transmission in sub-Saharan Africa and tropical South America, or countries that require it from anyone who has transited through those regions (some require it even for a layover of several hours at a risk-country airport). The exact list changes as WHO and destination governments update their risk maps, so don't rely on a static blog list for this — check the current country-by-country requirement on WHO's yellow fever country list or the CDC Yellow Book country pages, and confirm with your specific destination's embassy or consulate before booking flights.

Infants under 9 months are generally exempt everywhere, and people with certain medical contraindications can get a medical exemption letter instead of the vaccine — ask BOQ about this directly, since it involves a physician assessment, not a standard booking.

Where do you get it? BOQ vaccination sites

BOQ's main office is at the Bureau of Quarantine compound, 25th Street, Port Area, Manila (behind Manila Hotel), open Monday to Friday except holidays. Beyond the main office, BOQ and travel-guide sources report satellite vaccination sites in NCR malls (including Robinsons Manila, SM Mall of Asia, and SM North EDSA) and in provincial hubs such as Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, Batangas, Subic, and a handful of other port/airport cities.

This list is compiled from BOQ-affiliated travel guides, not a live official directory — BOQ periodically adds or drops satellite sites, and the authoritative, current list is inside the icv.boq.ph booking flow itself: pick your vaccine, and it will only show you active, bookable locations near you.

How much does it cost?

BOQ's own fee schedule page was not directly accessible to verify at the time of writing (it returns a blocked/forbidden response to automated checks). The most detailed breakdown available from BOQ-affiliated travel guides reports:

Older sources cite different figures (some as low as ₱1,500–₱2,000, others with a separate certificate-issuance charge), which tells you this fee has moved over time and isn't something to lock in from a blog post. Confirm the exact current amount inside the icv.boq.ph booking flow before you pay — it displays the live price for your chosen site and vaccine before checkout. If you also want other vaccines documented on the same visit (see below), each one is billed separately.

How long is the certificate valid — 6 years or for life?

This is genuinely confusing because two different rules get cited, so here's the honest resolution: the certificate is valid for the lifetime of the vaccinated person. The World Health Organization amended the International Health Regulations effective 11 July 2016, removing the old 10-year booster requirement and formally stating that a single, completed yellow fever vaccination protects for life — no revaccination needed, and no WHO member state may lawfully demand proof of a booster dose as an entry condition.

The 6-year figure you may see (including in the Philippines' own DOH Quarantine Administrative Order No. 35) predates that 2016 change and has not been formally superseded in every piece of older Philippine documentation, even though the operative global standard — which the Philippines follows as a WHO member state — is lifetime validity. In practice: if your printed ICV shows an old-format expiry date, that date is legally moot under the amended IHR, but carry the card regardless and be ready to explain this if a border officer at an unfamiliar checkpoint questions it. When in doubt, verify directly with your destination country's embassy before you travel.

How do you book an appointment, step by step?

1. Go to icv.boq.ph — this replaced the older boq.pisopay.com.ph portal, so update any bookmark you may have saved.
2. Create an account, or log in using your existing Yellow Card details (name and ICV serial number) if you've been vaccinated before.
3. Select "Yellow Fever" under vaccination services, then choose your preferred BOQ site from the map.
4. Pick an available date. Slots typically show as open (green) or fully booked (red). Multi-dose vaccine vials require a minimum number of bookings per date (reported at around 10 people) — if that threshold isn't met, BOQ may cancel and ask you to rebook, so apply with buffer time before your flight.
5. Complete the online health-screening questionnaire.
6. Review your ICV card preview for correct spelling of your name (it must match your passport exactly).
7. Pay online — cards, e-wallets (GCash, Maya), online banking, or cash at partnered outlets (7-Eleven, LBC, Family Mart) have been reported as accepted channels.
8. Save your QR code confirmation and show up at your BOQ site on the scheduled date with your ID and QR code.

What do you need to bring?

• A valid government-issued photo ID — your passport is the standard requirement since the ICV must match it exactly.
• Your online booking confirmation / QR code.
• Clothing with sleeves that roll up easily, since the vaccine is an upper-arm injection.
• If you're a re-vaccination case or requesting a duplicate/re-issued card, bring your previous ICV.

Appointments are the standard process through icv.boq.ph. Whether a given BOQ site accepts same-day walk-ins alongside its booked schedule isn't consistently documented across sources, so don't plan around a walk-in — book online ahead of your travel date, ideally at least 2–3 weeks out to leave room for rescheduling if a date gets cancelled for low turnout.

Can BOQ issue an ICV for other vaccines?

Yes. The same icv.boq.ph booking system also covers the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) and MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), both of which some destination countries require documentation for, plus duplicate/re-issuance requests for a lost or damaged ICV card. If you're headed on Hajj or Umrah, note that the mandatory vaccine there is meningococcal ACYW, not yellow fever — see our Hajj and Umrah vaccine requirements guide for that separate process. If your trip also requires the newer digital arrival paperwork, check our eTravel health declaration guide — that's a different system from the ICV and is required for different countries/purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need the yellow fever vaccine to enter the Philippines?

No. The Philippines has no yellow fever risk and doesn't require this vaccine or certificate to enter the country. You only need it because a destination country (or a country you're transiting through) requires proof of vaccination before it lets you in.

Where is the main yellow fever vaccination site in Metro Manila?

BOQ's main office at 25th Street, Port Area, Manila (behind Manila Hotel) is the primary NCR site, with satellite locations reported at malls like SM Mall of Asia and SM North EDSA. Confirm the current, bookable list inside icv.boq.ph, since satellite sites change.

Is boq.pisopay.com.ph still the booking site?

No — that URL has been replaced by icv.boq.ph. If you land on the old pisopay address, use the new one instead.

How much is the yellow fever vaccine at BOQ?

BOQ-affiliated travel guides report a total of around ₱2,030 (₱1,970 vaccine plus ₱30 convenience fee plus ₱30 DST), but BOQ's official fee page could not be directly verified for this guide. Confirm the live price shown during checkout on icv.boq.ph before paying.

Is the yellow card valid for life or only 6 years?

For life, under WHO's International Health Regulations as amended effective 11 July 2016. The 6-year figure referenced in older Philippine regulation predates that change; the operative global rule — which the Philippines follows — is lifetime validity with no booster required.

Can I walk in without an appointment?

Sources consistently describe an appointment-based process through icv.boq.ph rather than confirmed walk-in access. Book ahead, especially since multi-dose vaccine scheduling can require a minimum number of people per date.

Does BOQ issue certificates for vaccines other than yellow fever?

Yes — polio (IPV) and MMR certifications are also processed through the same icv.boq.ph system, along with duplicate/re-issuance requests for lost ICV cards.

How soon before my flight should I get vaccinated?

Book several weeks ahead if possible. The certificate only takes effect 10 days after vaccination under international health rules, and BOQ can cancel low-turnout multi-dose sessions and ask you to rebook, so leave buffer time.

Conclusion

The yellow card is a small piece of paper that can get you denied boarding if you skip it, so treat the booking step seriously and confirm your destination's actual requirement with its embassy before you pay. Book through icv.boq.ph, bring your passport, and budget roughly ₱2,000+ pending confirmation at checkout. If your trip also involves Hajj/Umrah vaccine rules or the eTravel health declaration, check those separately — they're distinct systems from the ICV. For other vaccination costs while you're already planning ahead, see our vaccine cost guide for the Philippines, and if you need a clinic near you for any pre-travel workup, use ClinicFinderPH search.