How to Get a Polio Vaccination Certificate Before Travelling From Pakistan: Rs 100 on NIMS
All travellers leaving Pakistan need a polio vaccination certificate. Take a dose 4 weeks to 12 months before, then download it for Rs 100 on NADRA NIMS.
Short answer: Every traveller leaving Pakistan, of any age, needs a polio vaccination certificate. Take a polio dose between four weeks and 12 months before the trip at your District Health Office, then download the certificate for Rs 100 from NADRA's NIMS portal or the Pak Vaccination Pass app. It is valid for one year.
The queue at the airport is the wrong place to learn about this rule. People with a visa, a ticket and a bag still get stopped because one piece of paper is missing. The polio certificate is that paper.
We read the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme's frequently asked questions on poliofreepakistan.gov.pk on 14 October 2026. This page follows its wording. It covers travel out of Pakistan. The programme says no certificate is needed when you enter Pakistan.
All international travellers from Pakistan need the certificate
The programme says polio vaccination is required for all international travellers from Pakistan, regardless of age. This is meant to stop poliovirus spreading to other countries. It applies to adults, children and babies who leave Pakistan.
The rule is not only for Umrah or work visas. Our page on the NADRA vaccination card for Umrah and Saudi travel covers the card Saudi Arabia asks for. The polio certificate is a separate requirement for leaving Pakistan.
The programme's page does not list exceptions for age or destination. If you are unsure whether your trip counts, ask your airline or travel agent. Do not assume you are exempt.
Take the dose between four weeks and 12 months before you fly
The programme says all travellers should receive a dose of the oral polio vaccine (bOPV) or the injectable vaccine (IPV) between four weeks and 12 months before international travel. If you are inside the four week gap, use the urgent route below.
| Step | What the programme says |
|---|---|
| Who needs it | All international travellers from Pakistan, any age |
| When to take the dose | Between four weeks and 12 months before travel |
| Where to take it | Nearest District Health Office |
| Where to get the certificate | NADRA's NIMS portal or the Pak Vaccination Pass app |
| Fee | Rs 100 to download |
| Validity | One year |
| Urgent travel | Vaccinated at the airport polio counter, certificate issued there |
Plan ahead. If your trip is in six weeks, you have a window now. If it is in two weeks, you are inside the four week gap and will use the airport route.
Get the dose and download the certificate in four steps
Go to your nearest District Health Office for the dose. The staff record your details. Afterwards, open NIMS or the Pak Vaccination Pass app and download the certificate. The programme gives the download fee as Rs 100.
- Go to your nearest District Health Office and take a polio dose.
- Make sure your details are recorded. Take your CNIC or the child's B-Form.
- Open nims.nadra.gov.pk or the Pak Vaccination Pass app on Android or iOS.
- Download the certificate for Rs 100 and keep a printed copy.
The programme's page does not say which documents the health office wants. We take the CNIC or B-Form as the sensible default, but ask the office first. NIMS also issues other vaccine records. Our page on the Covid vaccine certificate from NIMS uses the same portal.
Urgent travellers can be vaccinated at the airport counter
The programme says travellers who have not had a dose and must travel urgently need to be vaccinated by departure at the polio vaccination counters of the international airport. They get a polio vaccination certificate there, after the vaccine.
This is a fallback. Counters may have queues, and the programme does not give counter hours. Reach the airport early if you rely on this route. The page we read does not name the airports with counters either.
Do not leave it to the last minute for a child. A child who needs a dose before a flight can get it at the District Health Office in advance. If the child is unwell on the day, our page on whether to give polio drops when a child is sick explains what the programme says.
The certificate stays valid for one year
The programme says the certificate is valid for one year. A frequent traveller can reuse it for repeat trips in that year. The programme asks for a dose within the 12 months before travel, so ask the health office if your last dose is older than that.
Polio drops also protect children at home. The routine schedule for babies is in our guide to the baby vaccination schedule in Pakistan. The latest national campaign news is on the page about the September campaign result.
Keep the certificate on your phone and on paper. A phone can run out of battery at the gate.
Common questions
Do babies need the polio certificate to travel?
The programme says all international travellers from Pakistan need it, regardless of age. Ask the District Health Office about the right dose for a baby.
How much does the certificate cost?
The programme says Rs 100 to download it from the NIMS portal or the Pak Vaccination Pass app.
Do I need a certificate to enter Pakistan?
No. The programme says you do not need to show a polio certificate when you enter Pakistan.
What if I fly in a week?
You can be vaccinated at the polio counter at the international airport. The certificate is issued there after the dose.
How long does the certificate last?
One year, according to the programme.
Which vaccine do I get?
The programme names the oral vaccine (bOPV) or the injectable vaccine (IPV). The health office decides which you receive.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked on 14 October 2026, Pakistan time. We read the travel questions on the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme FAQ page and noted the NADRA portal it links, nims.nadra.gov.pk. We did not take a dose, download a certificate or visit an airport counter. The page does not list counter hours or the documents a health office asks for, so check with the office or your airline. Rules for entering other countries can differ.
About the author
Public Services and Education Journalist
Fajr Riaz is a journalist and content writer at Pakistan Era, based in Lahore. She covers the questions people meet in everyday life in Pakistan: how a public service works, what a change in the rules means, and where to find a reliable answer.
