Travelling after your kidney transplant: 

Holiday Guidelines for Kidney Transplant Patients

Stay safe, plan ahead, and enjoy your holiday with confidence.

Before You Plan Your Trip

Speak to your transplant team first to confirm it is safe to travel.

General recommendations:
UK travel may be possible soon after transplant depending on appointments.

Europe is usually safe after 6 to 12 months.

Worldwide travel is generally safe after 1 year.

Some NHS trusts advise avoiding overseas travel for 1 year.

Emergency Advice While Away

Seek urgent medical help if you experience fever, vomiting or diarrhoea affecting medication intake, pain near the transplant site, reduced urine output, or dehydration.

Carry your transplant team’s contact information at all times.

Medication and Flying Advice

Medications

Bring enough medication for the trip plus one extra week.
Keep medicines in hand luggage in their original packaging.
Ask your transplant team for a letter explaining your medical needs.

Flying

Keep hydrated and walk regularly during the flight.

Long flights increase the risk of clots and some people may need a heparin injection after medical review.

Vaccinations and Infection Prevention

Vaccinations - Transplant patients should never be given ‘live’ vaccines. See your renal unit for advice on live vaccines and also make sure your GP is informed. Click here for more details on vaccinations.

Malaria precautions

Ask your transplant team which malaria tablets are safe.
Some malaria medicines interact with transplant drugs.

Rule number 1 : always seek the advice of your renal team before having any vaccines for travel or before taking any other emdications not already prescribed to you.

Sun Safety

Use SPF 50 sunscreen.
Avoid sun exposure between 11am and 3pm.
Wear wide-brimmed hats and tightly woven clothing

Avoid using sun lamps.

Examine your skin regularly. If you find any unusual blemishes, moles, 
or other marks on the skin, especially one that changes in size, shape or 
colour, see your doctor.

Avoiding infections while on holiday

Transplant immuno-suppressant drugs also reduce a patient’s ability to 
fight infections. 
Simple precautions include:

Avoid contact with people who have a cold, flu or any infectious disease 
such as chickenpox.

Buy bottled water abroad or use boiled water (especially in far eastern
 countries).

Avoid salads unless you have washed them and/or made them yourself, 
and avoid ice cubes, unless you have made them from bottled water.

Avoid ice cream from street vendors.

Avoid travelling to countries where the risk of catching an infection is 
high.

Further information

Tourism For All: https://www.tourismforall.org.uk/ 

NHS Travel Vaccinations: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/travel-
vaccinations  

MASTA https://www.masta-travel-health.com/ 

Download this Information in PDFMake a Donation

Updated March 2026
Next review March 2029

The National Kidney Federation cannot accept responsibility for the information provided. The above is for guidance only.

---

More holiday information

Holiday guide for kidney patients

Holiday dialysis UK

Holiday Companies

Holiday tips and guidelines

Travel Insurance

Holiday guidelines for PD patients

Holiday guidelines for HD patients

Holiday / Travel vaccinations in transplant patients