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Exit guide

Taking a dog or cat out of Colombia

Exit rules verifiedChecked 2026-10-12Authority: Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario

The steps the authorities in Colombia require before your pet leaves, mostly the health certificate and who has to sign or endorse it. The destination adds its own requirements on top: pick it below, or make a dated plan.

The steps

  1. Identification

    Microchip for dogs under 12 months (Colombia)

    Applies when: your pet is a dog and (your pet is under 12 months old on arrival, or you don’t know your pet’s birth date)

    ICA requires every dog under 12 months old to be identified with a 15-digit microchip readable by HDX or FDX-B readers. The number goes on the CIS.

    Details and the official words

    “Identificación de todos los perros menores de doce (12) meses de edad por medio de microchip que pueda ser leído por un dispositivo de lectura compatible con la tecnología HDX o FDX-B (microchip de 15 dígitos).”

  2. Paperwork

    Health certificate from a vet registered with ICA (within 5 days of departure)

    A vet registered with ICA examines your pet and issues its health certificate, dated no more than 5 calendar days before you leave Colombia. It describes the pet, confirms the clinical exam (no signs of contagious or parasitic disease, no recent wounds), records the internal and external parasite treatment given as the destination requires (product, batch, active ingredient, date) and comes with the current vaccination certificate (original and copy) following the destination's vaccination plan.

    Details and the official words

    “con fecha de expedición no mayor a cinco (5) días calendario previos a la salida del país”

    “Que a la mascota se le haya realizado un examen clínico y no haya presentado signos compatibles con enfermedades infectocontagiosas transmisibles o parasitarias, y no posea heridas recientes, suturas o lesiones en fase aguda.”

    “Que la mascota recibió antes del viaje un tratamiento antiparasitario interno y externo, administrado de acuerdo con las exigencias del país de destino, con productos que estén debidamente autorizados en Colombia, indicando:”

  3. Official stamp

    ICA Sanitary Inspection Certificate (CIS) at the airport, port or border

    Your vet files the CIS request in ICA's SISPAP system with your details, the pet's and the supporting documents (and the rabies antibody result where the destination asks for one). The request can be used within 5 calendar days of its creation. You receive the request number and a payment link by email (or pay by card at the ICA office), then take your pet and any other documents your destination asks for to the ICA office you chose at the airport, port or border, where ICA issues the CIS if the inspection is satisfactory.

    Details and the official words

    “La solicitud del certificado de inspección sanitaria – CIS y los documentos soporte tendrán vigencia para ser utilizados dentro de los cinco (5) días calendario a partir de su momento de creación”

    “Si la inspección es satisfactoria, se emitirá el Certificado de Inspección Sanitaria (CIS).”

Good to know

  • Bring to the ICA office any document your destination asks for that wasn't uploaded with the request: for example the EU certificate annex, the 'Veterinary certificate to Great Britain', Brazil's international veterinary certificate, an entry authorisation (Japan, Aruba, Trinidad and Tobago) or the CDC permit when it applies.
  • ICA only lets a pet leave if it meets the destination's requirements. It can issue the CIS without all of them only if you show an authorisation from the destination's authority that lets your pet in under those conditions.
  • For a pregnant female the vet's certificate states roughly how far along she is and whether the journey is advisable.

Where are you taking your pet?

Routes from Colombia where we cover both sides.