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Exit guide

Taking a dog or cat out of the Dominican Republic: the rules

What the Dominican Republic asks before a dog or cat leaves: the steps and their timing, every destination with how long it takes, and coming back.

Rules checked up to 12 October 2026From 1 official page

Exit rules verifiedLimited official guidanceAuthority: Dirección General de Ganadería
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In short

Limited official guidance. Dirección General de Ganadería publishes little for this route. Everything it does say is here, with its wording. DIGEGA's page lists the steps and documents but gives no deadline before departure and doesn't say when the Dominican veterinary college (COLVET) stamp or the VUCE single-window process is needed. Start early and ask DIGEGA (809-535-9689, ext. 307) what applies to your destination.

Prefer a feed reader? The Dominican Republic rule changes

Show only the rules for your pet

Choose your animal and where it is going, and this page hides the rules that can’t apply. Rules that depend on your pet’s age or your route stay, marked “Applies when”.

Going to

Leaving the Dominican Republic

The steps

What the authorities in the Dominican Republic ask before your pet leaves, mostly the health certificate and who has to sign or endorse it.

  1. Vet exam

    Health certificate from a vet, with an up-to-date vaccination record

    Take your pet to a vet for a health certificate. Bring an up-to-date vaccination record with a current rabies vaccination and a current parasite treatment, a microchip where your destination requires one, and any extra document your destination asks for (such as a rabies blood test). Get the Dominican veterinary college (COLVET) signature and stamp when it is required.

    Details and the official words

    “Certificado de salud emitido por médico veterinario.”

    “Récord o tarjeta de vacunación actualizado.”

    “Vacuna antirrábica vigente.”

    “Documentación adicional exigida por el país de destino (Serología vacuna de Rabia).”

    “Obtener firma/sello del COLVET cuando sea requerido.”

  2. Paperwork

    DIGEGA validates the documents; official inspection at the port of exit

    Present the documents to DIGEGA (Ciudad Ganadera, Santo Domingo, Monday to Friday 8 am to 4 pm) to be signed and stamped (RD$ 500), and complete the VUCE single-window process where it applies. DIGEGA answers within 1 to 24 hours. Then go to the port of exit, where an official vet inspects your pet and issues the zoosanitary certificate.

    Details and the official words

    “Presentar la documentación ante DIGEGA para validación (Firma y sellado).”

    “Realizar el proceso correspondiente en VUCE cuando aplique.”

    “Dirigirse al puerto de salida para la inspección veterinaria oficial y emisión del certificado zoosanitario correspondiente.”

    “Lunes a Viernes de 8:00 am – 4:00 pm”

    “1-24 Horas”

    “RD$ 500.00 pesos según el protocolo específico publicado por DIGEGA; conviene validar si existen costos adicionales asociados al trámite/VUCE o al destino.”

From the rule file

When each step happens

The timing rules for each step, in plain words. The planner turns them into dates for your flight.

  • Health certificate from a vet, with an up-to-date vaccination record

    • On or before the day of the health certificate

Worked out from the rules

Where you can go from the Dominican Republic, and how long it takes

How each destination we cover treats pets from the Dominican Republic, as its authority names the group, and the least time its official waits allow. Tap a destination for the full route.

47 destinations

Destination (dogs)Your pet’s group there · entry feesAlready vaccinatedNothing done yet
Up to a month · 25Bahrain, Canada, China, Costa Rica…BahrainEntry fees: 5 BHDAlready vaccinated: 1 dayNothing done yet: 1 dayCanadaCountry not on Canada’s rabies-free listAlready vaccinated: 1 dayNothing done yet: 1 dayChinaunder reviewNon-designated country or regionAlready vaccinated: 1 dayNothing done yet: 1 dayCosta RicaAlready vaccinated: 1 dayNothing done yet: 1 dayIndonesiaunder reviewEntry fees: 25,000 IDRAlready vaccinated: 1 dayNothing done yet: 1 dayMexicoAny other countryAlready vaccinated: 1 dayNothing done yet: 1 dayPeruEntry fees: 98.60 PENAlready vaccinated: 1 dayNothing done yet: 1 daySouth KoreaCountry not on South Korea’s rabies-free listAlready vaccinated: 1 dayNothing done yet: 1 dayVietnamAlready vaccinated: 1 dayNothing done yet: 1 dayEcuadorAlready vaccinated: 1 dayNothing done yet: 2 weeksMalaysiaNon-scheduled countryEntry fees: 40 MYRAlready vaccinated: 2 weeksNothing done yet: 2 weeksSaudi ArabiaAlready vaccinated: 2 weeksNothing done yet: 2 weeksArgentinaAlready vaccinated: 1 dayNothing done yet: 3 weeksBrazilAlready vaccinated: 1 dayNothing done yet: 3 weeksColombiaEntry fees: 78,200 COPAlready vaccinated: 1 dayNothing done yet: 3 weeksUnited Arab EmiratesCountry not on the UAE’s low-risk listEntry fees: 700 AEDAlready vaccinated: 1 dayNothing done yet: 3 weeksUruguayAlready vaccinated: 1 dayNothing done yet: 3 weeksChileAlready vaccinated: 6 daysNothing done yet: 3 weeksThailandunder reviewAlready vaccinated: 3 weeksNothing done yet: 3 weeksPhilippinesunder reviewAlready vaccinated: 2 weeksNothing done yet: 4 weeksSouth Africaunder reviewCountry whose dogs are quarantinedEntry fees: 230 ZARAlready vaccinated: 1 dayNothing done yet: 4 weeksQatarAlready vaccinated: 3 daysNothing done yet: 4 weeksPanamaEntry fees: 65 USDAlready vaccinated: 5 daysNothing done yet: 4 weeksMoroccounder reviewAny other countryAlready vaccinated: 1 dayNothing done yet: 4 weeksIndiaEntry fees: 1,000 INRAlready vaccinated: 9 daysNothing done yet: 4 weeks
1 to 3 months · 5Israel, United States, Hawaii (US), Hong Kong SAR China…Israelunder reviewAlready vaccinated: 4 daysNothing done yet: 5 weeksUnited StatesCountry at high risk for dog rabiesAlready vaccinated: 4 weeksNothing done yet: 8 weeksHawaii (US)Already vaccinated: 4 weeksNothing done yet: 9 weeksHong Kong SAR ChinaGroup IIIB placeEntry fees: 432 HKDAlready vaccinated: about 3 monthsNothing done yet: about 3 monthsTaiwanunder reviewCountry not on Taiwan’s rabies-free listAlready vaccinated: about 3 monthsNothing done yet: about 3 months
3 to 6 months · 10Singapore, Iceland, European Union, Northern Ireland (UK)…SingaporeSchedule III countryEntry fees: 50 SGDAlready vaccinated: about 3 monthsNothing done yet: about 4 monthsIcelandCountry Iceland has not approvedEntry fees: 39,633 ISKAlready vaccinated: about 3 monthsNothing done yet: about 4 monthsEuropean UnionUnlisted countryAlready vaccinated: about 3 monthsNothing done yet: about 4 monthsNorthern Ireland (UK)Unlisted countryAlready vaccinated: about 3 monthsNothing done yet: about 4 monthsNorwayUnlisted third countryAlready vaccinated: about 3 monthsNothing done yet: about 4 monthsSwitzerlandGroup 3 (rabies risk) countryEntry fees: 60 CHFAlready vaccinated: about 3 monthsNothing done yet: about 4 monthsTürkiyeAlready vaccinated: about 3 monthsNothing done yet: about 4 monthsUnited KingdomUnlisted countryAlready vaccinated: about 3 monthsNothing done yet: about 4 monthsSerbiaUnlisted countryAlready vaccinated: about 3 monthsNothing done yet: about 4 monthsOmanEntry fees: 20 OMRAlready vaccinated: about 4 monthsNothing done yet: about 4 months
More than 6 months · 2Kenya, JapanKenyaunder reviewAlready vaccinated: about 3 monthsNothing done yet: about 6 monthsJapanNon-designated regionAlready vaccinated: about 6 monthsNothing done yet: about 7 months
Not possible, or not covered yet · 5Australia, Bali (Indonesia), Egypt, Kuwait…AustraliaCountry Australia has not approvedAlready vaccinated: —Nothing done yet: Not possibleBali (Indonesia)Already vaccinated: —Nothing done yet: Not possibleEgyptunder reviewAlready vaccinated: —Nothing done yet: Not covered yetKuwaitunder reviewAlready vaccinated: —Nothing done yet: Not covered yetNew ZealandCountry New Zealand has not approvedAlready vaccinated: —Nothing done yet: Not possible

For a dog; choose Cat above for cats. Grouped by the time for a pet with nothing done yet. “Already vaccinated”: microchipped, with a rabies vaccination still valid. Only the official waiting periods are counted: “No official wait” still means vet visits and paperwork, and appointment times come on top. Hover over a time to see the rule that sets it.

Money

What it costs to leave the Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic’s government fees for a pet leaving, exactly as the official pages state them, and what vets and labs in the Dominican Republic publish. The destination’s own fees come on top: they are in the table above and on each route.

Government fees when leaving the Dominican Republic

What vets and labs charge Not official figures

We have no published vet or lab prices for the Dominican Republic yet.

Prices that businesses publish on their own pages, quoted as we read them; yours can differ. Ranges are the lowest to highest of these examples, never our estimate. How we collect prices

Airline fees aren’t included: check your airline’s pet page.

Notes

Good to know

  • Meeting DIGEGA's requirements doesn't replace your destination's entry requirements: check them before you start, as some countries ask for a microchip, a rabies blood test or other certificates. DIGEGA recommends starting well ahead of your travel date.

Where this comes from

Official sources

Dirección General de Ganadería, DIGEGA (Dominican Republic)

Last checked 2026-10-12. Next re-check due by 2027-01-10.

Plan a trip from the Dominican RepublicReport a mistakeGet rule-change alerts

Questions owners ask

What do I need to take my dog or cat out of the Dominican Republic?

On the Dominican Republic side: health certificate from a vet, with an up-to-date vaccination record and DIGEGA validates the documents; official inspection at the port of exit. The destination’s own requirements come on top; the route pages combine both.

How early should I start when leaving the Dominican Republic?

It depends on where you go. For a dog with nothing done yet, the official waiting periods allow Bahrain, Canada and Costa Rica in 1 day, and Japan in about 7 months. Vet and appointment times come on top.

How this page is made

The explanations are ours, in plain English. Every rule, number and quote about a country comes from a rule file we have checked word for word against the government’s own page, and it changes when that page changes. Rules are summarised, not legal advice: confirm with the authority and your vet before you travel. How we verify · Report a mistake

Read next

Turn this into dates for your pet

Where from, where to, when. You get every step with its deadline and the official page it comes from.

Make a dated plan