Requirement
Checks on arrival for pet travel: what it is and who requires it
What happens at the border. What a checks on arrival is, why authorities require it, and the exact requirement in every country we cover, quoted from the official source.
Updated 2026-10-12
On arrival an officer checks your documents and your pet, and checks that the microchip number matches. Some countries do this at the airport on the day, others at a quarantine station or by appointment.
What to watch for
- Keep every original document together in your hand luggage: the officer decides on the spot whether your pet can be released.
Who requires it, and exactly how
Each entry below is taken from the country’s rule file and links to the page it comes from. Where a rule only applies to some pets or origins, the condition is shown.
- Leaving
Pre-export inspection (only if the destination requires it)
For every pet
If the destination makes a pre-export inspection a condition of entry, request an appointment through NParks eServices at least five days before departure. The inspection is at the Changi Animal & Plant Quarantine Station during its opening hours. Turning up without an appointment means an inspection fee.
“at least five days before the animal’s departure”
- Entering
SAG check on arrival
For every pet
On arrival SAG checks that your health certificate (or EU passport) meets the requirements.
“Al llegar a Chile, el SAG verificará que la certificación sanitaria”
- Entering
Inspection and Sanitary Inspection Certificate (CIS) at the entry point
For every pet
At the port, airport or border post ICA checks your documents and inspects your pet; you pay ICA's fee for the inspection and the CIS in advance, and ICA issues the CIS if everything is in order.
“Para realizar el proceso anterior, el interesado deberá pagar previamente la tarifa vigente establecida por el ICA por concepto de inspección y emisión del CIS”
- Entering
Hong Kong dog licence and rabies shot on arrival
Your pet is a dog and (your pet is 5 months old or older on arrival, or you don’t know your pet’s birth date)
Dogs 5 months or older get a Hong Kong dog licence and a rabies vaccination on arrival, at your cost.
“all dogs over 5 months of age in Hong Kong are required by law to obtain a dog licence and vaccination against rabies.”
- Entering
Examination at the quarantine station
For every pet
AQCS examines your pet and the original health certificate and issues a Provisional Quarantine Clearance Certificate. The original health certificate is kept by AQCS.
“The animal(s) will be examined at the Quarantine Station for issuing a Provisional Quarantine Clearance Certificate.”
- Entering
Physical inspection on arrival
For every pet
SENASICA inspects your pet on arrival to check its health. Pets with recent wounds or parasites need treatment first.
“a physical inspection of your animal will be carried out to verify its health status”
- Entering
Present the documents to SENASA on arrival and pass the clinical inspection
For every pet
The owner or an agent takes an application with their details and the pet's, and the certificate, to the SENASA office at Jorge Chávez airport (or another international airport or land border post). A SENASA vet then examines the pet for signs of infectious or parasitic disease and decides whether it can continue with the entry procedure.
“El propietario o apoderado de la mascota debe presentar en la oficina de SENASA, ubicada en el aeropuerto Jorge Chávez y otros terminales aéreos internacionales del interior del país, así como en puestos de control fronterizos (vía terrestre), los siguientes documentos:”
- Entering
Book the border inspection
For every pet
Book your pet's arrival inspection at least 5 days before it arrives (with the import licence number and flight details). Without a booking you pay S$133 per hour.
“five days before the animal’s arrival, or earlier”
- Entering
Fly as manifest cargo and present the permit and certificate on arrival
For every pet
Dogs and cats must be registered as manifest cargo and cannot fly as excess baggage. Cats and dogs from countries without quarantine can also arrive at Durban. At the airport the original import permit and original health certificate are presented to the veterinary officials before the animal is released.
“All dogs and cats imported into South Africa must be registered, as manifest cargo and can not fly as excess baggage.”
- Entering
Quarantine inspection at the port of entry
For every pet
On arrival the quarantine officer checks your documents and your pet's health with a clinical exam. If all is in order your pet may be released the same day.
“may be released on the day of arrival.”
- Entering
Take your pet to the animal quarantine station on arrival
For every pet
On arrival take your pet to the animal quarantine station with a photocopy of the owner's passport, the original vaccination record (and pet passport), the original official health certificate and a photocopy of the printed import permit. At Suvarnabhumi airport there are two stations: near baggage belt 8 for pets that came in the passenger cabin, and the International Animal Quarantine Station for pets that travelled as cargo.
“Take your pets to the animal quarantine station.”
- Entering
Present the SPSIC and the original EP/IVHC to the BAI quarantine officer on arrival
For every pet
At the international port of entry you present printed copies of the approved SPSIC and the original EP/IVHC to the BAI Veterinary Quarantine Officer (for a pet released from the cargo terminal, also the airway bill stamped by the airline). You pay the fees at the airport's veterinary quarantine office; with complete documents the pet can be released the same day.
“Upon arrival of the dog/cat at any international port of entry, the consignor/consignee shall present to the BAI Veterinary Quarantine Officer (VQO) at the airport/port of entry the following documents:”
- Entering
Release on arrival (dog)
Your pet is a dog
On arrival, apply for release with the customs declaration or bill of lading, vaccination record, health certificate (and titer certificate if needed). Your dog is inspected; the release fee is AED 500 per dog.
“A customs declaration or bill of lading showing the delivery data”
- Entering
Release on arrival (cat)
Your pet is a cat
On arrival, apply for release with the customs declaration or bill of lading, vaccination record, health certificate (and titer certificate if needed). Your cat is inspected; the release fee is AED 250 per cat.
“A customs declaration or bill of lading showing the delivery data”
- Entering
Cat appears healthy on arrival
Your pet is a cat
Cats must appear healthy on arrival and may be inspected. No federal proof of rabies vaccination is required, but CDC recommends it and your destination state may require it.
“Cats are not required to have proof of rabies vaccination for importation into the United States.”
- Entering
Checks on arrival
For every pet
Your pet's microchip and documents are checked on arrival. Pets arriving from outside the EU must be taken through customs (an agent or the airline usually does this).
“When you arrive in Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland), your pet’s microchip and documents will be checked.”
- Entering
Use the red customs channel
The country you travel from is in the group: EU/EEA country — European pet passport, Finland (incl. Åland), Ireland, Malta, Northern Ireland — pet passport, no tapeworm treatment or Listed European third countries (Andorra, Switzerland, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Greenland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican) — no titer, any border crossing
At the border, choose the red channel and be ready to show your pet and its documents. You don't need to contact Mattilsynet beforehand.
“Select the red channel and prepare to present your animals and required documents for inspection.”
- Entering
Healthy and transported humanely
Your pet is a dog
Your dog must appear healthy on arrival and travel in line with Canada's humane transportation requirements.
“the dog appears healthy and meets humane transportation requirements”