Health certificate for pet travel: what it is and who requires it

Book your AQCS appointment

For every pet

Book an appointment with the AQCS station (Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru or Hyderabad) and bring your pet with the documents at least 7 days before departure.

“Quarantine office with Pet animal 7 days prior to embarkation for obtaining the NOC with prior appointment”

Animal health certificate (AHC) from an official vet

You travel to any EU country

Get an animal health certificate signed by an official veterinarian (OV) for each trip. It's valid for 10 days for entry into the EU, then 6 months for onward EU travel and for re-entry to Great Britain.

“The certificate is valid for travel any time within 10 days after it’s issued by your vet, so you’ll need to travel during this time.”

Export health certificate (EHC) + export application (EXA)

You do not travel to any EU country or Northern Ireland (UK)

For a non-EU destination you need the destination's export health certificate (EHC) and an export application form (EXA). Nominate an official vet, who receives the EHC and checks your pet before travel.

“If you’re travelling to a non-EU country, you’ll need to get an export health certificate (EHC).”

Accredited vet completes the UK health certificate

You travel to United Kingdom

Your USDA-accredited vet completes and signs the non-commercial UK health certificate. It is valid for 30 days after the vet signs it, but APHIS must endorse it within 10 days of arriving in the UK — and the UK requires an original ink endorsement.

“Valid for 30 days after the USDA Accredited Veterinarian completes and signs it.”

International Veterinary Certificate (CVI) or legalised passport

For every pet

Your pet needs a CVI issued, signed and stamped by the veterinary authority of the country it comes from (one of its languages must be Spanish), or a valid official passport carrying the same health information, endorsed by the veterinary authority before boarding (English is accepted as the only alternative language besides Spanish). It is valid for 60 calendar days from issue, as long as the rabies vaccination is still valid on the day your pet enters.

“deben contar con el Certificado Veterinario Internacional (CVI) o con Pasaporte oficial legalizado”

Health certificate endorsed by an official government vet

For every pet

The official government veterinarian of your country endorses the country-specific veterinary health certificate and stamps every page of the lab reports, within 5 days before export and after the final vet check.

“Take the completed health certificate and laboratory test reports to the competent authority for endorsement by an official government veterinarian in the country of export.”

International Veterinary Certificate (CVI)

For every pet

The original CVI, issued by the exporting country's veterinary authority, using the model the Brazilian ministry requires (mandatory since 6 September 2025). It is valid for 60 days from issue, as long as the rabies vaccination is still valid on arrival. Keep the original: border staff must not keep it.

“Para o ingresso de cães e gatos é necessário apresentar Certificado Veterinário Internacional (CVI) ou Passaporte oficial emitido por Autoridade Veterinária do país de origem atendendo aos requisitos sanitários do Brasil.”

International Veterinary Certificate (CVI)

For every pet

A CVI issued by the health authority of the country your pet is coming from, meeting all of Chile's requirements. It is valid for 10 days, extendable by up to 5 more depending on the travel conditions. Your pet's identification number on it must match the animal.

“deben venir amparados por un Certificado Veterinario Internacional (CVI)”

Quarantine certificate from the official animal quarantine authority

For every pet

You must give customs a valid quarantine certificate issued by the official animal quarantine authority of the country or region you leave.

“携带宠物入境的，携带人应当向海关提供输出国家或者地区官方动物检疫机构出具的有效检疫证书和狂犬病疫苗接种证书。”

Original health certificate from the official authority, dated within 10 days of entry

For every pet

Bring the original health certificate issued or endorsed by the official health authority of the country of origin, with stamp and signature, dated no more than 10 calendar days before the animals enter Colombia. It states the species, breed, sex, age, coat colour, microchip (if any), the parasite treatment, and that the animal is fit to travel.

“Presentar original del certificado sanitario, expedido o avalado por la entidad sanitaria oficial del país de origen con sello y firma original o electrónica para los países que cuenten con este sistema, con fecha de expedición no mayor a diez (10) días calendario previos al ingreso de los animales a Colombia”

Health certificate

For every pet

A veterinary health certificate (with the tick treatment on it) goes with your pet. If it can't reach the Animal Quarantine Station with the other documents 10 days before arrival, the original must be handed to the inspector on arrival. Hawaii's pages give no validity period for it: ask the Animal Quarantine Station.

“If the health certificate cannot be sent 10 days before arriving with the rest of the documents, the original must be given to the inspector upon arrival in Hawai‘i.”

Animal health certificate

For every pet

Issued no more than 14 days before export (from Group IIIA: no more than 7 days), signed by a government vet — or by a registered vet and endorsed by a government vet. It must show the microchip number.

“Dated not more than 14 days before the export”

Official health certificate from the country of origin

For every pet

An official health certificate from the country of origin certifying that your pet shows no clinical signs of infectious and contagious diseases, including rabies, distemper, parvovirus and leptospirosis for a dog (distemper, feline enteritis, panleukopenia and leptospirosis for a cat). The owner's name on it must match the owner's ticket, and it must give the owner's name and address in the country of origin and in India.

“The official health certificate from the country of origin certifying that the dog is free from clinical sign and symptoms of all infectious and contagious diseases including Rabies, Canine Distemper, Parvo virus infection, Leptospirosis etc.”

Government certificate from the exporting country

For every pet

Get the certificate (Japan's recommended Form AC, or Form AB from designated regions) completed and endorsed by your country's government veterinary authority, after the clinical inspection.

“Applicants must obtain certificates issued by the government agency (corresponding to Animal Quarantine service in Japan) of the exporting country.”

Veterinary health certificate from the exporting country's vet authority

For every pet

A Veterinary Health Certificate from the exporting country's government veterinary authority must come with the pet, and the pet must be exported within 7 days of the date the certificate was issued. The pet is examined within 7 days before export and again fit to travel on the day of shipment.

“Pengimportan hendaklah disertakan dengan Sijil Kesihatan Veterinar yang dikeluarkan oleh Pihak Berkuasa Veterinar Negara Pengeksport. Pengeksportan hendaklah dilakukan dalam tempoh 7 hari dari tarikh SKV dikeluarkan.”

Certificate of Good Health (issued within 15 days)

The country you travel from is in the group: Any other country — Certificate of Good Health (15 days)

Bring the original and a copy of a Certificate of Good Health issued no more than 15 days before you arrive, by an official vet or a private vet on letterhead with their licence number. It must show your pet's rabies vaccination (date and validity), that it was healthy at the pre-travel exam, and that it was dewormed inside and out in the last 6 months and is free of external parasites.

“you must present a Certificate of Good Health with a maximum validity of 15 days from its date of issuance”

Veterinary certificate from the exporting country's official vet

The country you travel from is in the group: Category 2: countries recognised as rabies free or Category 3: specified countries where rabies is absent or well controlled

An official vet in the exporting country issues the model veterinary certificate for your category (or one agreed between MPI and that country) certifying that the general requirements and the requirements for the specified diseases have been met. It is endorsed on every page. The documents must be original and in English.

“A veterinary certificate from an official veterinarian in the exporting country must include the following:”

Original export health certificate from the official authority of the country you come from

For every pet

Bring the original export health certificate issued by the official authority of the country of origin. It must give the pet's current vaccines, the parasite treatment and its state of health. SENASA's notes give no deadline for how recent it must be: ask SENASA.

“Certificado sanitario de exportación original emitido por la Autoridad Oficial del país de procedencia que consigne la siguiente información”

Official veterinary health certificate from the country of origin

For every pet

The law says animals arriving in Qatar must come with an official veterinary health certificate from the country of origin. It must show the official stamps, the animal's origin, its testing immediately before shipping, and that it is free of the epidemic and infectious diseases the Qatari veterinary authority specifies. You present the documents on arrival, before the animal is unloaded.

“Official veterinary health certificate certified as valid by the country of origin and showing the official stamps of the consignment, its origin, its testing immediately before shipping, and that it is free of epidemic and infectious diseases specified by the competent veterinary authority.”

Original veterinary health certificate

For every pet

Your pet must travel with the original veterinary health certificate issued by the competent authorities in your country, plus the rabies vaccination certificate. You upload copies of both (and the vaccination record) with the permit application.

“The pet must be accompanied by the original veterinary health certificate issued by the competent authorities and a rabies vaccination certificate (or for any other required diseases).”

Veterinary health certificate endorsed by an official vet

For every pet

Use Singapore's certificate template for your country's Schedule. Your vet completes Sections I–III; your country's official government veterinarian endorses Section IV. The certificate must be dated no more than 7 days before export and is valid for 7 days.

“Request the exporting country’s official government veterinarian to endorse Section IV of the same veterinary certificate.”

Veterinary health certificate within 10 days of departure

For every pet

The department sends you the veterinary health certificate with the import permit. A vet authorised by the exporting country's veterinary administration completes it in English within 10 days of departure, and it is stamped and signed by the exporting country's veterinary authorities.

“This needs to be completed, in English, by a veterinarian authorized thereto by the Veterinary Administration of the exporting country, within 10 days of departure.”

Hendra / Nipah virus certificate (cats from Australia; cats and dogs from Malaysia)

You travel from Australia and your pet is a cat, or you travel from Malaysia and your pet is a dog or cat

Cats from Australia and cats and dogs from Malaysia need an additional certificate. It must confirm either that there were no cases of Hendra and Nipah virus disease in the exporting country or state, or that the animal tested negative within 14 days before export and was kept for 60 days before departure in an area with no reported cases.

“Cats imported from Australia and cats and dogs imported from Malaysia required an additional certificate”

Health certificate from the exporting country's government

For every pet

A health certificate issued by the government agency of the country your pet is leaving. It must show the microchip number and birth date, and for pets aged 90 days or older not from a rabies-free country, also the rabies antibody test result. You hand it to the animal quarantine officer on arrival.

“a health certificate issued by the government agency of the exporting country confirming the animal's microchip number and the result of the rabies antibody test must be submitted to the animal quarantine officer.”

Official health certificate from the exporting country

For every pet

Apply for an official health certificate from the authorised body of the exporting country. It must be completed in English and stamped (endorsed) by the authorised veterinary official. The page gives no deadline for how recent it must be.

“The Official health Certificate must be completed in English and stamped (endorsed) by the authorized veterinary official of the exporting country.”

Export permit / international veterinary health certificate (EP/IVHC) from the exporting country

For every pet

The veterinary authority of the exporting country issues the export permit / international veterinary health certificate (EP/IVHC). You present the original to the BAI quarantine officer when the pet arrives.

“Original copy of the EP/IVHC issued by the veterinary authority of the exporting country”

Health certificate from your country's veterinary authority

For every pet

An authorised health certificate issued by the competent veterinary authority of the country you're travelling from, with the microchip number.

“Authorized health certificate issued from the competent veterinary authorities.”

Certification of U.S.-Issued Rabies Vaccination (before you leave the U.S.)

Your pet is a dog and your pet has been in a place in the group “High-risk for dog rabies” in the last 6 months and your pet was vaccinated in United States

A USDA-accredited vet completes this CDC form, and USDA endorses it, BEFORE your dog leaves the U.S. It must be completed at least 28 days after a first-ever rabies vaccine and can be reused while that vaccine is valid. It cannot be issued after the dog has left.

“the form must be completed at least 28 days after the vaccine was administered”

Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip

Your pet is a dog and your pet has been in a place in the group “High-risk for dog rabies” in the last 6 months and it is not true that your pet was vaccinated in United States

A vet completes this CDC form and an official government veterinarian endorses it, no more than 30 days before your dog travels to the U.S. It is valid for one entry.

“This form must be completed no more than 30 days before the dog travels to the U.S.”

Veterinary health certificate from the exporting country's authority

For every pet

The competent authority of the exporting country issues the ministry's Veterinary Health and Origin Certificate within 2 days before travel (it records the microchip, the rabies vaccination and the antibody test, and is signed and stamped by the official vet).

“Within 2 days prior to travel, a Veterinary Health Certificate , as stipulated in the annex of the relevant regulation below, must be issued by the competent authority of the exporting country.”

Great Britain pet health certificate

The country you travel from is in the group: Listed — GB pet health certificate or Not listed — rabies blood test needed

Get a Great Britain pet health certificate signed, stamped and dated by an official veterinarian in the country you travel from. Your pet must enter Great Britain within 10 days of it being issued.

“Your pet must enter Great Britain within 10 days of the pet health certificate being issued.”

Pet passport or animal health certificate

The country you travel from is in the group: EU country or Listed — pet passport, AHC or GB pet health certificate accepted

Travel with a pet passport issued in an EU country (or a GB-issued AHC from the last 6 months, or a Great Britain pet health certificate).

“If you’re travelling from an EU country your pet must have one of the following documents”

European pet passport

The country you travel from is in the group: Sweden — no rabies vaccination needed for travel only between Norway and Sweden, EU/EEA country — European pet passport or Finland (incl. Åland), Ireland, Malta, Northern Ireland — pet passport, no tapeworm treatment

From an EU/EEA country your pet needs a European pet passport issued by an authorised vet and signed by you, with its microchip, rabies vaccination and (dogs) tapeworm treatment.

“The animal must be accompanied by a pet passport carrying details of ownership, description and ID-marking of the animal.”

EU pet health certificate

It is not true that the country you travel from is in the group: Sweden — no rabies vaccination needed for travel only between Norway and Sweden, EU/EEA country — European pet passport or Finland (incl. Åland), Ireland, Malta, Northern Ireland — pet passport, no tapeworm treatment

Your pet needs an animal health certificate (EU model) from an official vet in the country you're travelling from, valid for 10 days from issue until the check on entry. A pet returning to Norway can instead use its EEA pet passport if it was vaccinated (and titer-tested, if needed) before it left the EEA.

“As the main rule, the identification document must be in the format of an animal health certificate”

Hendra virus statement (cats from Australia)

You travel from Australia and your pet is a cat

The original health certificate from an official Australian vet must confirm your cat hasn't been in an animal holding facility where Hendra virus was detected in the 60 days before departure.

“The certificate must confirm that the cat has not been in an animal holding facility where Hendra virus has been detected in the last 60 days before departure.”

Pet passport

The country you travel from is in the group: Group 1: EU member states and other European states and territories using approved pet passports (free of urban rabies)

From the EU and the other European countries on the FSVO list, your pet needs a recognised pet passport showing its microchip and valid rabies vaccination.

“To travel to Switzerland from the EU, dogs, cats and ferrets must generally meet three requirements: they need a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and a recognised pet passport.”

Veterinary health certificate

It is not true that the country you travel from is in the group: Group 1: EU member states and other European states and territories using approved pet passports (free of urban rabies)

Your pet needs the veterinary health certificate (EU model) issued by the authorities of the country you're travelling from. It's valid for 10 days from issue to the entry check. If your pet already met Switzerland's requirements before it left (e.g. a Swiss pet coming home), a valid Swiss or EU pet passport is enough instead.

“If your animal already meets the necessary requirements before travelling to Switzerland, you will need a valid Swiss or EU pet passport.”

EU animal health certificate

For every pet

An official (or authorised) veterinarian completes the EU animal health certificate and the competent authority endorses it. It is valid for entry for 10 days from issue (longer by the length of a sea journey), then for onward EU travel for up to 6 months.

“valid for 10 days from the date of issue by the official veterinarian until the date of the documentary and identity checks at the travellers' points of entry”