Vet examination for pet travel: what it is and who requires it

Registered vet certifies the destination's requirements

For every pet

A registered vet certifies that the destination's health requirements are met: vaccines, treatments, certificates and so on, using products approved by SENASA in Argentina.

“El veterinario matriculado debe certificar el cumplimiento de las exigencias sanitarias que solicita el país de destino”

Final health and welfare exam with your registered vet

For every pet

Your registered vet examines your pet and you both sign the pre-export veterinary health and welfare declaration. It must be within 72 hours of departure (or the period the importing country sets), and before your DAFF appointment.

“This must be within 72 hours of departure, or a period set by the importing country.”

Health certificate from a licensed vet

For every pet

A licensed vet examines your pet and issues a health certificate within the 10 days before you travel (SAG publishes a model you can give your vet). You also need the vaccination certificates with the vaccine labels, a deworming certificate showing the date and product, and anything the destination adds, such as an import permit or extra tests.

“Emitido por médico veterinario/a titulado, dentro de los 10 días previos al viaje.”

Your own vet completes the health attestation or declaration

You do not travel to any EU country, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino or Vatican City

In most cases your own vet fills in a health attestation or a background declaration (a document you or your vet sign to give the authority the guarantees it needs). The vet often does a clinical examination, and sometimes specific vaccinations, treatments and blood tests are required before the trip. The destination's requirements say which documents apply.

“I de fleste tilfælde skal din praktiserende dyrlæge udfylde en sundhedsattest eller en baggrundserklæring.”

AFCD official veterinary examination (only if the destination requires it)

For every pet

If the destination specifically requires an Official Veterinary Examination, apply for an Official Animal Health Certificate instead: bring your pet to AFCD, where a Government Veterinary Officer inspects it before issuing the certificate (ready in two working days). Book an appointment on 2150 7062 at least 10 working days before the inspection.

“You must make an appointment at least 10 working days prior to the expected date of inspection.”

Health certificate from a private vet

For every pet

A private vet examines your pet and issues a good-health certificate with its name, microchip number (if it applies), breed, coat colour, sex and age, your name and address in Mexico, and a statement that it has no fresh wounds or signs of infectious disease. It must be no more than five days old (or the validity the destination sets) when you apply.

“de no más de cinco días de expedido o de acuerdo a la vigencia establecida por el país de destino”

Physical exam and second stamp on the day of travel

For every pet

On the day you travel, bring your pet to SENASICA's office at the point of departure. Officials examine it and, if all is in order, give the CZE its second stamp and signature.

“El día de tu viaje deberás llevar a tu mascota a la oficina de Senasica en el punto de salida, en donde el personal oficial realizará un examen físico, y si todo está en orden, otorgará el segundo sello y firma a su CZE.”

Medical-veterinary declaration from a vet at any clinic (valid 48 hours)

You do not travel to any EU country, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino or Vatican City

A vet at any clinic issues a medical-veterinary declaration that is valid for 48 hours. The county veterinarian bases the health certificate on it, together with proof of your pet's current rabies vaccination (in the passport or health booklet).

“na podstawie ważnego 48 godzin orzeczenia lekarsko – weterynaryjnego wystawionego przez lekarza weterynarii w dowolnej lecznicy oraz dowodu aktualnego szczepienia przeciwko wściekliźnie (w paszporcie lub książeczce zdrowia)”

Vaccination and health certificate from a Korean animal clinic

For every pet

Get the vaccination certificate and the health certificate from the clinic that vaccinated and treated your pet. Even if a rabies vaccination given abroad is accepted, you must also get a vaccination and health certificate from a domestic clinic within 10 days before departure.

“you must get a vaccination and health certificate from a domestic animal clinic within 10 days before departure and submit it along with the foreign certificate.”

Use a USDA-accredited veterinarian

You do not travel to Hawaii (US)

Only a USDA-accredited veterinarian can issue your pet's international health certificate. Tell them the destination, any transit countries, your departure date and whether the pet travels in the cabin or as cargo.

“contact a USDA-accredited veterinarian as soon as you decide to travel”

Health certificate from an authorised vet

For every pet

A vet authorised in the country of origin certifies that your pet is clinically healthy, shows no signs of parasites and is fit to travel. It is issued within the 10 days before the date the CVI is issued.

“Emitido dentro de los 10 (diez) días previos a la fecha de emisión del CVI por un veterinario autorizado en el país de origen”

Final pre-export vet check

For every pet

A government-approved vet examines your dog or cat for parasites and signs of disease within 5 days before export, and completes the veterinary health certificate.

“Within 5 days before your dog’s export date.”

Clinical examination by a vet

For every pet

A registered vet in the exporting country examines your pet within the 10 days before the CVI is issued and certifies that it shows no signs of infectious or parasitic disease and is fit to travel.

“no prazo de dez (10) dias anteriores à data de emissão do CVI, a um exame clínico realizado por um médico veterinário registrado no país exportador”

Clinical examination by a vet

For every pet

A vet examines your pet within the 10 days before the CVI is issued and finds no clinical signs of infectious or parasitic disease.

“dentro de los 10 días previos a la fecha de emisión del CVI”

Official clinical inspection within 14 days before arrival

For every pet

The official agency of the country or region you leave inspects your pet for rabies and other infectious or parasitic disease within 14 days before it arrives in China.

“Pets must undergo an animal health clinical inspection conducted by the official agencies of the departing country or region within 14 days prior to their arrival in China.”

Pre-export clinical inspection

For every pet

A vet examines your pet within 10 days before boarding (no signs of rabies; for dogs also leptospirosis) and checks the microchip.

“Before leaving the exporting country (within 10 days before boarding), dogs and cats must undergo a clinical inspection by a veterinarian.”

Screwworm inspection document (dogs from the US)

The country you travel from is in the group: Coming from the USA — screwworm inspection document for dogs and your pet is a dog

A USDA-accredited veterinarian must inspect your dog and sign a document confirming it is free from New World screwworm, within the 5 days before you travel. Cats don't need it. No health certificate or vaccination record is required from the US.

“you must present an inspection document upon arrival verifying that your dog or bird (cats are exempt) is free from the New World screwworm (NWS).”

Entire dogs: examination for canine transmissible venereal tumour

Your pet is a dog and 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 entire (not desexed) male or female dog has its external genitalia examined in the 2 days before shipment and again on arrival in New Zealand.

“If the dog is an entire male or female, it must be subjected to an examination of the external genitalia (which in the case of a male dog includes examination of the extruded penis):”

Final vet inspection in the 2 days before shipment

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

A vet inspects your pet in the 2 days before shipment and finds it healthy and fit to travel, free of visible external parasites, dirt, insects and seeds, and of signs of infectious disease. A dog must also be free of recent dog bites.

“A cat or dog must be inspected by a veterinarian in the 2 days before the date of shipment and be found to be:”

Clinical examination within 24 hours before travel

For every pet

The certificate's clinical examination (your pet is free of clinical signs and fit to travel) must be done within 24 hours before movement.

“The clinical examination(Part IX) must be done within 24 hours before movement.”

Veterinary Certificate of Health (puppy travelling without you)

Your pet is a dog and someone else brings the pet (you are not travelling with it) and your pet is under 8 months old on arrival

Because your puppy is under 8 months and travels without you, a licensed vet must examine it within the 72 hours before it arrives in Canada and issue a Veterinary Certificate of Health (dog at least 8 weeks old; vaccinated against distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza and parvovirus). It does not need a government endorsement.

“the dog has been examined by the certifying licensed veterinarian in the country of origin during the 72 hour period immediately preceding the date of import into Canada”