Pet travel route
Taking a dog or cat from Chile → Switzerland
What the official rules ask for on this route, for a family pet travelling with its owner. Enter your travel date and your pet’s details to turn it into a dated checklist.
How early to start
3 weeks
if your pet has no microchip or rabies vaccination yet (the least time the official waiting periods allow)
5 days
if it is already microchipped and vaccinated
Counted only from the officially fixed waiting periods. Vet, lab and paperwork appointment times are on top, so start earlier.
Which rules apply to you
Chile is in the group “Group 2: countries with low risk of rabies — no titer test” in Bringing a dog, cat or ferret into Switzerland’s published list.See every group
Headlines for Switzerland
- Rabies blood test for some origins
- Import permit for some pets
- Designated entry point for some trips
- Some origins not allowed
What your dog needs
Dogs
Identification
Microchip
Your pet must be microchipped before (or at the same time as) its rabies vaccination.
Details and the official words
“All animals must be chipped (before the rabies vaccination) and must have a valid rabies vaccination and the necessary supporting documents.”
“vaccinations are valid only after microchip implantation”
Vaccination
Rabies vaccination
Your pet must be at least 12 weeks old when first vaccinated. The vaccination becomes valid 21 days later; keep boosters up to date so there's no gap.
Details and the official words
“The first vaccination is possible from the age of 12 weeks.”
“It only takes effect (in other words becomes valid) 21 days later.”
“above an age of 12 weeks and without lapses in vaccination”
Paperwork
Veterinary health certificate
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.
Details and the official words
SAG export certificate (CZE): Request the CZE from SAG within the 10 days before travel, once you have all the documents the destination needs. Online (with ClaveÚnica): mascotas.sag.gob.cl in the Metropolitan and Antofagasta regions, cerofilas.sag.gob.cl elsewhere; or in person at a SAG sectoral office (the only way without a Chilean RUN). It takes about 3 working days after 24 hours from receipt, and an online request only counts once it is paid.
Delivery is not immediate. For exports to Argentina the CZE is digital and can be downloaded with ClaveÚnica; for other destinations you collect it in person at the SAG office the email names.
“If your animal already meets the necessary requirements before travelling to Switzerland, you will need a valid Swiss or EU pet passport.”
“If your animal does not meet the requirements that apply in Switzerland, or the animal is travelling to Switzerland for the first time, you will need the veterinary certificate below, which is issued by the authorities in the exporting country”
“This animal health certificate is valid for 10 days from the date of issue by the official veterinarian”
“not less than 90 days prior to the date of issue of this animal health certificate”
“debes solicitar el CZE dentro de los 10 días previos al viaje”
“Si toda la documentación presentada está correcta, el trámite demora aproximadamente 3 días hábiles, contados a partir de las 24 horas siguientes a la recepción de la solicitud.”
“La solicitud será recibida oficialmente por el SAG solo después de que el usuario/a haya completado el proceso de pago.”
“El costo para la emisión del Certificado Zoosanitario de Exportación (CZE) es de 0,41 UTM por una mascota.”
Route
Entry check at an approved entry point
Coming from outside Europe, your pet must have an entry check: fly into Basel, Geneva or Zurich (in the cabin or as excess baggage) and take the red customs exit with your pet and its documents.
Details and the official words
If this is missed: During the mandatory entry control, animals with missing documents are refused entry.
“An entry control must always be carried out. You must present the animal at the red customs exit.”
“Animals can be directly brought into Switzerland by plane either accompanied (in the passenger cabin or as excess luggage) via the airports in Basel, Geneva or Zurich”
Vet exam
Health certificate from a licensed vet
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.
Details and the official words
“Emitido por médico veterinario/a titulado, dentro de los 10 días previos al viaje.”
Good to know
- Switzerland bans importing dogs with docked tails or cropped ears. Owners living abroad may bring such a dog for a holiday or short stay against a deposit at customs, and people moving to Switzerland may bring theirs as household effects (ask customs first). A dog with a naturally short tail needs FSVO confirmation, applied for at least 3 weeks before arrival.
- The FSVO's country list applies subject to temporary protective (sanitary) measures. Check the FSVO's current protective measures for the country you travel from.
- Each country sets its own requirements: some need tests or procedures months before travel. SAG points you to its export requirements system (select the country, 'live animals', dog or cat, 'pet') and to its chatbot, and says to plan ahead.
- Most countries that require a microchip also require it to be implanted BEFORE the rabies vaccination and before any blood test or treatment.
- If you leave Chile only for a while, your pet can come back with the same CZE if it re-enters within 60 days of the date the certificate was issued, its rabies vaccination is still valid, and the CZE records its individual and permanent identification. Otherwise you need a certificate from the country you come from that meets Chile's entry rules.
- The SAG office at Bulnes 140 (Santiago Centro) does not process pet exit applications.
What your cat needs
Cats
Identification
Microchip
Your pet must be microchipped before (or at the same time as) its rabies vaccination.
Details and the official words
“All animals must be chipped (before the rabies vaccination) and must have a valid rabies vaccination and the necessary supporting documents.”
“vaccinations are valid only after microchip implantation”
Vaccination
Rabies vaccination
Your pet must be at least 12 weeks old when first vaccinated. The vaccination becomes valid 21 days later; keep boosters up to date so there's no gap.
Details and the official words
“The first vaccination is possible from the age of 12 weeks.”
“It only takes effect (in other words becomes valid) 21 days later.”
“above an age of 12 weeks and without lapses in vaccination”
Paperwork
Veterinary health certificate
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.
Details and the official words
SAG export certificate (CZE): Request the CZE from SAG within the 10 days before travel, once you have all the documents the destination needs. Online (with ClaveÚnica): mascotas.sag.gob.cl in the Metropolitan and Antofagasta regions, cerofilas.sag.gob.cl elsewhere; or in person at a SAG sectoral office (the only way without a Chilean RUN). It takes about 3 working days after 24 hours from receipt, and an online request only counts once it is paid.
Delivery is not immediate. For exports to Argentina the CZE is digital and can be downloaded with ClaveÚnica; for other destinations you collect it in person at the SAG office the email names.
“If your animal already meets the necessary requirements before travelling to Switzerland, you will need a valid Swiss or EU pet passport.”
“If your animal does not meet the requirements that apply in Switzerland, or the animal is travelling to Switzerland for the first time, you will need the veterinary certificate below, which is issued by the authorities in the exporting country”
“This animal health certificate is valid for 10 days from the date of issue by the official veterinarian”
“not less than 90 days prior to the date of issue of this animal health certificate”
“debes solicitar el CZE dentro de los 10 días previos al viaje”
“Si toda la documentación presentada está correcta, el trámite demora aproximadamente 3 días hábiles, contados a partir de las 24 horas siguientes a la recepción de la solicitud.”
“La solicitud será recibida oficialmente por el SAG solo después de que el usuario/a haya completado el proceso de pago.”
“El costo para la emisión del Certificado Zoosanitario de Exportación (CZE) es de 0,41 UTM por una mascota.”
Route
Entry check at an approved entry point
Coming from outside Europe, your pet must have an entry check: fly into Basel, Geneva or Zurich (in the cabin or as excess baggage) and take the red customs exit with your pet and its documents.
Details and the official words
If this is missed: During the mandatory entry control, animals with missing documents are refused entry.
“An entry control must always be carried out. You must present the animal at the red customs exit.”
“Animals can be directly brought into Switzerland by plane either accompanied (in the passenger cabin or as excess luggage) via the airports in Basel, Geneva or Zurich”
Vet exam
Health certificate from a licensed vet
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.
Details and the official words
“Emitido por médico veterinario/a titulado, dentro de los 10 días previos al viaje.”
Good to know
- The FSVO's country list applies subject to temporary protective (sanitary) measures. Check the FSVO's current protective measures for the country you travel from.
- Each country sets its own requirements: some need tests or procedures months before travel. SAG points you to its export requirements system (select the country, 'live animals', dog or cat, 'pet') and to its chatbot, and says to plan ahead.
- Most countries that require a microchip also require it to be implanted BEFORE the rabies vaccination and before any blood test or treatment.
- If you leave Chile only for a while, your pet can come back with the same CZE if it re-enters within 60 days of the date the certificate was issued, its rabies vaccination is still valid, and the CZE records its individual and permanent identification. Otherwise you need a certificate from the country you come from that meets Chile's entry rules.
- The SAG office at Bulnes 140 (Santiago Centro) does not process pet exit applications.
Government fees we know of
- SAG Certificado Zoosanitario de Exportación (CZE), one pet (UTM = Chile's monthly tax unit; +0.22 UTM per additional pet on the same certificate)0.41 UTM (+0.22 per extra pet)
Vet, lab and courier costs are not included. The final amount can depend on how many tests or pets are on the certificate.
Common questions
Does my dog need a rabies blood test to go from Chile to Switzerland?
No. The official rules we have verified for this route don't ask for a rabies blood test.
Do I need an import permit to bring my dog into Switzerland?
No. The official rules we have verified for this route don't ask for an import permit.
Will my dog be quarantined in Switzerland?
Not on the routes we have verified: the official rules list no quarantine for a pet that meets the requirements.
Does my dog need a microchip?
Yes: Your pet must be microchipped before (or at the same time as) its rabies vaccination.