Dog or cat from Indonesia to Kenya: official requirements

1. Get ready

   1. IdentificationEntering Kenya

      Microchip (or other permanent identification)

      Your pet must be identified by a permanent mark such as a microchip, and its number must be on the veterinary certificate. Not needed for a pet from a rabies-free country (see the warning).

      Details and the official words

      “Were identified by a permanent mark (such as a microchip) and their identification number shall be stated in the certificate or had any other adequate identification; and”

   2. VaccinationIndonesia and Kenya

      Rabies vaccination: first one at 3 months or older, at least 6 months before shipment

      Your pet's first (primary) rabies vaccination must be given when it is at least 3 months old, and at least 6 months (and at most 1 year) before shipment; a booster must be given at most 1 year before shipment. Use an inactivated vaccine or a recombinant vaccine. Not needed for a pet from a rabies-free country (see the warning).

      Details and the official words

      Vaccination book with the rabies vaccination: Dogs and cats carry rabies (Barantin calls them HPR), so Barantin asks for your pet's vaccination book. Vaccinations can be given by the veterinary authority or an accredited vet.

      “Not less than 6 months and not more than one year prior to shipment in the case of a primary vaccination, which should have been carried out when the animals were at least 3 months old;”

      “With an inactivated virus vaccine or with a recombinant vaccine expressing the rabies virus glycoprotein; and”

      “Jika termasuk Hewan Pembawa Rabies (HPR) seperti kucing, anjing dan lainnya maka harus dilengkapi dengan buku vaksin dan hasil uji titer protektif antibody rabies.”

      “Sedangkan untuk vaksinasi dan uji titer dapat dilakukan di laboratorium otoritas veteriner/ terakreditasi.”

   3. VaccinationEntering Kenya

      Rabies vaccination within the last year

      The latest rabies vaccination (the first one, or the last booster) must be at most 1 year before shipment. If it will be older on the day your pet leaves, give a booster before then.

      Details and the official words

      Add the date of your pet's most recent rabies shot to check this.

      “Not more than one year prior to shipment in the case of a booster vaccination;”

   4. Blood testIndonesia and Kenya

      Rabies blood test, 3 to 24 months before shipment

      Your pet needs a rabies antibody test (as set out in the World Organisation for Animal Health manual) with a result of at least 0.5 IU/ml, taken between 24 months and 3 months before shipment. Not needed for a pet from a rabies-free country (see the warning).

      The official wording is ambiguous. Confirm this point with the authority.

      Details and the official words

      Rabies antibody test showing a protective level: Barantin asks for the result of a rabies antibody (titer) test showing a protective level, done at a veterinary authority or accredited laboratory, whatever the destination. It doesn't give the level, or how long after the vaccination the blood must be taken; 0.5 IU/ml is the usual international standard, but confirm with Barantin.

      “Were subjected not less than 3 months and not more than 24 months prior to shipment to an antibody test as prescribed in the OIE Terrestrial Manual with a positive result equivalent to at least 0.5 IU/ml;”

      “Hasil uji titer protektif antibody rabies.”

      “Jika termasuk Hewan Pembawa Rabies (HPR) seperti kucing, anjing dan lainnya maka harus dilengkapi dengan buku vaksin dan hasil uji titer protektif antibody rabies.”

2. In the days before you travel

   1. PermitEntering Kenya

      Import permit (VS01) from the Directorate of Veterinary Services

      Apply online on KenTrade's Trade Facilitation Platform (TFP) for the import permit for dogs and cats (VS01), with a copy of your pet's vaccination certificate from its country of origin, and pay the processing fee (up to KES 500 per animal). The permit covers one consignment and travels with your pet. The permit conditions say it is valid for at most 30 days; KenTrade's page says 90 days. The plan uses 30 days.

      The official wording is ambiguous. Confirm this point with the authority.

      Details and the official words

      Processing fee: KES 0 to 500 per animal (KenTrade's estimate), paid by M-PESA or at a bank.

      The application also asks for a Unique Consignment Reference (UCR) number.

      “This import permit shall be valid for a maximum of thirty (30) days and shall only be for one consignment.”

      “This import permit shall accompany the animal during importation.”

      “The import permit is processed through the Trade Facilitation Platform (TFP), and is issued per consignment. The permit is valid for a period of ninety (90) days.”

      “Vaccination certificate (copy)”

      “KES 0 - KES 500 per animal”

   2. PaperworkIndonesia and Kenya

      International veterinary certificate, dated at most 48 hours before departure

      Your pet travels with an international veterinary certificate, dated no more than 48 hours before it boards, stating that it showed no sign of rabies (on the day of shipment and in the 48 hours before) and is clinically free of other contagious and infectious diseases and of internal and external parasites. It also states the microchip number and the rabies vaccination and blood test.

      Details and the official words

      Barantin Animal Health Certificate at the airport or port: Report and hand your pet over to the quarantine officers at the official airport or port for the quarantine check. If your pet meets the requirements and is free of quarantine animal diseases, Barantin issues the Animal Health Certificate. The examination costs 10,000 rupiah per dog or cat and the certificate 5,000 rupiah (Finance Minister Regulation 27/2024); other quarantine services cost extra.

      “No canine or feline animal shall be imported into Kenya from any country unless accompanied by an international veterinary certificate attesting that the animal:”

      “Showed no clinical sign of rabies on the day of shipment;”

      “Showed no clinical sign of rabies within 48 hours of shipment;”

      “Is clinically free of symptoms of any other contagious and infectious disease and internal and external parasites, the certificate being dated not more than 48 hours before embarkation;”

      “which must be accompanied by a veterinary health certificate from the country of origin to ascertain that the animals are healthy and disease free.”

      “Melaporkan dan menyerahkan anabul kepada petugas karantina di bandara/ pelabuhan resmi, untuk keperluan tindakan karantina hewan,”

      “Jika setelah tindakan karantina hewan, anabul memenuhi persyaratan dan bebas HPHK maka diterbitkan Animal Health Certificate,”

      “Untuk biaya PNBP dapat dicek pada Peraturan Menteri Keuangan No. 27 th 2024”

   3. PaperworkLeaving Indonesia

      Veterinary certificate from the national veterinary authority, and disease test results

      Get a veterinary certificate issued by Indonesia's national veterinary authority and the results of any tests for animal disease agents, to hand to Barantin with your application.

      The official wording is ambiguous. Confirm this point with the authority.

      Details and the official words

      The pet article lists the veterinary certificate and the disease test results for every pet. Barantin's general export procedure asks for them when the destination requires them. Ask Barantin which tests your destination needs.

      “Sertifikat veteriner yang diterbitkan oleh otoritas veteriner nasional,”

      “Hasil pengujian kausa penyakit hewan,”

      “Menyerahkan dokumen apabila dipersyaratkan negara tujuan, dapat berupa”

   4. NoticeLeaving Indonesia

      Report the trip through Barantin's PTK Online

      Report your plan to take the pet out of Indonesia through PTK Online (ptk.karantinaindonesia.go.id), registering an account first if you don't have one, and upload the veterinary certificate, the disease test results, the vaccination book and the antibody test result. You follow the application and pay the fees (PNBP) by e-billing in PTK Online, never to a personal account.

      Details and the official words

      “Pemilik/ pengirim melaporkan rencana pengeluaran hewan melalui PTK online (ptk.karantinaindonesia.go.id), jika belum memiliki akun, silakan dapat melakukan pendaftaran terlebih dahulu,”

      “Menyerahkan dokumen yang dipersyaratkan yaitu : sertifikat veteriner, hasil pengujian kausa penyakit hewan, buku vaksin, dan hasil uji titer protektif antibody rabies,”

      “Seluruh proses permohonan karantina dapat dimonitor melalui PTK Online, juga untuk pembayaran Penerimaan Negara Bukan Pajak (PNBP) dilakukan melalui e-billing, bukan ke rekening pribadi.”

3. Travel day and arrival

   1. TransportEntering Kenya

      Fly as manifest cargo, not in the cabin or as checked baggage

      Your pet must travel to Kenya as manifest cargo in the aircraft's freight compartment, not in the passenger cabin or as excess baggage. Book this with your airline.

      Details and the official words

      “Animals entering Kenya should travel as Manifest Cargo and use the Freight Compartment of the aircraft. They should not travel as baggage-cargo or in passenger cabins.”

   2. TransportEntering Kenya

      Certificate from the captain that your pet stayed on board and apart

      Your pet needs a certificate from the captain of the aircraft (or ship, or the driver) stating that it didn't leave the craft between boarding and arrival in Kenya and was kept apart from other dogs and cats throughout the journey. Ask your airline's cargo office to provide it.

      Details and the official words

      “The animal shall be accompanied by a certificate from the captain of the ship or aircraft or driver of a vessel in which the animal traveled to Kenya certifying that the animal has not left the vessel between the place of embarkation and the place of entry into Kenya, and has been isolated from all other canine and feline animals throughout the journey.”

Nothing for the trip back has to happen before your pet leaves Indonesia.

The trip back asks for 6 steps: rabies vaccination record, rabies antibody test result (protective level), health certificate from your country's veterinary authority and register with SSMQC and send Barantin's prior notice before you leave and more.