Pet travel route
Dog or cat from Türkiye to the Dominican Republic: the rules
Possible. With nothing done yet, start at least 4 weeks ahead for a dog. The main steps: Microchip, PETVET registration and pet passport, rabies vaccination (inactivated vaccine) from 90 days old, at least 30 days before departure and rabies vaccination within the 12 months before departure and 3 more.
Rules checked up to 12 October 2026From 2 official pages
In short
- Dogs and cats differ on this route: choose Dog or Cat to see just yours.
- On this route: parasite treatment before travel.
- No rabies blood test, import permit or quarantine on this route for a pet that meets the rules.
- Coming back to Türkiye? 3 steps have to happen before your pet leaves.
Limited official guidance. The authority for entering the Dominican Republic publishes little for this route. Everything it does say is here, with its wording. DIGEGA's page lists what the health certificate must state, but it doesn't say what happens when your pet arrives (inspection, fees), whether a pet travelling as cargo or without its owner needs anything more, or which vaccinations other than rabies are expected. Ask DIGEGA (809-535-9689) before you travel if any of these apply to you.
At a glance
How early to start (dogs)
4 weeks
if your pet has no microchip or rabies vaccination yet
Set by: Rabies vaccination (inactivated vaccine) from 90 days old, at least 30 days before departure (at least 30 days before the departure date)
No official wait
if it is already microchipped and vaccinated
The least time the official waiting periods allow. Vet, lab and paperwork appointments come on top.
On this route (dogs)
- No rabies blood test
- No import permit
- No quarantine
- Parasite treatment before travel
How early to start (cats)
4 weeks
if your pet has no microchip or rabies vaccination yet
Set by: Rabies vaccination (inactivated vaccine) from 90 days old, at least 30 days before departure (at least 30 days before the departure date)
No official wait
if it is already microchipped and vaccinated
The least time the official waiting periods allow. Vet, lab and paperwork appointments come on top.
On this route (cats)
- No rabies blood test
- No import permit
- No quarantine
- Parasite treatment before travel
Rule-change alertsChecked daily
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Türkiye → Dominican Republic
What your pet needs
In the order you do them. Each step says whether Türkiye (leaving) or the Dominican Republic (entering) asks for it.
Dogs
Get ready
IdentificationLeaving Türkiye
Microchip, PETVET registration and pet passport
A pet living in Türkiye must be microchipped, registered in the national pet register (PETVET) and have a Turkish pet passport. A pet that came from abroad keeps its existing microchip number and passport if they meet international standards.
Details and the official words
“kimliklendirilmiş ve Ev Hayvanı Kayıt Sistemi (PETVET)’nde kayıt altına alınarak”
“düzenlenmişse, mevcut mikroçip numaraları ve pasaportları ile işlemlerine devam eder.”
VaccinationEntering the Dominican Republic
Rabies vaccination (inactivated vaccine) from 90 days old, at least 30 days before departure
Your pet is vaccinated against rabies with an inactivated-virus vaccine, given at least 90 days after birth. After a first vaccination, wait 30 days before travelling: the vaccination must be at least 30 days before the departure date.
Details and the official words
“La vacuna debe ser de virus inactivado y administrada no más de 12 meses ni menos de 30 días antes de la fecha de salida.”
“Los cachorros deben haber recibido la vacuna contra la rabia al menos 90 días después del nacimiento (3 meses o 12 semanas) y esperar 30 días después de la vacunación antes de viajar.”
VaccinationEntering the Dominican Republic
Rabies vaccination within the 12 months before departure
The rabies vaccination on the certificate must be no more than 12 months before the departure date, even if your pet's vaccine is valid for longer. If your pet's last shot will be older, give a booster before you travel. An adult dog with a history of rabies vaccination and boosters doesn't need to wait 30 days after the booster; a cat does.
Details and the official words
Add the date of your pet's most recent rabies shot to check this.
DIGEGA's exemption from the 30-day wait names adult dogs only, so we apply the 30 days to every cat's vaccination.
“La vacuna debe ser de virus inactivado y administrada no más de 12 meses ni menos de 30 días antes de la fecha de salida.”
“Los perros adultos con antecedentes de vacunación contra la rabia y dosis de refuerzo no necesitan esperar 30 días después de la vacunación.”
In the days before you travel
Vet examEntering the Dominican Republic
Vet examination within 72 hours before departure
A vet examines your pet within the 72 hours before the departure date and finds it free of infectious or contagious diseases. By then it must already have been treated against internal and external parasites.
Details and the official words
“El animal fue examinado dentro de las 72 horas previas a la fecha de salida. Se determinó que no padecía enfermedades infecciosas o contagiosas y que había recibido tratamiento contra parásitos externos e internos.”
TreatmentEntering the Dominican Republic
Internal and external parasite treatment before the vet examination
Your pet is treated against internal and external parasites before the vet examines it. The certificate names the dewormers with their manufacturer and active ingredients. DIGEGA gives no time window: ask your vet.
Details and the official words
“El animal fue examinado dentro de las 72 horas previas a la fecha de salida. Se determinó que no padecía enfermedades infecciosas o contagiosas y que había recibido tratamiento contra parásitos externos e internos.”
“El certificado debe especificar: las vacunas administradas y el control de parásitos internos y externos (los desparasitantes deben especificar el fabricante y los principios activos).”
PaperworkTürkiye and the Dominican Republic
Vet's health certificate, endorsed by an official vet at the port of embarkation
A vet issues and signs a health certificate after the examination, and an official vet at the port of embarkation endorses and stamps it. It gives the name and address in the Dominican Republic of the person accompanying the pet, the pet's full identification (name, breed, sex, colour, date of birth, microchip and/or tattoo), the vaccinations given and the parasite treatments. Attach the vaccination record with the vaccine labels (batch number, manufacture and expiry dates).
Details and the official words
DIGEGA's page places the official endorsement at the port of embarkation. In many countries the official vet endorses certificates before you go to the airport (in the US, USDA APHIS): ask your country's official veterinary service how it endorses a certificate for the Dominican Republic.
Veterinary health certificate from the Provincial or District Directorate of Agriculture (within 48 hours of departure): An official vet at the Provincial or District Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry where you live issues the veterinary health certificate, on the model agreed with your destination, no earlier than 48 hours before you leave. Bring the application letter, the pet passport and the lab report if the destination needs one. No dog or cat may leave without it.
“Los animales deben ir acompañados de un certificado sanitario expedido y firmado por un veterinario. Este certificado debe ser refrendado y sellado por un veterinario oficial en el puerto de embarque.”
“El certificado debe contener el nombre y la dirección de la persona que acompaña al animal en la República Dominicana y la identificación completa del animal (nombre, raza, sexo, color, fecha de nacimiento, microchip y/o tatuaje).”
“Debe ir acompañado de un registro de vacunación con las etiquetas de las vacunas, incluyendo el número de lote, la fecha de fabricación y la fecha de caducidad.”
“erken çıkışa 48 saat kala veteriner sağlık sertifikası düzenlenir.”
“sahip olmayan hiçbir kedi ve köpek yurt dışına çıkarılamaz.”
Good to know
- Türkiye asks for a rabies antibody (FAVN) test report only when your destination requires one, but the ministry won't issue the certificate without knowing what the destination asks for. Samples are sent to the Etlik institute in Ankara (VKMAEM) at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination; while vaccination continues on schedule, the report stays valid for the pet's life.
- Kangal, Akbaş and Kars shepherd dogs, the Çatal Burun hunting dog, the Zağar İnci dog, the Ankara (Turkish Angora) cat and the Van cat are protected breeds: they need prior permission to leave Türkiye. Whatever the passport says, the official vet checks that your pet isn't one of them.
- The pet's passport must state its breed and colour exactly. If it only says 'mix' for breed or colour, the passport must be corrected (to the closest breed and colour) before the pet can leave.
- A registered dog of a breed Türkiye lists as dangerous may leave with its owner if the destination accepts it, but it will not be allowed back into Türkiye.
- If the pet doesn't travel within 5 days before or after its owner (or someone the owner authorised), or goes by cargo company, Türkiye treats it as a commercial movement with a commercial certificate.
Cats
Get ready
IdentificationLeaving Türkiye
Microchip, PETVET registration and pet passport
A pet living in Türkiye must be microchipped, registered in the national pet register (PETVET) and have a Turkish pet passport. A pet that came from abroad keeps its existing microchip number and passport if they meet international standards.
Details and the official words
“kimliklendirilmiş ve Ev Hayvanı Kayıt Sistemi (PETVET)’nde kayıt altına alınarak”
“düzenlenmişse, mevcut mikroçip numaraları ve pasaportları ile işlemlerine devam eder.”
VaccinationEntering the Dominican Republic
Rabies vaccination (inactivated vaccine) from 90 days old, at least 30 days before departure
Your pet is vaccinated against rabies with an inactivated-virus vaccine, given at least 90 days after birth. After a first vaccination, wait 30 days before travelling: the vaccination must be at least 30 days before the departure date.
Details and the official words
“La vacuna debe ser de virus inactivado y administrada no más de 12 meses ni menos de 30 días antes de la fecha de salida.”
“Los cachorros deben haber recibido la vacuna contra la rabia al menos 90 días después del nacimiento (3 meses o 12 semanas) y esperar 30 días después de la vacunación antes de viajar.”
VaccinationEntering the Dominican Republic
Rabies vaccination within the 12 months before departure
The rabies vaccination on the certificate must be no more than 12 months before the departure date, even if your pet's vaccine is valid for longer. If your pet's last shot will be older, give a booster before you travel. An adult dog with a history of rabies vaccination and boosters doesn't need to wait 30 days after the booster; a cat does.
Details and the official words
Add the date of your pet's most recent rabies shot to check this.
DIGEGA's exemption from the 30-day wait names adult dogs only, so we apply the 30 days to every cat's vaccination.
“La vacuna debe ser de virus inactivado y administrada no más de 12 meses ni menos de 30 días antes de la fecha de salida.”
“Los perros adultos con antecedentes de vacunación contra la rabia y dosis de refuerzo no necesitan esperar 30 días después de la vacunación.”
In the days before you travel
Vet examEntering the Dominican Republic
Vet examination within 72 hours before departure
A vet examines your pet within the 72 hours before the departure date and finds it free of infectious or contagious diseases. By then it must already have been treated against internal and external parasites.
Details and the official words
“El animal fue examinado dentro de las 72 horas previas a la fecha de salida. Se determinó que no padecía enfermedades infecciosas o contagiosas y que había recibido tratamiento contra parásitos externos e internos.”
TreatmentEntering the Dominican Republic
Internal and external parasite treatment before the vet examination
Your pet is treated against internal and external parasites before the vet examines it. The certificate names the dewormers with their manufacturer and active ingredients. DIGEGA gives no time window: ask your vet.
Details and the official words
“El animal fue examinado dentro de las 72 horas previas a la fecha de salida. Se determinó que no padecía enfermedades infecciosas o contagiosas y que había recibido tratamiento contra parásitos externos e internos.”
“El certificado debe especificar: las vacunas administradas y el control de parásitos internos y externos (los desparasitantes deben especificar el fabricante y los principios activos).”
PaperworkTürkiye and the Dominican Republic
Vet's health certificate, endorsed by an official vet at the port of embarkation
A vet issues and signs a health certificate after the examination, and an official vet at the port of embarkation endorses and stamps it. It gives the name and address in the Dominican Republic of the person accompanying the pet, the pet's full identification (name, breed, sex, colour, date of birth, microchip and/or tattoo), the vaccinations given and the parasite treatments. Attach the vaccination record with the vaccine labels (batch number, manufacture and expiry dates).
Details and the official words
DIGEGA's page places the official endorsement at the port of embarkation. In many countries the official vet endorses certificates before you go to the airport (in the US, USDA APHIS): ask your country's official veterinary service how it endorses a certificate for the Dominican Republic.
Veterinary health certificate from the Provincial or District Directorate of Agriculture (within 48 hours of departure): An official vet at the Provincial or District Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry where you live issues the veterinary health certificate, on the model agreed with your destination, no earlier than 48 hours before you leave. Bring the application letter, the pet passport and the lab report if the destination needs one. No dog or cat may leave without it.
“Los animales deben ir acompañados de un certificado sanitario expedido y firmado por un veterinario. Este certificado debe ser refrendado y sellado por un veterinario oficial en el puerto de embarque.”
“El certificado debe contener el nombre y la dirección de la persona que acompaña al animal en la República Dominicana y la identificación completa del animal (nombre, raza, sexo, color, fecha de nacimiento, microchip y/o tatuaje).”
“Debe ir acompañado de un registro de vacunación con las etiquetas de las vacunas, incluyendo el número de lote, la fecha de fabricación y la fecha de caducidad.”
“erken çıkışa 48 saat kala veteriner sağlık sertifikası düzenlenir.”
“sahip olmayan hiçbir kedi ve köpek yurt dışına çıkarılamaz.”
Good to know
- Türkiye asks for a rabies antibody (FAVN) test report only when your destination requires one, but the ministry won't issue the certificate without knowing what the destination asks for. Samples are sent to the Etlik institute in Ankara (VKMAEM) at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination; while vaccination continues on schedule, the report stays valid for the pet's life.
- Kangal, Akbaş and Kars shepherd dogs, the Çatal Burun hunting dog, the Zağar İnci dog, the Ankara (Turkish Angora) cat and the Van cat are protected breeds: they need prior permission to leave Türkiye. Whatever the passport says, the official vet checks that your pet isn't one of them.
- The pet's passport must state its breed and colour exactly. If it only says 'mix' for breed or colour, the passport must be corrected (to the closest breed and colour) before the pet can leave.
- If the pet doesn't travel within 5 days before or after its owner (or someone the owner authorised), or goes by cargo company, Türkiye treats it as a commercial movement with a commercial certificate.
Money
What it costs
Government fees exactly as the official pages state them, and what vets and labs in Türkiye publish for the steps above. The two are never added together.
Government fees on this route
No government fee is published on the official pages we use for this trip. That doesn’t always mean it’s free: ask the authority.
What vets and labs charge Not official figures
We have no published vet or lab prices for Türkiye yet.
Prices that businesses publish on their own pages, quoted as we read them; yours can differ. Ranges are the lowest to highest of these examples, never our estimate. How we collect prices
Airline fees aren’t included: check your airline’s pet page.
Round trip
Coming back to Türkiye
Do before your pet leaves Türkiye
- Microchip
- Rabies vaccination (inactivated vaccine)
- Rabies antibody test (0.5 IU or more) and a 3-month wait
Their timing rules put them before the outbound trip, for a three-month stay.
The trip back asks for 6 steps: microchip, rabies vaccination (inactivated vaccine), rabies antibody test (0.5 IU or more) and a 3-month wait and clinical examination within 24 hours before travel and more.
Nearby routes
Other routes
Where this comes from
Official sources
Questions owners ask
Does my dog or cat need a rabies blood test to go from Türkiye to the Dominican Republic?
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 or cat into the Dominican Republic?
No. The official rules we have verified for this route don't ask for an import permit.
Will my dog or cat be quarantined in the Dominican Republic?
Not on the routes we have verified: the official rules list no quarantine for a pet that meets the requirements.
How early should I start preparing my pet for Türkiye to the Dominican Republic?
With nothing done yet, start at least 4 weeks ahead for a dog. The main steps: Microchip, PETVET registration and pet passport, rabies vaccination (inactivated vaccine) from 90 days old, at least 30 days before departure and rabies vaccination within the 12 months before departure and 3 more.
Every rule here is quoted from the official page and checked word for word; not legal advice. How we verify · Report a mistake
Read next
Turn this into dates for your pet
Where from, where to, when. You get every step with its deadline and the official page it comes from.