Bringing a dog or cat into Brazil

How early to start

The least time the officially fixed waiting periods allow, by where your dog is coming from. Vet, lab and paperwork appointment times come on top.

Every requirement

For every pet

1. Treatment

   Treatment against internal and external parasites

   A broad-spectrum treatment against internal and external parasites, with a product approved by the exporting country's authority and following the maker's instructions, within the 15 days before the CVI is issued. It is recorded on the CVI.

   Details and the official words

   “no prazo de quinze (15) dias antes da data de emissão do CVI, a um tratamento de amplo espectro contra parasitos internos e externos”

2. Vet exam

   Clinical examination by a vet

   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.

   Details and the official words

   “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”

3. Paperwork

   International Veterinary Certificate (CVI)

   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.

   Details and the official words

   If this is missed: The animal can be refused, returned or held (Art. 18), at the owner's cost.

   “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.”

   “Os animais devem ingressar, retornar, transitar ou circular pelos Estados Partes amparados pelo Certificado Veterinário Internacional (CVI) original, emitido pela autoridade veterinária do país exportador”

   “O CVI é válido para o ingresso, retorno, trânsito ou circulação entre os Estados Partes por um período de sessenta (60) dias corridos, contados a partir da data de sua emissão, sempre que a certificação de vacinação contra a raiva se encontre vigente.”

Depends on your pet or your route

1. Vaccination

   Rabies vaccination

   Applies when: your pet is 3 months old or older on arrival, or you don’t know your pet’s birth date

   Dogs and cats aged 90 days or older must arrive vaccinated against rabies, with a vaccine authorised by the vet authority of the country where it was given and still in date. After a first (primary) vaccination your pet may only leave 21 days or more after the shot; a pet whose vaccine lapsed before a booster counts as a first-time vaccinate again.

   Details and the official words

   Our age cut-off is 3 calendar months at arrival (Brazil says 90 days). If your pet is close to 90 days old, ask VIGIAGRO.

   The 21-day wait only applies after a first (or lapsed) vaccination; the engine shows it for every vaccine date, so a pet with an in-date booster can ignore it.

   If this is missed: The animal can be refused, returned or held (Art. 18), at the owner's cost.

   “Todos os animais a partir de noventa (90) dias de idade devem ingressar vacinados contra a raiva, tendo sido utilizadas, no país de sua aplicação, vacinas autorizadas pela autoridade veterinária, que devem estar dentro do seu período de vigência.”

   “o embarque pelo país exportador deve ser autorizado uma vez transcorridos vinte e um (21) dias da aplicação da referida vacina.”

2. Vaccination

   Under 90 days old: no rabies vaccine, with conditions

   Applies when: you know your pet’s birth date and your pet is under 3 months old on arrival

   A pet younger than 90 days may enter without a rabies vaccination if the CVI states that it is under 90 days old and it has had no contact with a case of urban rabies in the last 90 days (based on the owner's declaration and/or official epidemiological information).

   Details and the official words

   “Animais com menos de noventa (90) dias de idade podem ingressar em um Estado Parte quando:”

   “Não tenham estado em contato com nenhum caso de raiva urbana nos últimos noventa (90) dias”

When this route doesn’t work

• Not covered by us yet · The pet is being sold, adopted or rehomed

  We only cover pets travelling with their owners. Brazil's rules for imports for sale or rehoming (and unaccompanied cargo) aren't covered yet.

Good to know

• Countries or zones officially free of rabies (per WOAH) can be exempt from the rabies vaccination, but only if Brazil has recognised that status beforehand and the CVI states it. We don't hold Brazil's list of recognised countries, so we ask for the vaccination from every pet aged 90 days or older. If you come from a rabies-free country, ask MAPA/VIGIAGRO whether the exemption applies.
• Brazil may refuse entry to an animal that has previously been diagnosed with leishmaniasis.
• The Portaria does not make a microchip compulsory in itself, but if your pet has an electronic chip it must follow ISO 11784 and/or ISO 11785, and the CVI must say where on the body it sits. Check with VIGIAGRO whether your port of entry expects one.
• A pet that arrives without meeting the rules can be refused, sent back to where it came from, held, or otherwise dealt with by the Brazilian veterinary authority, and all costs fall on the owner.
• Brazil may also accept an official pet passport in place of the CVI, if it carries all the data the CVI asks for and is valid in the country that issued it. The CVI is the safe choice.