Bringing a dog or cat to Uruguay: official requirements

Entering Uruguay

What your pet needs

In the order you do them. Rules marked “Applies when” are only for some pets, origins or routes.

1. Get ready

   Weeks or months ahead: the steps with waiting periods, so start here.

   1. IdentificationDogs only

      Dogs: microchip (ISO 11784, HDX or FDX-B), linked to the certificate

      Your dog must be identified with a microchip whose number is on its international health certificate. The chip must meet ISO 11784 and use HDX or FDX-B technology (read with an ISO 11785 reader); if it doesn't, bring a reader that can read it. MGAP's pages don't ask for a microchip for cats.

      Details and the official words

      “Deberá estar chipeado conforme a Resolución Nº 273 de DGSG de 27/08/2018,”

      “A partir del 1ºde octubre de 2018, los animales de la especie canina no residentes, deberán ingresar y egresar del país, con identificación individual mediante dispositivo electrónico (microchip), asociado al Certificado Sanitario Internacional expedido por la autoridad sanitaria competente del país de origen.”

      “Los microchips colocados en el extranjero, deberán cumplir con la norma ISO 1 1784 y aplicar la tecnología HDX o FDH-B. Los mismos se leerán con un lector compatible con la norma ISO 11785. En caso que el dispositivo colocado no cumpla con las normas precedentes, el responsable deberá proveer de un lector que permita la lectura del microchip al ingreso al país.”

   2. Vaccination

      Rabies vaccination, valid on arrival (21 days after a first vaccination)

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

      Your pet must be vaccinated against rabies with a vaccine authorised in the country it comes from, and the vaccination must still be valid (as the manufacturer states) when it enters Uruguay. After a first vaccination, wait at least 21 days before entering Uruguay. The certificate gives the date, type, batch and brand of the vaccine.

      Details and the official words

      For dogs, MGAP adds that a dog coming from a country or zone that meets WOAH's conditions to be declared free of rabies may enter without the vaccination if the certificate or passport states this. MGAP doesn't publish a list of such countries, so we show the vaccination: ask MGAP (dsacomercio@mgap.gub.uy) if your dog comes from a rabies-free country.

      “Los perros deben estar vacunados contra la rabia con vacunas autorizadas por la Autoridad Veterinaria del país de origen / procedencia y con inmunidad vigente según el plazo de validez otorgado por el laboratorio fabricante de la vacuna.”

      “Los gatos deben estar vacunados contra la rabia con vacunas autorizadas por la Autoridad Veterinaria del país de origen / procedencia y con inmunidad vigente según el plazo de validez otorgado por el laboratorio fabricante de la vacuna.”

      “Cuando se trate de animales vacunados por primera vez, la vacuna debe haber sido aplicada al menos VEINTIÚN (21) días previos al ingreso a Uruguay.”

      “Si el animal proviene de un país o zona que cumple con las recomendaciones establecidas en el Código Terrestre de la ORGANIZACIÓN MUNDIAL DE SANIDAD ANIMAL (OMSA) para ser declarado libre de Rabia, podrá ingresar sin la vacunación contra esta enfermedad, debiéndose certificar esta condición en el CVI o Pasaporte.”

2. In the days before you travel

   Paperwork, treatments and stamps that must be recent when your pet travels.

   1. TestDogs only

      Dogs: negative leishmaniosis test within 60 days before entry

      Dogs from a country that hasn't declared itself free of leishmaniosis to WOAH need a negative leishmaniosis test (IFAT, ELISA or direct agglutination for antibodies, or a molecular test for the parasite), done to WOAH's manual no more than 60 days before entering Uruguay. The result goes on the certificate or passport.

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

      Details and the official words

      MGAP doesn't list which countries have declared themselves free of leishmaniosis to WOAH, so we show the test for every dog. Ask MGAP (dsacomercio@mgap.gub.uy) whether your dog's country of origin is exempt.

      “Para los países que no se declaren como libres de Leishmaniosis ante la OMSA, se exigirá la prueba de detección de la respuesta inmunitaria negativa a dicha enfermedad (IFAT, ELISA o prueba de aglutinación directa), o detección del agente (por métodos moleculares), en un plazo no mayor de SESENTA (60) días anteriores a la fecha de ingreso del canino a Uruguay.”

   2. Vet exam

      Vet examination within 10 days before the certificate

      Within the 10 days before the certificate is issued, a vet licensed in the exporting country examines your pet and confirms it is clinically healthy, shows no sign of parasites and is fit to travel to Uruguay. It must be free of signs of infectious and parasitic diseases.

      Details and the official words

      “Su mascota fue sometida, dentro de los diez (10) días previos a la fecha de emisión del CVI, a un examen clínico efectuado por un profesional veterinario matriculado en el país exportador, que acredite que dicho animal se encuentra clínicamente sano, sin evidencias de parasitosis y que está apto para su traslado hacia Uruguay.”

      “Su mascota debe estar libre de síntomas y signos de enfermedades infecciosas y parasitarias.”

   3. Treatment

      Internal and external parasite treatment within 15 days before the certificate

      Your pet is treated against internal and external parasites within the 15 days before the certificate is issued (or the passport is endorsed), with products approved in the country it comes from. The date and product go on the certificate. For dogs, the internal treatment must contain praziquantel.

      Details and the official words

      “Desparasitación interna y externa donde conste fecha y producto aplicado, realizada dentro de los QUINCE (15) días previos a la fecha de emisión del CVI o a la intervención del Pasaporte, con productos veterinarios aprobados por la Autoridad Veterinaria del país de origen/procedencia. El antiparasitario interno deberá contener como principio activo Praziquantel.”

      “Desparasitación interna y externa donde conste fecha y producto aplicado, dentro de los QUINCE (15) días previos a la fecha de emisión del CVI o a la intervención del Pasaporte, con productos veterinarios aprobados por la Autoridad Veterinaria del país de origen/procedencia.”

   4. Paperwork

      International veterinary certificate (CVI) from the official authority

      Your pet enters with an international veterinary certificate (CVI) issued by the official veterinary authority of its country of origin, stating the examination, parasite treatments, rabies vaccination and (dogs) microchip and leishmaniosis test. An official pet passport is accepted instead only if an official vet of that authority has signed and stamped it before boarding. Present it with your pet at MGAP's office at the border.

      Details and the official words

      MGAP's entry pages don't say how long the certificate stays valid for entry; its exit page says certificates for travel within Mercosur are valid for 60 days. Ask your vet to issue it as close to travel as the 10-day examination and 15-day parasite windows allow.

      “Al momento del ingreso al país, debe presentar en el paso de frontera de ingreso, un Certificado Veterinario Internacional (CVI), emitido por la autoridad oficial de su país de origen, conforme a la Resolución Mercosur GMC 17/15, donde consten las siguientes declaraciones:”

      “Al momento del ingreso al país, debe presentar, en el paso de frontera de ingreso, un Certificado Veterinario Internacional (CVI), emitido por la autoridad oficial de su país de origen, donde consten las siguientes declaraciones:”

      “Vacuna antirrábica vigente (en el CVI deberá constar fecha de vacunación, tipo, serie y marca de vacuna).”

   5. Notice

      Pet arriving as cargo: email MGAP at least 72 business hours ahead

      Applies when: someone else brings the pet (you are not travelling with it)

      If your pet arrives as cargo at Carrasco airport, the airline, cargo agent or person responsible tells MGAP at least 72 business hours before arrival, by email to aeropuertoic@mgap.gub.uy, and sends the scanned health documents before boarding.

      Details and the official words

      “Si su mascota ingresa como cargo por Aeropuerto de Carrasco, debe avisar de su arribo, al menos 72 horas hábiles antes del ingreso, vía email a aeropuertoic@mgap.gub.uy. Para el ingreso, debe enviar la documentación escaneada.”

      “La compañía aérea, agente de cargo o responsable de la mascota deberá avisar con 72 horas de anticipación en DIA HABIL el arribo de la mascota cuando se trate de la modalidad de “cargo”.”

3. Travel day and arrival

   How your pet travels and what happens at the border.

   1. On arrival

      Show your pet and documents at MGAP's border office

      When you enter Uruguay, present your pet and its documents at MGAP's office at the border crossing. No import authorisation is needed for a dog or cat travelling with you, and there is no charge.

      Details and the official words

      “Presentar la documentación solicitada y la mascota, en las oficinas del MGAP dispuestas en los pasos de frontera al momento del ingreso al país.”

      “Si ingresa a Uruguay junto con su perro o gato, no es necesario presentar autorización de ingreso emitida por MGAP.”

      “Perros y gatos: no tiene costo.”

Worked out from the rules

How long it takes from each country

For a pet coming from each country: the group Uruguay’s rules put it in, and the least time the official waiting periods allow. Tap a country for the full route.

Money

What it costs to enter Uruguay

Uruguay’s government fees, exactly as the official pages state them, and what the rules make you pay for.

Notes

Good to know

• A dog or cat under 3 months old isn't vaccinated against rabies. Instead, the official veterinary authority of the country it comes from certifies its age and that it hasn't been on any property where a case of urban rabies occurred in the 90 days before it was shipped.Applies when: you know your pet’s birth date and your pet is under 3 months old on arrival
• MGAP accepts an official pet passport instead of the certificate only if it is valid, holds all the health information required and has been signed and stamped by an official vet of the animal health authority of the country before boarding. A passport without that official validation is not accepted.
• If your pet arrives as cargo at Carrasco airport (even on your own flight), MGAP must be told at least 72 business hours before arrival by email to aeropuertoic@mgap.gub.uy, with the documents scanned.
• Staying less than 30 days? You can leave Uruguay with the same certificate you entered with, as long as it states how long it is valid; otherwise you need a new certificate from MGAP to leave.

Where this comes from

Official sources

Questions owners ask