How to Import a Pet From Another Country

Importing a pet from another country can be tricky and comes with many regulations.  In order to successfully and safely bring your new pet into the country, it’s important to know the laws governing animal health and importation.  Animal importation is strictly moderated, in order to prevent health threats that can quickly spread if contaminated animals are brought into the country. 

The first thing to be aware of when attempting to bring in a pet from another country is that they must have very specific health certificates to be allowed in.  In order to prove that your pet is healthy and therefore safe for importation, you must obtain certifications from a veterinarian indicating their current health status.  Proof of rabies vaccination, international health certificate, and other certificates will be required, depending on the specific age and species of your pet. 

Be aware too that in some countries, there ins a mandatory quarantine period for all newly imported animals.  This is so the animal can be monitored for any undiagnosed disease that may have not been apparent when the vet examined it previous to import.   This quarantine period can range from a few weeks to up to six months, and the owner pays full costs of food and housing in that time.  So make sure you are prepared to cover this cost when you plan on bringing your pet back to your home country.

For young animals that might be too young to have received vaccinations, it’s possible to import the animal and then keep them in a mandatory hold until such time as the vaccination can be performed.  Exotic species, such as monkeys, will have different restrictions, which should be verified before moving forward with the importation. 

Finding the ideal pet can sometimes take you across borders, causing many complications in getting your new pet home. 

By following all legal guidelines, you can safely get your new family member home without complications.  A rabies certificate and international health certificate are likely to be required in all animal imports, and additional information may be needed in certain cases.