Bringing a pet to Dominican Republic

Last reviewed July 2, 2026

Dominican Republic's pet import rules are moderately strict and vary by the animal's origin country. Pets from high-rabies-risk areas face stricter requirements, including possible quarantine, while those from low-risk countries have simpler procedures. Expect to provide valid rabies vaccination and health certificates, and plan ahead as paperwork can take weeks.

Requirements for your pet

Showing requirements for a dog travelling from United States to Dominican Republic.

Microchip
Required
ISO 11784/11785
Rabies vaccine
Required
From 12 weeks old, wait 21+ days before travel
Rabies titer test (FAVN)
Not required
Quarantine
None
Health certificate
Required
Official government or USDA/DEFRA-endorsed veterinarian · valid 10 days before arrival
Import permit
Not required

Documents checklist

  • Rabies vaccination certificate
  • Health certificate issued within 10 days of arrival
  • Microchip certificate or proof of implantation

Rough budget

Microchip ~$30–50, health certificate ~$100–200, rabies vaccination ~$20–50 — confirm with a local vet and DIGEGA.

Microchip
Required
ISO 11784/11785
Rabies vaccine
Required
From 12 weeks old, wait 21+ days before travel
Rabies titer test (FAVN)
Not required
Quarantine
None
Health certificate
Required
Official government or USDA/DEFRA-endorsed veterinarian · valid 10 days before arrival
Import permit
Not required

Documents checklist

  • Rabies vaccination certificate
  • Health certificate issued within 10 days of arrival
  • Microchip certificate or proof of implantation

Rough budget

Microchip ~$30–50, health certificate ~$100–200, rabies vaccination ~$20–50 — confirm with a local vet and DIGEGA.

Microchip
Required
ISO 11784/11785
Rabies vaccine
Required
From 12 weeks old, wait 21+ days before travel
Rabies titer test (FAVN)
Not required
Quarantine
None
Health certificate
Required
Official government or USDA/DEFRA-endorsed veterinarian · valid 10 days before arrival
Import permit
Not required

Documents checklist

  • Rabies vaccination certificate
  • Health certificate issued within 10 days of arrival
  • Microchip certificate or proof of implantation

Rough budget

Microchip ~$30–50, health certificate ~$100–200, rabies vaccination ~$20–50 — confirm with a local vet and DIGEGA.

Frequently asked questions

No, a rabies titer test (FAVN) is not required for dogs entering from any country.
No, there is no quarantine for dogs that meet all entry requirements.
Dominican Republic does not specify a strict limit, but bringing more than 5 dogs may trigger commercial import rules. Check with DIGEGA for guidance.
No, they must still meet all standard requirements: microchip, rabies vaccination, and health certificate.
The rabies vaccination must be administered at least 21 days before arrival. The dog must be at least 12 weeks old at vaccination.
The health certificate must be issued within 10 days of the dog's arrival.
Only ISO 11784/11785 compliant microchips are accepted. If your dog has a non-ISO chip, you must bring your own scanner or have the chip replaced before travel.

Showing requirements for a cat travelling from United States to Dominican Republic.

Microchip
Required
ISO 11784/11785
Rabies vaccine
Required
From 12 weeks old, wait 21+ days before travel
Rabies titer test (FAVN)
Not required
Quarantine
None
Health certificate
Required
Official government or USDA/DEFRA-endorsed veterinarian · valid 10 days before arrival
Import permit
Not required

Documents checklist

  • Rabies vaccination certificate
  • International health certificate (CVI) issued within 10 days of travel
  • Microchip certificate or proof of implantation

Rough budget

ROUGH estimate only: microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200. Confirm with local vet and destination agency.

No import permit required for cats from rabies-free origins. Health certificate must be endorsed by origin country's official veterinary authority (e.g., USDA in US).

Microchip
Required
ISO 11784/11785
Rabies vaccine
Required
From 12 weeks old, wait 21+ days before travel
Rabies titer test (FAVN)
Not required
Quarantine
None
Health certificate
Required
Official government or USDA/DEFRA-endorsed veterinarian · valid 10 days before arrival
Import permit
Not required

Documents checklist

  • Rabies vaccination certificate
  • International health certificate (CVI) issued within 10 days of travel
  • Microchip certificate or proof of implantation

Rough budget

ROUGH estimate only: microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200. Confirm with local vet and destination agency.

No import permit required for cats from low-risk origins. Health certificate must be endorsed by origin country's official veterinary authority.

Microchip
Required
ISO 11784/11785
Rabies vaccine
Required
From 12 weeks old, wait 21+ days before travel
Rabies titer test (FAVN)
Required
Blood draw 30+ days before travel
Quarantine
None
Health certificate
Required
Official government or USDA/DEFRA-endorsed veterinarian · valid 10 days before arrival
Import permit
Required

Documents checklist

  • Rabies vaccination certificate
  • International health certificate (CVI) issued within 10 days of travel
  • Microchip certificate or proof of implantation
  • FAVN titer test result (≥0.5 IU/mL)
  • Import permit from Dominican Republic Ministry of Agriculture (Dirección General de Ganadería)

Rough budget

ROUGH estimate only: microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200, FAVN titer test ~$100-250, import permit fees vary. Confirm with local vet and destination agency.

Cats from high-risk rabies countries must obtain an import permit from Dominican Republic Ministry of Agriculture (Dirección General de Ganadería) prior to travel. FAVN titer test mandatory. No quarantine upon arrival if all documents in order.

Apply / official cat import page

Frequently asked questions

Only if traveling from a high-risk rabies country (e.g., Thailand, Russia, most of Africa, South Asia, Middle East). For cats from rabies-free or low-risk countries (US, UK, EU, Japan, Australia), no FAVN test is required.
The rabies vaccine must be administered at least 21 days before arrival. The cat must be at least 12 weeks old at vaccination.
No. Dominican Republic does not impose quarantine for cats from any origin tier, provided all required documentation is in order.
Dominican Republic generally allows up to 2 cats per traveler under non-commercial rules. For more than 2, commercial import procedures may apply. Confirm with Dirección General de Ganadería.
No. All cats must meet the same microchip, rabies vaccination, health certificate, and (if applicable) FAVN test and import permit requirements.
The health certificate must be issued within 10 days of the cat's arrival and endorsed by an official government veterinarian (e.g., USDA in US, DEFRA in UK).
Only if traveling from a high-risk rabies country. For rabies-free or low-risk origins, no import permit is required. For high-risk origins, obtain an import permit from Dominican Republic Ministry of Agriculture (Dirección General de Ganadería) before travel.

Showing requirements for a ferret travelling from United States to Dominican Republic.

Microchip
Required
ISO 11784/11785
Rabies vaccine
Required
From 12 weeks old, wait 21+ days before travel
Rabies titer test (FAVN)
Not required
Quarantine
None
Health certificate
Required
Official government or USDA/DEFRA-endorsed veterinarian · valid 10 days before arrival
Import permit
Not required

Documents checklist

  • Rabies vaccination certificate (valid, not expired)
  • Health certificate issued within 10 days of arrival, endorsed by origin country's official veterinary authority
  • Microchip certificate or proof of ISO 11784/11785 implantation

Rough budget

ROUGH ballpark only — verify locally: microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200, rabies vaccine ~$20-50. No import permit fee. Confirm current prices with a local vet and the Dominican Ministry of Agriculture (MAG).

Dominican Republic does not require a rabies titer test or import permit for ferrets from any origin. The health certificate must be endorsed by the origin country's official veterinary authority (e.g., USDA in the US, DEFRA in the UK). Ferrets must be at least 12 weeks old for rabies vaccination; the 21-day wait applies after the first vaccination.

Microchip
Required
ISO 11784/11785
Rabies vaccine
Required
From 12 weeks old, wait 21+ days before travel
Rabies titer test (FAVN)
Not required
Quarantine
None
Health certificate
Required
Official government or USDA/DEFRA-endorsed veterinarian · valid 10 days before arrival
Import permit
Not required

Documents checklist

  • Rabies vaccination certificate (valid, not expired)
  • Health certificate issued within 10 days of arrival, endorsed by origin country's official veterinary authority
  • Microchip certificate or proof of ISO 11784/11785 implantation

Rough budget

ROUGH ballpark only — verify locally: microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200, rabies vaccine ~$20-50. No import permit fee. Confirm current prices with a local vet and the Dominican Ministry of Agriculture (MAG).

Same requirements as free tier. Dominican Republic does not differentiate between free and low-risk origins for ferrets.

Microchip
Required
ISO 11784/11785
Rabies vaccine
Required
From 12 weeks old, wait 21+ days before travel
Rabies titer test (FAVN)
Not required
Quarantine
None
Health certificate
Required
Official government or USDA/DEFRA-endorsed veterinarian · valid 10 days before arrival
Import permit
Not required

Documents checklist

  • Rabies vaccination certificate (valid, not expired)
  • Health certificate issued within 10 days of arrival, endorsed by origin country's official veterinary authority
  • Microchip certificate or proof of ISO 11784/11785 implantation

Rough budget

ROUGH ballpark only — verify locally: microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200, rabies vaccine ~$20-50. No import permit fee. Confirm current prices with a local vet and the Dominican Ministry of Agriculture (MAG).

Same requirements as free and low-risk tiers. Dominican Republic does not impose additional requirements (titer test, import permit, or quarantine) for ferrets from high-risk rabies countries. The health certificate must still be endorsed by the origin country's official veterinary authority. Confirm with the Dominican Ministry of Agriculture (MAG) before travel, as policies may change.

Frequently asked questions

No. Dominican Republic does not require a rabies titer test for ferrets from any origin country. Only a valid rabies vaccination (minimum 12 weeks old, with a 21-day wait after the first vaccination) and a health certificate are needed.
Dominican Republic does not publish a specific numeric cap for non-commercial pet ferret imports. In practice, up to 2-3 ferrets per person are generally accepted as personal pets. If you plan to bring more than 3, contact the Dominican Ministry of Agriculture (MAG) in advance — commercial rules and a permit may apply.
No. Dominican Republic does not recognize emotional support or service animals as exempt from standard import rules. Your ferret must meet all the same requirements: microchip, rabies vaccination, health certificate, and no quarantine. No special documentation or waivers are available.
Yes. The rabies vaccine must be valid (not expired) on the day of travel. If the last vaccine was given over 12 months ago, your ferret needs a booster at least 21 days before arrival in Dominican Republic. The 21-day wait applies after the booster if it is the first vaccine for that ferret; if it's a booster within a continuous vaccination history, some vets consider the wait not required, but to be safe, allow 21 days.
No. Only ISO 11784/11785 compliant microchips (15-digit) are accepted. If your ferret has a non-ISO chip, you must bring your own compatible scanner or have the chip replaced with an ISO chip before travel. The microchip must be implanted before the rabies vaccination.
The health certificate should ideally be in Spanish or accompanied by a Spanish translation. The Dominican Ministry of Agriculture (MAG) may accept English certificates, but to avoid delays, have your vet issue a bilingual (English/Spanish) certificate or get a certified translation. The certificate must be issued within 10 days of arrival.
No. Dominican Republic does not impose quarantine for ferrets from any origin country. Your ferret can be released to you upon arrival after document inspection by customs or agricultural officials.

Good to know

All pets must be at least 3 months old to enter. Microchipping is mandatory for dogs and cats, but not for ferrets. Always check the specific requirements for your pet's species and origin country before travel.

Airline rules & connecting flights

Government import rules are only half the picture — your airline sets its own pet policy on top of them: whether your petcan fly in the cabin at all, size/weight limits for the carrier, breed embargoes (many airlines refuse brachycephalic breeds like bulldogs and pugs in cargo), and seasonal heat restrictions. Check your specific airline's pet policy before booking — see IATA's Traveler's Pet Corner .

If your flight has a layover, the transit country can have its own pet rules — sometimes these apply even if you never leave the airport. If you're transiting through another country on the way to Dominican Republic, check that country's pet-entry/transit rules separately (search "pets" on this site for that country too).

For guidance only. Pet import rules change without notice and a wrong step can mean quarantine or a refused entry for your animal — always confirm current requirements with Dominican Republic's official veterinary/agriculture authority and your airline before travelling.