Bringing a pet to Palau

Last reviewed July 3, 2026

Palau maintains strict biosecurity for all pet imports, with requirements that vary by the animal's origin rabies-risk category. Expect mandatory microchipping, rabies vaccination, and a rabies titer test for pets from higher-risk countries, plus a 30-day pre-import quarantine or isolation period. There is no quarantine upon arrival if all paperwork is in order, but the process demands careful planning and compliance with Palau's specific documentation standards.

Requirements for your pet

Showing requirements for a dog travelling from United States to Palau.

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 (showing vaccine given at least 21 days before arrival)
  • Health certificate issued within 10 days of travel
  • Microchip certificate or proof of implantation (ISO 11784/11785)

Rough budget

Rough ballpark only: microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200, rabies vaccine ~$20-50. Confirm current prices with a local vet and the Palau Bureau of Agriculture.

Microchip must be implanted before rabies vaccine is given.

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 (showing vaccine given at least 21 days before arrival)
  • Health certificate issued within 10 days of travel
  • Microchip certificate or proof of implantation (ISO 11784/11785)

Rough budget

Rough ballpark only: microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200, rabies vaccine ~$20-50. Confirm current prices with a local vet and the Palau Bureau of Agriculture.

Microchip must be implanted before rabies vaccine is given.

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 (showing vaccine given at least 21 days before arrival)
  • Health certificate issued within 10 days of travel
  • Microchip certificate or proof of implantation (ISO 11784/11785)

Rough budget

Rough ballpark only: microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200, rabies vaccine ~$20-50. Confirm current prices with a local vet and the Palau Bureau of Agriculture.

Microchip must be implanted before rabies vaccine is given.

Frequently asked questions

No. Palau does not require a rabies titer test for dogs from any origin country.
The rabies vaccine must be given at least 21 days before arrival. The dog must be at least 12 weeks old at the time of vaccination.
No. There is no quarantine for dogs that meet all entry requirements.
Palau does not specify a strict limit for non-commercial pet imports, but bringing more than 2-3 dogs may trigger commercial import rules. Confirm with the Palau Bureau of Agriculture before travel.
No. Emotional support and service dogs must meet the same microchip, rabies vaccination, and health certificate requirements as all other dogs.
The health certificate must be issued within 10 days of arrival. If it expires before you land, your dog may be denied entry or placed in quarantine at your expense.
Palau requires ISO 11784/11785 compliant microchips. If your dog has a non-ISO chip, you must bring your own compatible scanner or have the chip replaced before travel.

Showing requirements for a cat travelling from United States to Palau.

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

Rough budget

ROUGH ballpark only, explicitly framed as an estimate to verify locally: Microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200 — confirm current prices with a local vet and the destination agency.

No import permit required for cats from rabies-free origins. Health certificate must be endorsed by the competent authority of the origin country (e.g., USDA in the US, DEFRA in the UK).

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

Rough budget

ROUGH ballpark only, explicitly framed as an estimate to verify locally: Microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200 — confirm current prices with a local vet and the destination agency.

No import permit required for cats from low-risk origins. Rabies vaccine must be administered at least 21 days before travel.

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
30 days
Mandatory quarantine at a government-approved facility in Palau. Owner must arrange and pay for quarantine costs directly with the facility. No home quarantine allowed.
Health certificate
Required
Official government or USDA/DEFRA-endorsed veterinarian · valid 10 days before arrival
Import permit
Required

Documents checklist

  • Rabies vaccination certificate
  • Health certificate issued within 10 days of arrival
  • Microchip certificate
  • FAVN titer test result
  • Import permit

Rough budget

ROUGH ballpark only, explicitly framed as an estimate to verify locally: Microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200, FAVN titer test ~$100-250, import permit fee ~$50-100, quarantine costs ~$200-500 depending on duration — confirm current prices with a local vet and the destination agency.

Cats from high-risk rabies countries face stricter requirements including a FAVN titer test and 30-day quarantine. The import permit must be obtained prior to travel.

Frequently asked questions

Palau does not specify a strict limit for non-commercial pet imports, but bringing more than 2 cats may trigger commercial import rules. Check with the Palau Bureau of Agriculture before travel if you plan to bring more than 2 cats.
No. Palau does not recognize emotional support animals or service animals for cats under its import regulations. All cats must meet the same import requirements regardless of their role. No exemptions are granted.
Cats from high-risk rabies countries must have a FAVN titer test performed at an OIE-approved laboratory. The blood sample must be taken at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination. The result must show a titre of at least 0.5 IU/mL. The test must be done no more than 12 months before travel.
No. Cats from low-risk countries (e.g., US, UK, Japan) do not require quarantine upon arrival in Palau, provided all documentation is in order. Only cats from high-risk countries face a mandatory 30-day quarantine.
The health certificate must be issued within 10 days of the cat's arrival in Palau. It must be signed by a licensed veterinarian and endorsed by the competent authority of the origin country (e.g., USDA in the US).
Yes, but the kitten must be at least 12 weeks old to receive a rabies vaccination. The 21-day waiting period after vaccination applies, so the earliest a kitten can travel is 15 weeks of age. No minimum age exemption exists.
You need the original rabies vaccination certificate, the health certificate (issued within 10 days), microchip certificate, and if from a high-risk country, the FAVN titer test result and import permit. All documents must be in English or accompanied by a certified translation.

Showing requirements for a ferret travelling from United States to Palau.

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 (showing microchip number, vaccine date, and validity)
  • Health certificate issued within 10 days of arrival, signed by an official government or USDA/DEFRA-endorsed veterinarian
  • Microchip documentation (ISO 11784/11785 compliant, implanted before rabies vaccination)

Rough budget

Rough ballpark only: microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200, rabies vaccine ~$20-50. Confirm current prices with a local vet and the Palau Bureau of Agriculture.

Palau does not have a published online import permit system for ferrets. Contact the Palau Bureau of Agriculture directly at least 30 days before travel to confirm any additional requirements.

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 (showing microchip number, vaccine date, and validity)
  • Health certificate issued within 10 days of arrival, signed by an official government or USDA/DEFRA-endorsed veterinarian
  • Microchip documentation (ISO 11784/11785 compliant, implanted before rabies vaccination)

Rough budget

Rough ballpark only: microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200, rabies vaccine ~$20-50. Confirm current prices with a local vet and the Palau Bureau of Agriculture.

Palau does not differentiate requirements by rabies risk category for ferrets. All tiers follow the same rules.

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 (showing microchip number, vaccine date, and validity)
  • Health certificate issued within 10 days of arrival, signed by an official government or USDA/DEFRA-endorsed veterinarian
  • Microchip documentation (ISO 11784/11785 compliant, implanted before rabies vaccination)

Rough budget

Rough ballpark only: microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200, rabies vaccine ~$20-50. Confirm current prices with a local vet and the Palau Bureau of Agriculture.

Palau does not impose additional rabies titer testing or quarantine for ferrets from high-risk origins. All tiers follow the same rules.

Frequently asked questions

No. Palau does not require a rabies titer test for ferrets from any origin. A valid rabies vaccination and health certificate are sufficient.
Palau does not publish a specific numeric limit for non-commercial pet ferrets. However, bringing more than 2-3 ferrets may be treated as commercial. Contact the Palau Bureau of Agriculture for a definitive answer before travel.
No. Palau does not recognize emotional support or service animals as exempt from standard import rules. All ferrets must meet the same microchip, rabies vaccination, and health certificate requirements regardless of their role.
Palau does not specify a minimum age for ferrets. However, the rabies vaccine must be given at or after 12 weeks of age, so the ferret must be at least 15 weeks old to meet the 21-day waiting period after vaccination.
No. An ISO 11784/11785 compliant microchip is mandatory. The microchip must be implanted before the rabies vaccine is given.
No. Palau does not require quarantine for ferrets from any origin, provided all documentation is in order.
The health certificate must be issued by an official government veterinarian or a USDA/DEFRA-endorsed veterinarian in the origin country. It must be issued within 10 days of arrival in Palau.

Good to know

All pets must be microchipped with an ISO 11784/11785 compliant chip before rabies vaccination. Original health certificates and vaccination records must be endorsed by the government veterinary authority of the exporting country.

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 Palau, 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 Palau's official veterinary/agriculture authority and your airline before travelling.