Bringing a pet to Papua New Guinea

Last reviewed July 3, 2026

Papua New Guinea has strict pet import requirements that vary significantly depending on the rabies risk category of the origin country. All dogs, cats, and ferrets must meet specific health preparations, including microchipping, rabies vaccination, and a rabies titer test if arriving from a high-risk area. There is no mandatory quarantine for pets meeting all entry conditions, but expect thorough documentation checks and possible delays at the border.

Requirements for your pet

Showing requirements for a dog travelling from United States to Papua New Guinea.

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 travel
  • Microchip certificate or proof of implantation

Rough budget

ROUGH ballpark only: microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200, rabies vaccination ~$20-50. Confirm current prices with a local vet and the National Agriculture Quarantine and Inspection Authority (NAQIA).

No additional requirements for rabies-free origins beyond the standard set.

Apply / official dog import page

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 travel
  • Microchip certificate or proof of implantation

Rough budget

ROUGH ballpark only: microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200, rabies vaccination ~$20-50. Confirm current prices with a local vet and NAQIA.

No additional requirements for low-risk origins beyond the standard set.

Apply / official dog import page

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 travel
  • Microchip certificate or proof of implantation

Rough budget

ROUGH ballpark only: microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200, rabies vaccination ~$20-50. Confirm current prices with a local vet and NAQIA.

No additional requirements for high-risk origins beyond the standard set.

Apply / official dog import page

Frequently asked questions

No, Papua New Guinea does not require a rabies titer (FAVN) test for dogs from any origin country. A rabies vaccination administered at least 21 days before travel is sufficient.
No, there is no quarantine requirement for dogs arriving in Papua New Guinea, regardless of the origin country's rabies status.
Papua New Guinea does not specify a strict limit for non-commercial pet imports, but bringing more than 2 dogs may trigger commercial import rules. Check with NAQIA if you plan to bring more than 2 dogs.
No, Papua New Guinea does not provide any exemptions for emotional support or service dogs. All dogs must meet the same microchip, rabies vaccination, and health certificate requirements.
The health certificate must be issued within 10 days of the dog's arrival in Papua New Guinea.
No, only ISO 11784/11785 compliant microchips are accepted. If your dog has a different microchip, you must bring your own scanner or have a compatible microchip implanted before travel.
No, an import permit is not required for dogs entering Papua New Guinea. The key documents are a valid rabies vaccination certificate and a health certificate issued within 10 days of travel.

Showing requirements for a cat travelling from United States to Papua New Guinea.

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 veterinarian endorsed by the National Agriculture Quarantine and Inspection Authority (NAQIA) · valid 10 days before arrival
Import permit
Not required

Documents checklist

  • Rabies vaccination certificate (showing microchip number, vaccine batch, expiry)
  • Health certificate issued within 10 days of travel
  • Microchip certificate or proof of implantation

Rough budget

Rough ballpark only — verify locally: microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200, rabies vaccine ~$20-50. Confirm current prices with a local vet and NAQIA.

No import permit needed for cats from rabies-free origins. All documents must be in English or accompanied by a certified translation.

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 veterinarian (e.g., USDA APHIS in the US, DEFRA in the UK) endorsed by NAQIA · valid 10 days before arrival
Import permit
Not required

Documents checklist

  • Rabies vaccination certificate (microchip number, vaccine details, validity)
  • Health certificate issued within 10 days of travel
  • Microchip proof

Rough budget

Rough ballpark only — verify locally: microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200, rabies vaccine ~$20-50. Confirm current prices with a local vet and NAQIA.

No import permit required for low-risk origins. Ensure the health certificate is endorsed by the competent authority of the origin country.

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 NAQIA-approved facility in Port Moresby. Owner pays all costs. No home quarantine allowed.
Health certificate
Required
Official government veterinarian endorsed by NAQIA · valid 10 days before arrival
Import permit
Required

Minimum age: 4 months

Documents checklist

  • Rabies vaccination certificate
  • FAVN titer test certificate (≥0.5 IU/mL)
  • Health certificate issued within 10 days of travel
  • Import permit from NAQIA
  • Microchip certificate

Rough budget

Rough ballpark only — verify locally: microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200, FAVN titer test ~$100-250, import permit fee ~$50-100, quarantine ~$10-20 per day. Confirm current prices with a local vet and NAQIA.

High-risk origin cats face strict requirements. Titer test must be done at an OIE-approved lab. Quarantine is mandatory and cannot be waived.

Apply / official cat import page

Frequently asked questions

Papua New Guinea does not set a specific limit on the number of cats per non-commercial traveller, but if you bring more than 5 cats, NAQIA may treat the shipment as commercial and require a commercial import permit and additional fees. Check with NAQIA before travel.
No. The FAVN test must be performed at an OIE-approved laboratory. Common labs include Kansas State University (USA), AFSSA Nancy (France), and others listed on the OIE website. The test must show a result of at least 0.5 IU/mL.
No. Papua New Guinea does not recognise emotional support or service animals as exempt from standard import rules. All cats, regardless of role, must meet the same microchip, vaccination, health certificate, and quarantine requirements based on origin tier.
The health certificate must be issued within 10 days of arrival. If it expires before you land, NAQIA may deny entry or require a new certificate issued by a local vet in the origin country. Plan travel so the certificate is valid on the day of arrival.
No. Home quarantine is not permitted for cats from high-risk origins. Quarantine must be at a NAQIA-approved facility in Port Moresby. For free and low-risk origins, no quarantine is required.
All documents — rabies vaccination certificate, health certificate, microchip certificate, FAVN test results, and import permit — must be in English or accompanied by a certified English translation. NAQIA does not accept documents in other languages without translation.
NAQIA typically processes import permit applications within 30-60 days. Apply at least 60 days before travel. The permit is valid for 30 days from the date of issue. Late applications may delay travel.

Showing requirements for a ferret travelling from United States to Papua New Guinea.

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 manufacturer, batch number, date of vaccination, and validity period)
  • Health certificate issued within 10 days of arrival, endorsed by an official government veterinarian (e.g., USDA in the US, DEFRA in the UK)
  • Microchip certificate or proof of ISO 11784/11785 compliant chip implantation

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 National Agriculture Quarantine and Inspection Authority (NAQIA).

Papua New Guinea does not differentiate rabies risk tiers for ferrets — all origins treated equally. No import permit required for a single pet ferret.

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 manufacturer, batch number, date of vaccination, and validity period)
  • Health certificate issued within 10 days of arrival, endorsed by an official government veterinarian (e.g., USDA in the US, DEFRA in the UK)
  • Microchip certificate or proof of ISO 11784/11785 compliant chip implantation

Rough budget

ROUGH ballpark only — microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200, rabies vaccine ~$20-50. Confirm current prices with a local vet and NAQIA.

Papua New Guinea does not differentiate rabies risk tiers for ferrets — all origins treated equally. No import permit required for a single pet ferret.

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 manufacturer, batch number, date of vaccination, and validity period)
  • Health certificate issued within 10 days of arrival, endorsed by an official government veterinarian (e.g., USDA in the US, DEFRA in the UK)
  • Microchip certificate or proof of ISO 11784/11785 compliant chip implantation

Rough budget

ROUGH ballpark only — microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200, rabies vaccine ~$20-50. Confirm current prices with a local vet and NAQIA.

Papua New Guinea does not differentiate rabies risk tiers for ferrets — all origins treated equally. No import permit required for a single pet ferret.

Frequently asked questions

No. Papua New Guinea does not require a rabies titer test for ferrets regardless of origin country. Only a rabies vaccination given at least 21 days before travel and a health certificate are needed.
Papua New Guinea generally allows up to 2 pet ferrets per traveller under non-commercial rules. If you bring more than 2, you may need an import permit and commercial documentation — confirm with NAQIA before travel.
No. Papua New Guinea does not recognise emotional support or service animals as exempt from standard import rules. All ferrets must meet the same microchip, rabies vaccination, and health certificate requirements.
The ferret must be at least 12 weeks old to receive a rabies vaccination, which is required for entry. There is no separate minimum age beyond that, but the rabies vaccine must be given at 12 weeks or older.
Yes, the health certificate must be issued and endorsed by an official government veterinarian (e.g., USDA in the US, DEFRA in the UK). It is valid for 10 days from the date of issue to the date of arrival in Papua New Guinea.
Most airlines do not allow ferrets in the cabin due to their odour and potential as a nuisance. Ferrets typically travel as checked baggage or cargo in an IATA-approved kennel. Check with your specific airline for their policy.
No. Papua New Guinea does not impose quarantine for ferrets arriving from any country, provided all documentation (microchip, rabies vaccine, health certificate) is in order. No post-arrival isolation is required.

Good to know

All pets must be microchipped with an ISO 11784/11785 compliant chip before any vaccinations. The rabies vaccination must be administered after the microchip is implanted. 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 Papua New Guinea, 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 Papua New Guinea's official veterinary/agriculture authority and your airline before travelling.