Bringing a pet to Samoa

Last reviewed July 3, 2026

Samoa enforces strict, origin-based import requirements for dogs, cats, and ferrets, with rules varying significantly depending on the rabies risk category of the country of departure. Most pets must undergo a minimum 180-day quarantine upon arrival, and pre-export preparations—including microchipping, rabies vaccination, and blood titer testing—must be completed months in advance. Owners should expect a rigorous, time-consuming process and plan accordingly.

Requirements for your pet

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

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 and vaccine details
  • Health certificate issued within 10 days of arrival, signed by official veterinarian
  • Microchip proof (if not recorded on health certificate)

Rough budget

ROUGH ballpark: microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200, rabies vaccine ~$20-50. Confirm with local vet and Samoa Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.

No additional requirements for free-tier origins.

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 showing microchip number and vaccine details
  • Health certificate issued within 10 days of arrival, signed by official veterinarian
  • Microchip proof (if not recorded on health certificate)

Rough budget

ROUGH ballpark: microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200, rabies vaccine ~$20-50. Confirm with local vet and Samoa Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.

No additional requirements for low-risk origins.

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 showing microchip number and vaccine details
  • Health certificate issued within 10 days of arrival, signed by official veterinarian
  • Microchip proof (if not recorded on health certificate)

Rough budget

ROUGH ballpark: microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200, rabies vaccine ~$20-50. Confirm with local vet and Samoa Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.

No additional requirements for high-risk origins.

Apply / official dog import page

Frequently asked questions

No. A valid rabies vaccination with a 21-day wait after the primary vaccine is sufficient.
No quarantine is imposed, provided all entry requirements are met.
Samoa does not specify a strict limit, but bringing more than 2-3 dogs may trigger commercial import rules. Check with the Samoa Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries before travel.
No. All dogs must meet the same microchip, rabies vaccination, and health certificate requirements.
The health certificate must be issued within 10 days of your dog's arrival in Samoa.
Cabin travel depends on the airline's policy and your dog's size. Most airlines allow small dogs (under 8 kg including carrier) in the cabin.
A booster is required, followed by a 21-day wait before entry. The vaccine must have been given after microchip implantation.

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

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 (endorsed by exporting country's veterinary authority)

Rough budget

ROUGH ballpark only: microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200. Confirm current prices with a local vet and the destination agency.

Microchip must be implanted before rabies 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
  • International health certificate (endorsed by exporting country's veterinary authority)

Rough budget

ROUGH ballpark only: microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200. Confirm current prices with a local vet and the destination agency.

Microchip must be implanted before rabies vaccination.

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
  • FAVN titer test result
  • Import permit from Samoa's Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
  • International health certificate (endorsed by exporting country's veterinary authority)

Rough budget

ROUGH ballpark only: microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200, FAVN titer test ~$100-250, import permit fees vary by country. Confirm current prices with a local vet and the destination agency.

Apply for the import permit at least 30 days before travel.

Apply / official cat import page

Frequently asked questions

Samoa typically allows up to 2 cats per person under non-commercial rules. If you bring more than 2, commercial import regulations and additional fees may apply. Confirm with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries before travel.
Yes. Cats from high-risk rabies countries must have a FAVN titer test performed at an OIE-approved lab at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination and within 12 months of travel. The result must show a rabies antibody level of at least 0.5 IU/mL.
No. Samoa does not exempt emotional support or service animals from standard import requirements. All cats must meet the same microchip, rabies vaccination, health certificate, and (if applicable) titer test and import permit rules.
The international health certificate must be issued within 10 days of arrival in Samoa. It must be endorsed by the official veterinary authority of the exporting country (e.g., USDA in the US, DEFRA in the UK).
Samoa does not impose mandatory quarantine for cats that meet all import requirements, regardless of origin. However, if documents are incomplete or the animal appears ill, quarantine may be ordered at the owner's expense. Check with the Ministry of Agriculture for current policy.
An import permit is required only for cats originating from high-risk rabies countries. For cats from rabies-free or low-risk countries, no import permit is needed, but a valid health certificate and rabies vaccination record are mandatory.
Samoa requires an ISO 11784/11785 compliant microchip. If your cat has a non-ISO chip, you must bring your own compatible scanner. The microchip must be implanted before the rabies vaccination.

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

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-accredited vet in US, DEFRA-endorsed vet in UK) · valid 10 days before arrival
Import permit
Not required

Documents checklist

  • ISO microchip certificate
  • Rabies vaccination certificate (valid, administered after microchip)
  • Health certificate issued within 10 days of travel

Rough budget

ROUGH ballpark only: microchip ~$30-50, rabies vaccine ~$20-50, health certificate ~$100-200 — confirm current prices with a local vet and the Samoa Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.

Samoa does not have specific published ferret import rules; general pet import rules apply. Ferrets from rabies-free origins (e.g., Australia, New Zealand, UK) face minimal friction. No quarantine required.

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-accredited vet in US, DEFRA-endorsed vet in UK) · valid 10 days before arrival
Import permit
Not required

Documents checklist

  • ISO microchip certificate
  • Rabies vaccination certificate (valid, administered after microchip)
  • Health certificate issued within 10 days of travel

Rough budget

ROUGH ballpark only: microchip ~$30-50, rabies vaccine ~$20-50, health certificate ~$100-200 — confirm current prices with a local vet and the Samoa Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.

Samoa does not have specific published ferret import rules; general pet import rules apply. Ferrets from low-risk origins (e.g., US, Canada, Japan) do not require a rabies titer test or import permit. No quarantine required.

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 an approved facility in Samoa (likely at the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries facility in Apia). Owner bears all costs.
Health certificate
Required
Official government veterinarian (e.g., USDA-accredited vet in US, DEFRA-endorsed vet in UK) · valid 10 days before arrival
Import permit
Required

Documents checklist

  • ISO microchip certificate
  • Rabies vaccination certificate (valid, administered after microchip)
  • FAVN titer test result (≥0.5 IU/mL, from OIE-approved lab)
  • Health certificate issued within 10 days of travel
  • Import permit from Samoa Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries

Rough budget

ROUGH ballpark only: microchip ~$30-50, rabies vaccine ~$20-50, FAVN titer test ~$100-250, health certificate ~$100-200, import permit fee ~$50-100, quarantine fees ~$200-500 for 30 days — confirm current prices with a local vet and the Samoa Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.

Samoa does not have specific published ferret import rules; general pet import rules apply. Ferrets from high-risk origins (e.g., Thailand, Russia, most of Africa, South Asia, Middle East) require a rabies titer test, import permit, and 30-day quarantine. Contact the Samoa Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries well in advance (at least 8 weeks).

Frequently asked questions

Most airlines flying to Samoa (e.g., Fiji Airways, Air New Zealand, Qantas) allow ferrets in the cabin only if they are in an airline-approved carrier that fits under the seat. Weight limits vary by airline — typically 8 kg (including carrier). Check with your specific airline at least 48 hours before departure. Ferrets are not always accepted; some airlines may require them to travel as checked cargo.
Samoa does not publish a specific limit for non-commercial pet imports. However, general practice in Pacific island nations is to allow up to 2 pets per person for non-commercial travel. If you bring more than 2 ferrets, you may be required to obtain a commercial import permit and meet additional requirements. Confirm with the Samoa Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries before travel.
No. Samoa does not recognize emotional support animals or service ferrets under any special category. All ferrets must meet the same import requirements: microchip, rabies vaccination, health certificate, and if from a high-risk origin, a rabies titer test, import permit, and quarantine. There are no exemptions for any type of assistance animal.
Yes. Even though Australia is rabies-free, Samoa requires a rabies vaccination for all ferrets entering the country, regardless of origin. The vaccine must be administered after the microchip is implanted, and at least 21 days before travel. The rabies vaccine must be valid (not expired) at the time of entry.
If the FAVN test result is below 0.5 IU/mL, your ferret will not be allowed to enter Samoa from a high-risk origin. You must revaccinate and wait at least 30 days before retesting. Only once the result is ≥0.5 IU/mL can you proceed with the import permit application. Plan for at least 12 weeks total for the titer process.
The Samoa Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries typically takes 2-4 weeks to process an import permit application. You must submit the health certificate, rabies vaccination proof, and FAVN titer test result. Apply at least 8 weeks before your planned travel date to allow for processing and any delays.
Yes, Samoa has a quarantine facility operated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in Apia. For ferrets from high-risk origins, the mandatory quarantine period is 30 days. Costs are borne by the owner and are estimated at $200-500 for the full period, but you must confirm current fees directly with the Ministry. No quarantine is required for ferrets from free or low-risk origins.

Good to know

All pets must be microchipped with an ISO 11784/11785 compliant chip before any vaccinations or tests. The microchip must be scanned and verified upon arrival; if unreadable, the pet may be refused entry or placed in quarantine at the owner's expense.

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