Bringing a pet to Trinidad and Tobago

Last reviewed October 2, 2026

Trinidad and Tobago requires a government-issued import permit for every dog before travel and does not recognise an EU-style pet passport. There is no routine quarantine for properly documented dogs, but the permit, microchip, rabies vaccination, and health-certificate chain is enforced at the port of entry; animals arriving without it can be refused, returned, or held at the owner's expense. Rules vary by the origin country's rabies status, with high-risk origins facing extra testing and longer lead times. Start the paperwork 2–4 months before the flight.

Requirements for your pet

Showing requirements for a dog travelling from United States to Trinidad and Tobago.

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 of the exporting country (USDA APHIS-accredited vet for the US, or national CVO equivalent), endorsed by the central veterinary authority · valid 10 days before arrival

Import permit

Required

Minimum age: 3 months

Breed restrictions

Trinidad and Tobago does not maintain a national breed ban for dogs entering the country, but the Dangerous Dogs Act (2000) restricts ownership of specific types (Pit Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro) and local authorities can seize animals deemed dangerous. Airlines flying into POS/TAB commonly refuse brachycephalic breeds (Pugs, Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, Boston Terriers, Boxers, Shih Tzus, Persian cats) in cargo during hot months — check with the carrier, not just the government.

Documents checklist

Import permit issued by Trinidad and Tobago Veterinary Public Health Unit (original)
Rabies vaccination certificate (inactivated vaccine, valid 1–3 years, administered at least 21 days before travel)
International health certificate issued within 10 days of arrival and endorsed by the exporting country's government vet
Microchip certificate or vet record showing ISO 11784/11785 chip number
Proof of internal and external parasite treatment (some carriers and the VPHU request this)

Rough budget

Rough ballpark only — verify locally: microchip ~US$30–60, rabies vaccine ~US$20–40, health certificate ~US$100–200, TT import permit fee typically under US$50 but confirm with the Veterinary Public Health Unit, courier/endorsement fees extra. Total commonly US$200–400 per dog excluding flights.

Even 'free' origins must hold a TT import permit — there is no EU-pet-passport-style waiver. The permit is tied to the specific animal, microchip number, and port of entry; changes require re-issuance.

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

Import permit

Required

Minimum age: 3 months

Breed restrictions

Documents checklist

Import permit issued by Trinidad and Tobago Veterinary Public Health Unit (original)
Rabies vaccination certificate (inactivated vaccine, valid 1–3 years, administered at least 21 days before travel)
International health certificate issued within 10 days of arrival and endorsed by the exporting country's government vet
Microchip certificate or vet record showing ISO 11784/11785 chip number
Proof of internal and external parasite treatment

Rough budget

Rough ballpark only — verify locally: microchip ~US$30–60, rabies vaccine ~US$20–40, health certificate ~US$100–200, TT import permit fee typically under US$50, courier/endorsement fees extra. Total commonly US$200–400 per dog excluding flights.

US, UK, Canada, and most of Europe fall here. Same paperwork as 'free' — the difference is practical, not legal: expect the VPHU to scrutinise the rabies certificate dates and the microchip number against the permit.

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)

Required

Blood draw 90+ days before travel

Quarantine

None

Health certificate

Required

Official government veterinarian of the exporting country, endorsed by the central veterinary authority · valid 10 days before arrival

Import permit

Required

Minimum age: 3 months

Breed restrictions

Documents checklist

Import permit issued by Trinidad and Tobago Veterinary Public Health Unit (original) — apply 8–12 weeks ahead
Rabies vaccination certificate (inactivated vaccine, at least 21 days before travel)
FAVN rabies antibody titre test result from an approved laboratory, ≥0.5 IU/ml, blood drawn ≥30 days post-vaccination
International health certificate issued within 10 days of arrival and endorsed by the exporting country's government vet
Microchip certificate or vet record showing ISO 11784/11785 chip number
Proof of internal and external parasite treatment

Rough budget

Rough ballpark only — verify locally: microchip ~US$30–60, rabies vaccine ~US$20–40, FAVN titre test ~US$150–300 including courier to the lab, health certificate ~US$100–200, TT import permit fee typically under US$50. Total commonly US$400–700 per dog excluding flights.

High-risk-origin dogs are the group most often refused at Piarco. The VPHU may require the animal to be held at the owner's expense pending verification if the titre result or permit is not presented on arrival. Start the process 3–4 months out.

Apply / official dog import page

Frequently asked questions

Yes — every dog, regardless of origin country, needs an import permit issued by the Veterinary Public Health Unit of the Ministry of Health before arrival. Apply 4–8 weeks ahead (8–12 weeks if coming from a high-risk rabies country). The permit is animal-specific and lists the microchip number and port of entry; arriving without it is the single most common reason pets are refused at Piarco.

At least 21 days must have elapsed between the rabies vaccination and arrival, and the vaccine must be an inactivated (killed) product with a 1- or 3-year validity. The dog must be at least 12 weeks old at the time of vaccination, so the practical minimum age at arrival is about 15 weeks. If your dog is coming from a high-risk rabies country, you also need a FAVN titre test of ≥0.5 IU/ml drawn at least 30 days after that vaccination.

No routine quarantine if the permit, microchip, rabies certificate, and health certificate are all in order — the animal is cleared at the airport. However, if documentation is missing or the rabies titre is not presented for a high-risk-origin dog, the VPHU can hold the animal at the owner's expense or refuse entry. Budget for the possibility of a short hold if your paperwork is incomplete.

The non-commercial allowance is small — treat 1–2 dogs per traveller as the safe limit, and expect anything above that to be assessed as a commercial import requiring a different permit and possibly a customs broker. If you are moving multiple animals, contact the Veterinary Public Health Unit before booking and get the classification in writing.

No. Trinidad and Tobago does not exempt service animals or emotional-support animals from the import permit, microchip, rabies vaccination, or health certificate requirements. A service dog still needs the full document chain, and airlines flying into POS may additionally require the dog to travel as manifested cargo rather than in the cabin — confirm with the carrier separately from the government requirements.

The international health certificate must be issued within 10 days of arrival and endorsed by the exporting country's government veterinary authority (USDA APHIS for the US, the CVO/APHA for the UK, etc.). A certificate signed only by a private vet without government endorsement is not accepted. Time the vet visit so the certificate is still within 10 days when you land — a long itinerary with a stopover can push you over the limit.

Piarco International Airport (POS) in Trinidad and A.N.R. Robinson International Airport (TAB) in Tobago are the designated ports of entry for pets. The import permit names the port — you cannot switch airports on arrival without a re-issued permit. Arrivals are inspected by the Veterinary Public Health Unit and Customs; keep the original permit, health certificate, rabies certificate, and microchip record in hand luggage, not checked baggage.

Showing requirements for a cat travelling from United States to Trinidad and Tobago.

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 or USDA/DEFRA-endorsed veterinarian · valid 10 days before arrival

Import permit

Required

Minimum age: 3 months

Documents checklist

Import permit from Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries
Rabies vaccination certificate (vaccinated at least 21 days and not more than 1 year before travel)
International health certificate issued within 10 days of travel
Microchip certificate (ISO 11784/11785)

Rough budget

Rough ballpark only, not a guaranteed price: import permit ~$50-100 USD, microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200, rabies vaccination ~$20-50. No titer test or quarantine fee applies in this tier. Confirm current fees with the Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Agriculture and a local vet.

Trinidad and Tobago requires an import permit for all cats, regardless of origin. The permit must be obtained before travel. Cats must be at least 3 months old for rabies vaccination.

Apply / official cat 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 veterinarian or USDA/DEFRA-endorsed veterinarian · valid 10 days before arrival

Import permit

Required

Minimum age: 3 months

Documents checklist

Import permit from Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries
Rabies vaccination certificate (vaccinated at least 21 days and not more than 1 year before travel)
International health certificate issued within 10 days of travel
Microchip certificate (ISO 11784/11785)

Rough budget

Trinidad and Tobago does not differentiate between low-risk and free origins for cats; an import permit is required for all.

Apply / official cat import page

Microchip

Required

ISO 11784/11785

Rabies vaccine

Required

From 12 weeks old, wait 21+ days before travel

Rabies titer test (FAVN)

Required

Blood draw 90+ days before travel

Quarantine

None

Health certificate

Required

Official government veterinarian or USDA/DEFRA-endorsed veterinarian · valid 10 days before arrival

Import permit

Required

Minimum age: 3 months

Documents checklist

Import permit from Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries
Rabies vaccination certificate (vaccinated at least 21 days and not more than 1 year before travel)
FAVN rabies titer test result (≥0.5 IU/ml) from an OIE-approved laboratory
International health certificate issued within 10 days of travel
Microchip certificate (ISO 11784/11785)

Rough budget

Rough ballpark only, not a guaranteed price: import permit ~$50-100 USD, microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200, rabies vaccination ~$20-50, FAVN titer test ~$100-250. No quarantine fee applies if documentation is complete. Confirm current fees with the Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Agriculture and a local vet.

Cats from high-risk rabies countries must have a valid FAVN rabies titer test. The test must be done at least 30 days after vaccination. Start at least 3-4 months before travel.

Apply / official cat import page

Frequently asked questions

Yes. An import permit is required for all cats, regardless of origin country. Apply through the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries. Processing can take several weeks, so apply early.

No quarantine is required if the cat has a valid rabies vaccination certificate, a health certificate, and, for high-risk origins, a passing FAVN titer test. If documentation is incomplete, the animal may be quarantined at the owner's expense.

Cats from high-risk rabies countries (e.g., Thailand, Russia, most of Africa, South Asia, Middle East) must have a FAVN rabies titer test showing at least 0.5 IU/ml. The test must be done at least 30 days after rabies vaccination at an OIE-approved laboratory. This adds at least 1-2 months to preparation time.

Trinidad and Tobago does not publish a specific limit for non-commercial pet cats. Importing more than 2-3 cats may be considered commercial and require additional permits. Contact the Ministry of Agriculture for guidance if bringing more than one or two cats.

No. Trinidad and Tobago does not exempt emotional support or service animals from standard import requirements. All cats, including service animals, must meet the same import permit, vaccination, health certificate, and titer test (if applicable) requirements.

The cat must be at least 3 months old to have a valid rabies vaccination, and the vaccination must be at least 21 days old before travel. Therefore, the minimum age for entry is effectively 3 months and 21 days (about 15 weeks).

You need: (1) an import permit from the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries; (2) a rabies vaccination certificate showing vaccination at least 21 days and not more than 1 year before travel; (3) an international health certificate issued within 10 days of travel by an official government veterinarian; (4) a microchip certificate (ISO 11784/11785); and (5) for high-risk origins, a FAVN rabies titer test result (≥0.5 IU/ml).

Showing requirements for a ferret travelling from United States to Trinidad and Tobago.

Microchip

Required

ISO 11784/11785

Rabies vaccine

Required

From 12 weeks old, wait 30+ days before travel

Rabies titer test (FAVN)

Not required

Quarantine

None

Health certificate

Required

Official government veterinarian or accredited private veterinarian endorsed by the national veterinary authority of the origin country · valid 10 days before arrival

Import permit

Required

Minimum age: 4 months

Documents checklist

Import permit issued by the Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries (Animal Health Unit)
Rabies vaccination certificate showing vaccination at least 30 days and not more than 12 months before import
International health certificate issued within 10 days of travel
Proof of ISO 11784/11785 microchip implantation

Rough budget

Rough ballpark only: import permit ~TTD 200–500 (USD 30–75), health certificate ~USD 100–200, microchip ~USD 30–50, rabies vaccine ~USD 20–50. No titer test or quarantine fee applies in this tier. Confirm current fees with the Trinidad and Tobago Animal Health Unit and a local veterinarian.

Ferrets are not listed as prohibited under Trinidad and Tobago's Animal (Diseases and Importation) Act, but an import permit is mandatory for all live animals. Rabies vaccination must be given at least 30 days before travel. No titer test or quarantine is required if all documentation is complete.

Apply / official ferret import page

Microchip

Required

ISO 11784/11785

Rabies vaccine

Required

From 12 weeks old, wait 30+ days before travel

Rabies titer test (FAVN)

Not required

Quarantine

None

Health certificate

Required

Official government veterinarian or accredited private veterinarian endorsed by the national veterinary authority of the origin country · valid 10 days before arrival

Import permit

Required

Minimum age: 4 months

Documents checklist

Import permit issued by the Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries (Animal Health Unit)
Rabies vaccination certificate showing vaccination at least 30 days and not more than 12 months before import
International health certificate issued within 10 days of travel
Proof of ISO 11784/11785 microchip implantation

Rough budget

Same requirements as free-tier origins. No titer test or quarantine is required if vaccination and certification requirements are met. Submit the import permit application at least 14 days before travel.

Apply / official ferret import page

Microchip

Required

ISO 11784/11785

Rabies vaccine

Required

From 12 weeks old, wait 30+ days before travel

Rabies titer test (FAVN)

Required

Blood draw 90+ days before travel

Quarantine

None

Health certificate

Required

Official government veterinarian or accredited private veterinarian endorsed by the national veterinary authority of the origin country · valid 10 days before arrival

Import permit

Required

Minimum age: 4 months

Documents checklist

Import permit issued by the Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries (Animal Health Unit)
Rabies vaccination certificate showing vaccination at least 30 days and not more than 12 months before import
FAVN rabies titer test result from an approved laboratory (titer ≥0.5 IU/ml, test done at least 90 days after vaccination and at least 90 days before travel)
International health certificate issued within 10 days of travel
Proof of ISO 11784/11785 microchip implantation

Rough budget

Rough ballpark only: import permit ~TTD 200–500 (USD 30–75), health certificate ~USD 100–200, microchip ~USD 30–50, rabies vaccine ~USD 20–50, FAVN titer test ~USD 100–250. No quarantine fee applies unless quarantine is ordered. Confirm current fees with the Trinidad and Tobago Animal Health Unit and a local veterinarian.

Ferrets from high-risk rabies countries must have a valid FAVN titer test. Quarantine is not routinely imposed if all requirements are met, but the Chief Veterinary Officer may order quarantine on a case-by-case basis. The titer test must be done at least 90 days before travel, so plan at least 4–6 months ahead.

Apply / official ferret import page

Frequently asked questions

Yes, but you need an import permit from the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries. Ferrets are not on the prohibited list, but all live animals require a permit. Apply at least 14 days before travel. The permit is usually valid for 30 days.

Yes. A rabies vaccination is mandatory for all ferrets entering Trinidad and Tobago. The vaccine must be given at least 30 days before travel and not more than 12 months before travel. The ferret must be at least 12 weeks old at vaccination.

Only if your ferret is coming from a high-risk rabies country (e.g., Thailand, Russia, most of Africa, South Asia, Middle East). The FAVN test must be done at an approved lab, at least 90 days after vaccination and at least 90 days before travel, with a result of 0.5 IU/ml or higher. Ferrets from low-risk or rabies-free countries do not need a titer test.

Quarantine is not routinely required if all import conditions are met. However, the Chief Veterinary Officer can order quarantine on a case-by-case basis, especially if documentation is incomplete or the animal shows signs of illness. There is no standard quarantine period for ferrets.

Trinidad and Tobago does not publish a specific limit for non-commercial pet ferrets. In practice, a single traveller may bring up to 2–3 ferrets as pets, but larger numbers may be considered commercial and require additional permits. Check with the Animal Health Unit before travelling with more than 3 ferrets.

No. Trinidad and Tobago does not exempt emotional support or service animals from import requirements. All ferrets, regardless of their role, must have an import permit, rabies vaccination, health certificate, and microchip. Service animals may be allowed in the cabin on some airlines, but import rules remain the same.

The international health certificate must be issued within 10 days of travel. It must be signed by an official government veterinarian or an accredited private veterinarian endorsed by the national veterinary authority of the origin country.

Good to know

The import permit is issued by the Veterinary Public Health Unit of the Ministry of Health and must be presented with the original health certificate at Piarco (POS) or A.N.R. Robinson (TAB) airport. Trinidad and Tobago is rabies-free and treats all arrivals as a biosecurity event; the permit is the single most common reason travellers are turned away. Allow 4–8 weeks for permit processing (8–12 weeks for high-risk origins); do not book non-refundable flights until the permit is in hand.

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 Trinidad and Tobago, check that country's pet-entry/transit rules separately (search "pets" on this site for that country too).