Saint Lucia Pet Import Requirements

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What is a Pet Passport?

We refer to a pet passport as a collection of documents according to Saint Lucia pet import requirements for dogs or cats entering the country. This term is not to be confused with an official EU Pet Passport issued in the European Union for resident pets. Your pet’s passport will include import permit, proof of microchip, titer test (some countries), rabies vaccination, parasite treatments, and international export health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian in the origination country.

Animals Eligible for These Regulations

Unless otherwise stated, the regulations below apply to domestic dogs and cats including service and assistance dogs and cats. These regulations do not include the import of wolf hybrids, Savannah and Bengal cats, unless 5th generation removed from the pedigree.

Pets in Saint Lucia

In Saint Lucia, pets are a common part of many households. Dogs and cats are among the most popular pets, but you may also find other animals kept as companions, such as birds, fish, and small mammals. Veterinary care is available and provided by several clinics and practitioners across the island. These veterinary services offer a range of care for pets and other animals. It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the location of veterinary clinics in case your pet requires medical attention during your stay.

Saint Lucia boasts stunning natural landscapes, including rainforests, hiking trails, and botanical gardens, where pets may be allowed on-leash. Always check the rules and regulations of specific parks or attractions before bringing your pet.

Flying a Pet to Saint Lucia

The following commercial airlines offer services for pets and fly to Hewanorra International Airport: Air Canada, American Airlines, British Airways, Delta, JetBlue, United, and WestJet.

Flights to Saint Lucia should be direct or transit through a rabies-controlled country or another EU Member State if possible*. *Note: If your pet has a layover in an EU Member State in its itinerary, then additional requirements will apply.

Find a Licensed Veterinarian

Before beginning any pet export procedure, make sure your veterinarian is approved by the governing veterinarian authority in your pet’s country of origin. The agency of the government that is responsible for the movement of live animals should either license or employ your veterinarian.

Quarantine for Pets Entering Saint Lucia

Quarantine will not be imposed on your pet if the following regulations are met. Pets not meeting import regulations will be quarantined, returned to the origin country or euthanized. All costs are the responsibility of the importer.

All steps required to import a pet dog or cat to Saint Lucia must be completed in the origination country. Complete steps 1-6 in the order given.

Step 1: Pet Microchip

Having your pet identified with a microchip is important when traveling internationally for several reasons. Firstly, a microchip will tie your pet to its documentation when entering a foreign country. Secondly, if, for any reason, your pet is separated from you during travel, the chances of reuniting with your pet significantly increase if you register your information in a microchip database.

Your pet must be identified with a 15-digit pet microchip which is compliant with International Standards Organization standard 11784 or Annex A of ISO standard 11785 prior to entering Saint Lucia. All documentation must reflect the microchip number. If your pet’s microchip is not ISO 11784/11785 compliant, importers can provide a microchip scanner that will read their pet’s microchip.

Your veterinarian, a veterinary hospital or trained nurse should implant the microchip. Documentation should be provided as to the manufacturer of the microchip and registration instructions.

Step 2: Vaccinations

All cats and dogs must be vaccinated for rabies more than 30 days and less than 12 months prior to entering Saint Lucia. The administering veterinarian should record vaccination information, sign and stamp one of the following documents depending on veterinary practices in the country of origin:

a rabies certificate
a government-issued vaccination booklet or
an EU Pet Passport

Other Vaccinations

Dogs should be vaccinated against distemper, hepatitis/adenovirus, leptospirosis, and parvovirus. Cats should be vaccinated against leukemia, rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, panleopenia andpneumonitis. Pets from Lyme-infected areas must test negative for this disease.

Vaccinations must be administered more than 14 days and less than 12 months of entry. Veterinarians must record vaccinations on the international health certificate (step 5) at intervals required by veterinary health procedures of the origination country.

Step 3: Rabies Titer (Serology) Test

A rabies titer test, also known as a rabies antibody test or rabies serology test, is a blood test that measures the level of rabies antibodies in your pet’s blood. The test will assess the effectiveness of a rabies vaccination or determine your pet’s immune response to the rabies virus. When required, a licensed veterinarian will administer the test more than 30 days after the most current rabies vaccination.

Unless your pet has resided in a country listed below for a minimum of 3 months prior to import, a rabies titer test must be performed no less than 30 days after vaccination is given and more than 3 months prior to entering St Lucia. (Have your veterinarian scan your pet’s microchip prior to the titer test.)

Countries exempt from the rabies titer test: Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Turks and Caicos Islands, Australia, Fiji, French Polynesia (Tahiti), Hawaii, Hong Kong, Iceland, Japan, Malaysia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, Singapore, Saint Helena, Sweden, Taiwan, United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man), Uruguay and Vatican City State.

Note that rabies titer test results or veterinary exemption letters are no substitution for proof of rabies vaccination.

Step 4: Parasite Treatments

Your cat or dog must be treated no more than 14 days before entry into Saint Lucia with a preparation for the treatment of ticks and fleas as well as tapeworm.

The treatment of pets for internal parasites, especially Echinococcus multilocularis, as well as external parasites (fleas and ticks) should be discussed with your veterinarian who will administer according to disease status of the origination country. These treatments are recommended, but not required.

The administering veterinarian can record these treatments on the health certificate or issue you a record of treatment.

Step 5: Health Certificate

All countries worldwide require an original health certificate (sometimes known as a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection) for live animals entering their country. The certificate should include the following information:

details of your pet and
vaccinations and treatments and
veterinary attestations regarding symptoms of contagious diseases at the time of export.

Further, your veterinarian must certify that your pet is healthy enough to travel and is not from a region that is subject to rabies restrictions. The health certificate must properly identify your pet. Your veterinarian will include additional details and treatments on the certificate depending on the country of origin.

A licensed veterinarian in the origination country must complete the health certificate within 10 days of entry.

A government veterinarian must either issue the certificate or endorse the certificate after issuance by a licensed veterinarian. This official represents the agency in the origination country that is responsible for the import and export of live animals.

Step 6: Import Permit

You must obtain an import permit from the Veterinary Authority at least 2 weeks in advance of importing a pet cat or dog to Saint Lucia.

More Information

Importing Puppies and Kittens to Saint Lucia

Puppies and kittens should not be vaccinated for rabies prior to three months of age. They must be fully vaccinated after three months of age and wait for 30 days before travel to Saint Lucia.

Breeds Banned for Import to Saint Lucia

The following dog breeds and their mixes are not permitted import to St. Lucia: Pitt Bull Terrier, Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, British Staffordshire Terrier, Japanese Tosa Inu, Dogo Argentina and Fila Brasileiro.

Entering Saint Lucia by Air

Pets must enter St Lucia via Hewanorra International Airport. Your cat or dog must be transported directly into Saint Lucia and should not be in contact with any other cat or dog on the flight except for which a similar permission has been issued.

Flights should be direct if the duration of the flight does not violate animal welfare laws. Layovers should be short and not involve a change in airline companies. If your pet’s itinerary involves a layover in the European Union, then additional requirements will apply.

Importers will need to provide advance notice to veterinary officials at the airport so they will be available to inspect your pet and its passport documentation upon landing. This is especially important if your pet will be arriving outside of normal business hours.

Whenever your pet travels to a foreign country like Saint Lucia, it is always advisable to carry some form of identification indicating ownership of your pet.

All domestic dogs and cats must be free of evidence of disease communicable to humans when examined at the entry airport.

A government veterinarian will provide further examination if your dog or cat is not in apparent good health when entering Saint Lucia. All costs associated with further inspections or treatments will be borne by the importer.

Importing Other Pet Animals to Saint Lucia

Import of Rabbits to Saint Lucia

Rabbits may be imported to St. Lucia with an import permit and endorsed health certificate. They should be born and bred in the country for which the import permit is granted and must be exported directly to St. Lucia. They should be healthy and treated for external and internal parasites including Coccidia and ear mites. There should have been no outbreaks in the originating country of Tularemia or Myxomatosis within one year of export.

Ports of entry are George FL Charles Airport, Hewanorra International Airport or Castries and Vieux Sea Ports.

Import of Birds to Saint Lucia

Pet birds must be accompanied by an import permit and endorsed health certificate issued within 48 hours of import.

Birds must be inspected on the day of exportation and found to be healthy and free of any contagious diseases. No
outbreaks of New Castle Disease of Avian Influenza must have occurred in the origination country in the previous three years. Birds must be kept in isolation in a facility approved by veterinary officials for 21 days prior to export. During isolation, birds must be tested for Avian Influenza, Newcastle Disease and Psittacosis and test results were negative.

Ports of entry for birds: Seaports of Castries and Vieux Fort or the George FL Charles and Hewanorra Airport.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) prohibits the trade of some species of animals, including pets. This is crucial if you have a pet that isn’t a dog or cat, and it’s crucial if it’s a turtle or a parrot. If this is the case, importers will have to submit additional permit applications. The agency that issues these permits is responsible for the protection of wildlife in your country.

Over 180 countries participate in and enforce CITES regulations.

Related: Read more about CITES

Have Questions About Importing Your Pet to Saint Lucia?

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Please note that the accuracy of comments made below by users other than Pet Travel have not been verified. We do not endorse any person or company that may offer transport services through posts to this webpage.

Current Information

To the best of our ability, we ensure that recommendations given on PetTravel.com reflect the current regulations. We cannot predict how a given country may enforce these regulations. Noncompliance may result in the need to make arrangements to put your pet into quarantine at your expense, return your pet to the country of origin, or euthanize your pet. To avoid these consequences, we suggest that you minimize the disruptions that may occur by following Saint Lucia pet import requirements.