Aruba Pet Import Requirements

What is a Pet Passport?

We refer to a pet passport as a collection of documents that fulfill Aruba pet import requirements for dogs or cats entering this country. This term is not to be confused with an official EU Pet Passport issued in the European Union for EU-resident pets. Your pet’s passport to enter Aruba will include import permit, proof of microchip, current rabies vaccination, an export health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian in the origination country as well as a prenotification of import.

Animals Eligible for These Pet Import Requirements

These rules apply to the transport of domestic dogs and cats including assistance and service animals. Unless 5th generation removed from the pedigree, wolf hybrids, Savannah and Bengal cats cannot be imported under these regulations. Owners of other types of pets (amphibia, reptiles, birds, rabbits, rodents) covered by these regulations should refer to IMPORTING OTHER PET ANIMALS TO ARUBA below.

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. Your veterinarian should work for or is licensed by the agency of the government that is responsible for the movement of live animals.

Quarantine for Pets Entering Aruba

There will be no quarantine imposed on your pet when entering Aruba if pet import regulations detailed here are met. If your pet does not conform to the regulations as stated below, it will be subject to quarantine if facilities are available, returned to the origination country, or euthanized. The importer will be responsible all costs involved.

Aruba Pet Import Requirements

All steps required to conform to Aruba pet import requirements must be completed in the origination country. Complete steps 1-7 in the order given.

Step 1: Pet Microchip

To enter Aruba, your pet must first be microchipped with an AVID microchip or an ISO 11784/11785-compliant pet microchip. If your pet’s microchip is not ISO-compliant, you can either bring your own microchip scanner.

The most accepted form of identification is a 15-digit pet microchip that meets ISO (International Standards Organization) Standard 11784 or Annex A to ISO Standard 11785. All documents must reflect the microchip number.

Your veterinarian, a veterinary hospital, or a trained nurse should implant the microchip. You should receive documentation on how to register it in the manufacturer’s or your government’s database.

Step 2: Vaccinations

After being microchipped, pet cats and dogs entering Aruba must have been vaccinated for rabies more than 30 days prior to entry and not more than the expiration date of the vaccine. The 30-day rule does not apply if your pet is currently vaccinated, and the vaccination occurred after a microchip was implanted.

The administering veterinarian should issue, sign and stamp:

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

Other Vaccinations

Pet owners should always consider healthy vaccinations against diseases such as:

• canine distemper (also for ferrets)
• canine hepatitis
• canine leptospirosis
• canine parvovirus
• feline viral rhinotracheitis
• feline panleukopenia
• feline leukemia

These other vaccinations are always recommended when traveling internationally; however, proof of these vaccinations is not required when entering Aruba.

All vaccinations should be recorded on the international health certificate (step 6) at intervals required by the origination country.

Step 3: Rabies Titer (Serology) Test

A rabies titer test is not required to enter Aruba from any country. Note that rabies titer test results or veterinary exemption letters are no substitute for proof of rabies vaccination.

Step 4: Screwworm Inspection

Your pet must be inspected for screwworm within 14 days of travel, and your veterinarian must attest that your pet is not from an area that is under control for screwworm or will not be transiting through such a zone.

Step 5: Parasite Treatments

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 the disease status of the origination country. These treatments are recommended, but not required.

Pet owners should consider keeping their pets protected when traveling internationally, and export procedures in the origination country may mandate these treatments.

Step 6: Health Certificate

All countries worldwide require an original health certificate, and Aruba is no exception. The certificate must include:

A licensed veterinarian in your country must complete the Pet Health Certificate for Aruba within 14 days of entry.

After issuance, the certificate be endorsed by the government agency responsible for the import and export of animals.

Step 7: Import Permit

An import permit is not required when entering Aruba with a personal pet; however, all paperwork must be sent by email to Veterinary Services before travel. If everything is correct, you will receive a reply with a pre-approval which can be printed to facilitate the process at the local customs when arriving in Aruba.

Other Information

Importing Puppies and Kittens to Aruba

Puppies and kittens under 3 months of age may enter Aruba with their owners only from approved countries. Veterinarians should include an indication on the pet health certificate that the puppy or kitten is too young for rabies vaccination.

Related: More information on transporting a puppy.

Breeds Banned by Aruba

Aruba does not publish a list of banned breeds. Owners of these breeds need to be aware of airline restrictions.

Entering Aruba by Air

Pets must enter Aruba at the Queen Beatrix International Airport in Oranjestad. Pets can arrive in the cabin, as checked baggage or air cargo according to airline pet policies. In all cases, pets must travel in a crate in accordance with the International Air Transport Association.

Related: Is your pet’s crate IATA-compliant?

Importers should inform veterinary officials in advance as they will need to be available to check your pet and its pet passport documentation after landing. Value added tax will be charged at entry for pets entering as air cargo according to the pet’s value and cost of transport.

All domestic dogs and cats must be free of evidence of disease communicable to humans when examined at the entry airport. If your dog or cat is not in apparent good health, further examination by a licensed veterinarian may be required at importer expense.

Importing Other Animals to Aruba

Birds, invertebrates, tropical fish, reptiles, amphibia, mammals such as rodents and rabbits are not subject to requirements of rabies vaccination but may have to meet other requirements and should have a health certificate to enter Anguilla. Pet owners are strongly advised to seek further information from the relevant authority of their country and/or that of the country of destination.

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 important 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 so, you will have to submit additional permit applications.

Over 180 nations participate in and enforce CITES rules and protections.

Related: Search the CITES database or Search the Species+ database

Related: Read more about CITES

Need More Detailed Pet Import Requirements and Forms for Aruba?

Visit PetTravelStore.com for further detail on permits, costs, tests and pet import requirements for Aruba are available at minimal cost.

Have Questions About Importing Your Pet to Aruba?

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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 or
• return your pet to the country of origin, or
• euthanize your pet.

We suggest that you minimize the disruptions that may occur by following Aruba pet import requirements.