Azerbaijan Pet Import Requirements

What is a Pet Passport?

We refer to a pet passport as a collection of documents that fulfill Azerbaijan 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 Azerbaijan will include proof of current rabies vaccination and an export health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian in the origination country.

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 AZERBAIJAN 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 Azerbaijan

There will be no quarantine imposed on your pet when entering Azerbaijan 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 for all costs involved.

Azerbaijan Pet Import Requirements

All steps required to conform to Azerbaijan pet import requirements 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. First, a microchip will tie your pet to its documentation when entering a foreign country. Secondly, if, for any reason, your pet is separated from your during travel, the chances of reuniting with your pet significantly increase if you register your information in a microchip database. Third, your country of origin may require a microchip if your pet will return after visiting Azerbaijan.

Although it is not required, your pet should be identified prior to entering Azerbaijan in accordance with your country of origin’s procedures. The most accepted form of identification is with a 15-digit pet microchip that meets ISO (International Standards Organization) Standard 11784 or Annex A to ISO Standard 11785. All documents should reflect the microchip number. If your pet is microchipped and the pet’s microchip is not ISO 11784/11785 compliant, a microchip scanner that will read their pet’s microchip can be provided by the importer.

A licensed 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.

If your pet does not have a registered microchip, pets should wear tags that identify them and have contact information for the owner.

Step 2: Vaccinations

All cats and dogs over three months of age must be vaccinated for rabies at least 21 days prior to entering Azerbaijan for primary vaccinations. Booster vaccinations must be administered prior to the expiration of the previous vaccination.

The administering veterinarian should issue, sign, and stamp either:

• a rabies certificate or
• a government-issued vaccination booklet or
• an 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
• feline calicivirus

All vaccinations should be recorded on the pet health certificate (step 5) at intervals required by the origination country.

Step 3: Rabies Titer (Serology) Test

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

Step 4: Parasite Treatments

Parasite treatments for internal and external parasites are strongly recommended prior to entering Azerbaijan with products approved in the origination country. Dogs must have proof of treatment against Tenia Echinococcus.

The administering veterinarian can record these treatments on the health certificate or issue a record of treatment. Pets should always be inspected for parasites prior to any international travel.

Step 5: Health Certificate

All countries worldwide require an original health certificate, including:

A licensed veterinarian in your country must complete the veterinary health certificate for Azerbaijan shortly prior to entry.

Most countries, including Azerbaijan, require that this certificate be endorsed by the government agency responsible for the import and export of animals.

Step 6: Import Permit

Pet dogs and cats entering Azerbaijan with their owners will not require an import permit.

Other Information

Importing Puppies and Kittens to Azerbaijan

Puppies and kittens should not be vaccinated for rabies before three months of age. Unvaccinated puppies and kittens may enter Azerbaijan with certification from the government agency in the exporting country attesting:

• the age of your puppy or kitten and
• the puppy or kitten was born and raised in an area that has had no case of rabies and
• the puppy or kitten has not been exposed to any wild animals that could carry rabies.

Related: More information on transporting a puppy.

Breeds Banned by Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan does not publish a list of banned breeds. Pet owners are always responsible for their pet’s behavior.

Entering Azerbaijan by Air

All live animals must enter Azerbaijan at Heydar Aliyev International Airport in Baku. Dogs and cats can fly to Azerbaijan in the cabin, as checked baggage, or as air cargo, according to airline pet policies. In all cases, pets must travel in a crate or carrier in accordance with the International Air Transport Association.

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

All live animals should enter Azerbaijan directly or transit through a rabies-controlled country, if possible*. If transiting, pets should stay on the same airline to avoid entering the layover country.

*Note: If your pet has a layover in an EU Member State in its itinerary, then additional requirements will apply.

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. Border officials will inspect your pet and confirm that its pet passport documentation is correct.

All 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 the importer’s expense.

Importing Other Animals to Azerbaijan

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 Azerbaijan. 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

Have Questions About Importing Your Pet to Azerbaijan?

Have a comment about importing a pet to Azerbaijan? Post it below and we will respond. You can also reach out by posting to our Blog, X (Twitter), Facebook, or Email or follow our activities on Instagram and TikTok.

Please note that the accuracy of comments made by Facebook users other than Pet Travel has not been verified, and 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 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 Azerbaijan pet import requirements.