Barbados Pet Import Requirements

What is a Pet Passport?

We refer to a pet passport as a collection of documents that fulfill Barbados 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 Barbados will include import permit, proof of microchip, current rabies vaccination, rabies titer test (some countries) 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 BARBADOS 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 Barbados

There will be no quarantine imposed on your pet when entering COUNTRY NAME 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.

Barbados Pet Import Requirements

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

Step 1: Country Classifications

The first step to importing your dog or cat to Barbados is to determine the Category your pet’s origination country. Barbados classifies countries into two categories depending on their rabies status* and the method of entry.

• Category 1 – Rabies-Controlled Countries: Andorra, Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Ascension Island, Australia, Bahamas, Bermuda, BES Islands (Bonaire, St. Eustatius & Saba), British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Channel Islands, Curacao, Dominica, European Union Member Countries, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Greenland, Guam, Guadeloupe, Hawaii, Hong Kong, Iceland, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Liechtenstein, Martinique, Mexico, Monaco, Montserrat, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, Russian Federation, St. Helena, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Maarten/St. Martin, St. Pierre & Miquelon, St. Vincent & The Grenadines, San Marino, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos Islands, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, US Virgin Islands, Vanuatu, Vatican City State, and Wallis & Futuna.
  
• Category 2 – All other countries as well as pets arriving in Barbados by sea on cruise ships and private yachts.

The requirements to import a dog, cat, or ferret to Barbados will depend on the classification of the origin country.

*The World Organization of Animal Health is responsible for classifying countries according to their rabies status. The status is affected by the reporting of rabies cases in the specific country.

Pet owners should take note of the classification of their country of origin before reviewing import regulations for Barbados.

Step 2: Pet Microchip

The second step to importing a pet dog or cat to Barbados from any country is to have it identified with a microchip in accordance with the procedures in the country of origin. 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. If your pet is identified with a non-compliant microchip, you can provide a microchip scanner that will read your pet’s microchip.

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

All cats and dogs over 3 months of age must be vaccinated for rabies at least 35 days prior to entering Barbados. Multi-year rabies vaccinations are not accepted.

The administering veterinarian should issue, sign, and stamp:

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

Note: Rabies titer test results or veterinary rabies exemption letters are no substitute for proof of rabies vaccination.

Other Vaccinations

If your pet is originating in a country where the following diseases are endemic, tests must be administered at specific intervals. These diseases include: heartworm, leishmaniasis, nipah virus and/or hendra virus. The results must be negative for all diseases.

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

Step 3: Rabies Titer (Serology) Test

A rabies titer test measures the level of rabies antibodies in your pet’s blood. It should be administered more than 30 days after the rabies vaccination.

If your pet is entering Barbados from a Category 2 country (or by sea), it must be accompanied by acceptable results from a rabies titer test. FAVN tests are preferred. Samples must be processed at approved laboratories. The test must be administered at least 90 days prior to entry and return acceptable results.

Step 4: Parasite Treatments

Parasite treatments for internal and external parasites are required within seven days prior to entering Barbados with products approved in the country of origin. The administering veterinarian can record these treatments on the health certificate or issue a record of treatment. Pets should always be inspected by a licensed veterinarian for external parasites, such as fleas and ticks, prior to any international travel. All dogs and cats must test negative for heartworm.

Step 5: Pet Health Certificate

All countries worldwide require an original health certificate issued in the country of origin, including the following information:

A licensed veterinarian in your country must complete the Pet Health Certificate for Barbados shortly prior to entry.

Barbados requires that this certificate be endorsed by the government agency responsible for the import and export of animals.

Step 6: Import Permit

An import permit must be obtained from the Veterinary Services Department for all cats, dogs, other warm-blooded animals, reptiles, and birds. Permits are valid for six months from the date of issue and can take several weeks to process.

Other Information

Breeds Banned by Barbados

Barbados does not publish a list of banned breeds. Importers are responsible for their pet’s behavior.

Arrival by Sea

Barbados does not allow dogs or cats arriving on commercial, private, or cargo vessels to disembark the vessel for any reason. This includes service and assistance animals. at port. Pets leaving the vessel (including a walk on the pier, quay, port land or beaches) are subject to immediate confiscation.

Arrival by Air

All pets must enter Barbados at the Grantley Adams International Airport in Seawell, Christ Church. Pets must fly into Barbados as air cargo with the exception of certified service animals assisting a disabled passenger.

Pets must travel in a pet crate that is in accordance with the International Air Transport Association.

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

Barbados does not allow dogs or cats arriving on commercial, private or cargo vessels to disembark the vessel for any reason.
This includes service and assistance animals.

All pets must be declared once at port and available for inspection. They must be locked aboard the vessel while at port. Pets leaving the vessel (including a walk on the pier, quay, port land or beaches) are subject to immediate seizure.

Importers must provide prenotification to the County Veterinarian in advance. They will need to be available to check your pet and its pet passport documentation after landing. There is a fee for this service.

All domestic dogs and cats must be free of any signs of illness that can be transmitted to humans when evaluated at the entry airport. Importers will need to pay for further veterinary testing if the health of your cat or dog is not acceptable.

Importing Other Animals to Barbados

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 Barbados. 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 Pet Import Requirements and Forms for Barbados?

Visit PetTravelStore.com for step-by-step detailed instructions on regulations, permits, layovers, costs, tests and pet import regulations for Barbados at minimal cost. Our information is current, verified and tailored to your pet’s itinerary.

Here’s what is included in the Barbados pet passport package:

• Detailed instructions on importing your dog, cat or ferret to Paraguay from any country available in six languages
• Required Vaccinations and Intervals
• ISO 11784/11785 Compliant Microchip Information
• Rabies Titer Test Instructions (when required)
• Import Permit Application Instructions
• Parasite Treatments
• Traveling to and Arrival in Barbados
• IATA Carrier and Crate Requirements
• Layover Considerations & Requirements for Airline Pet Travel
• Responsibilities of a Pet Transporter
• FREE unlimited email support both for you and your veterinarian, should either of you have any questions

Also included at no additional cost:

• Veterinary Health Certificate for Paraguay (US/Canada)
• Microchip Certificate
• Inoculation Record
• Airline Health Certificate

Have Questions About Importing Your Pet to Barbados?

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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 Barbados pet import requirements.