Curaçao Pet Import Requirements

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What is a Pet Passport?

We refer to a pet passport as a collection of documents that fulfill Curaçao 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 resident pets. Your pet’s passport will be comprised of proof of microchip, rabies and other vaccinations, rabies titer test results (from some countries), parasite treatments, and an international export health certificate.

Animals Eligible for These Pet Import Requirements

Unless otherwise stated, the regulations below apply to domestic dogs and cats, including service and assistance dogs and cats. Wolf hybrids and Savannah and Bengal cats cannot be imported under these regulations unless they are at least 5th generation removed from the pedigree.

Find a Licensed Veterinarian

Before beginning any pet export procedure, owners, agents, or anyone transporting a pet should ensure that their veterinarian is licensed by the governing authority in their country that is responsible for the movement of live animals. This veterinarian should administer all vaccinations and treatments, as well as issue all required documentation.

Quarantine for Pets Entering Curaçao

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

All steps required to conform to Curaçao pet import requirements must be completed in the origination country. Steps 1-6 should be completed 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.

All dogs and cats entering Curaçao must be 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.

If microchipped, all documents should reflect the microchip number. If you want to be sure that veterinary inspectors can read your pet’s microchip, you can provide a microchip scanner that will read the 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.

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Step 2: Vaccinations

All cats and dogs over 12 weeks of age must be vaccinated for rabies at least 21 days and 12 months prior to entering Curaçao. Multi year vaccines are accepted.

The administering veterinarian should issue, sign, and stamp:

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

Pet dogs and cats whose rabies vaccination was not administered in their country of origin must comply with home quarantine
during which time a rabies vaccination will be administered by a licensed private veterinarian.

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

Other Vaccinations

Vaccinations are essential for the health and well-being of both dogs and cats. They help protect against a variety of infectious diseases, some of which can be serious or even fatal. They are a part of any good health veterinary regiment and must be administered at specific intervals so they are affective when entering Curaçao.

Exemptions from the leptospirosis vaccine may be granted with attestation that this disease is not prevalent in the country of origin.

All vaccinations can be recorded on the international health certificate (step 5) with information including vaccine manufacturer, date of administration, date of validity and lot number (if applicable).

More Curaçao pet import requirements and forms

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.

A rabies titer test is required to enter Curaçao from any country classified by the European Union as high-rabies. The test must be administered a minimum of 30 days after the primary or booster vaccination. (Have your veterinarian scan your pet’s microchip prior to the titer test.)

Samples must be processed at approved laboratories. Assuming test results are within acceptable limits, your pet can enter Curaçao no sooner than 3 calendar months after the date the blood was drawn for the test.

Step 4: Parasite Treatments

According to all preventative measures to ensure public health and the safety of your pet, treatments for internal and external parasites must be administered prior to entering Curaçao .

A tapeworm treatment administered by a licensed veterinarian is required for dogs shortly prior to entering Curaçao. Your pet must be treated for fleas within 48 hours of travel.

Actually, it is highly recommended that your pet be tested for heartworm and put on a flea and tick prevention program prior to entering Curaçao.

Step 5: Health Certificate

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

  • owner’s information
  • origination and destination details
  • details of your pet
  • vaccinations and treatments
  • 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 clearly identify your pet. Depending on the country of origin, additional details and treatments must be listed.

Within two (2) weeks of entry, a Curaçao pet health certificate is issued by a licensed veterinarian in the country of origin. The certificate must then be endorsed by the governing authority of your country responsible for the import and export of animals.

A licensed veterinarian in your country must complete the Pet Health Certificate for Curacao within 10 days of travel. The original and one copy must travel with your pet and be available to veterinary inspectors at entry.

Any dog, cat, or ferret traveling unaccompanied is considered commercial trade, and is subject to an additional requirement. Commercial animals and pets traveling unaccompanied must have been clinically examined by a government-accredited veterinarian within 24 hours before departure to Curaçao and must travel with a health certificate which states the date and time of the examination.

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Step 6: Import Permit

An import permit is not required for pets entering Curaçao with their owner from any country.

Entering Curaçao from Countries Infected with Nipah

If your pet is entering Curaçao from a country infected with Nipah, the following conditions must be met:

  • Your pet has had no contact with pigs for at least the past 60 days prior to export.
  • Your pet has not lived in a place where cases of Nipah disease have been confirmed during the past 60 days.
  • Your pet has been tested with negative result to an IgG capture ELISA test carried out in a laboratory approved
  • for testing for Nipah disease viruses within 10 days of export.

Importing Puppies and Kittens to Curaçao

Puppies and kittens less then 12 weeks of age are not permitted to enter Curaçao. Puppies and kittens must be
vaccinated for rabies no sooner than 12 weeks of age and wait for 21 days before entering Curaçao. All other requirements above will also apply.

Related: More information on transporting a puppy.

Breeds Banned by Curaçao

Pit Bulls and their mixes are not permitted to enter Curaçao.

Airline pet policies

Entering Curaçao by Air

Pets must enter Curaçao via Curaçao International Airport.. Pets can arrive in the cabin, checked baggage or air cargo according to airline pet policies.

In all cases, pets must travel in a pet carrier or pet crate that is in accordance with the policies set by the International Air Transport Association.

Related: Is your pet’s crate IATA compliant?

Importers should inform veterinary officials in advance. They will need to be available to check your pet and its pet passport documentation after landing.

Whenever you travel to a foreign country, it is always advisable to carry some form of identification indicating the ownership of the pet.

All domestic dogs and cats must be free of any signs of contagious diseases 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.

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Importing Other Animals to Curaçao

Birds, invertebrates, tropical fish, reptiles, amphibia, and mammals such as rodents and rabbits are not subject to the requirements of rabies vaccination; however, they will have to meet other requirements. They should have an import permit and health certificate to enter Curaçao. 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

More pet passport and import regulations for other countries

Need More Detailed Pet Import Requirements and Forms for Curaçao?

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

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

  • Detailed instructions on importing your dog, cat or ferret to Curaçao from any country available in six languages
  • Required Vaccinations and Intervals
  • ISO 11784/11785 Compliant Microchip Information
  • Rabies Titer Test Instructions (when required)
  • Approved Laboratories
  • Parasite Treatments
  • Health Certificate Information
  • 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 Curaçao (US/Canada)
  • Airline Health Certificate
  • Inoculation Record
  • Microchip Certificate

Have Questions About Importing Your Pet to Curaçao?

Have a question about importing a pet to Curaçao? 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 the Curaçao pet import requirements.

Comments

4 responses to “Curaçao Pet Import Requirements”

  1. Yigal Rechtman Avatar
    Yigal Rechtman

    What is an EU pet passport?

    1. Susan Avatar

      Yigal – an EU Pet Passport is a booklet issued according to Article 5(1) and (2) of Regulation (EU) No 576. This document contains information on dogs, cats and ferrets including physical characteristics, tests and vaccinations, microchip numbers and health checks. This booklet is issued to EU-resident pets by European Union veterinarians.

  2. Dishanty Avatar
    Dishanty

    Hi, good evening.
    I have two dogs born in curacao. Can I take them with me to a South American country for two months (I will be re-allocated due to work for two months) and then bring them back here? If yes, what would the requirements be?
    Thanks

    1. Susan Avatar

      Dishanty – although Curacao does not ban pets entering from any country, almost all South American countries are classified as high-risk countries by the World Organization of Animal Health. What this means is that a rabies titer test is required to reenter Curacao and that test must be administered three calendar months prior to reimport. What would be recommended is to have the test done before leaving Curacao. It should be easier to get done than if you are in another country. Besides, you can meet the wait time if you get the test done before leaving. Here are the other requirements to import your dogs to Curacao.

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