Ethiopia Pet Import Requirements

What is a Pet Passport?

We refer to a pet passport as a collection of documents that fulfill Ethiopia 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 Ethiopian passport will include proof of rabies and other vaccinations, an import permit, and an international export health certificate.

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 Ethiopia

Pet ownership in Ethiopia is influenced by cultural practices, economic factors, and urbanization. While traditional roles of animals in Ethiopian society have focused more on utilitarian purposes, there is a growing trend toward keeping pets for companionship.

Dogs are among the most popular pets in Ethiopia, often kept for both companionship and security. Cats are also popular pets, especially valued for their ability to control pests like rodents.

Veterinary services in Ethiopia are concentrated in urban areas, with clinics offering basic health care, vaccinations, and treatments for common ailments. Rural areas have less access to veterinary services. Pet owners in these areas will need to access urban veterinarians for tests and treatments required to travel internationally.

Pet shops are mostly found in major cities like Addis Ababa, providing food, accessories, and other pet supplies. Online pet supply stores are emerging, though they are not yet widespread.

Flying a Pet to Ethiopia

Flights to Ethiopia should be direct or transit through a rabies-controlled country 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 Ethiopia

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.

Ethiopia Pet Import Requirements

All steps required to import a pet dog or cat to Ethiopia 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. Second, 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.

It is required to have your pet 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.

If your pet does not have a registered microchip, make sure your pet is wearing tags that identify them and have contact information for the owner. Having a photo of you and your pet is always a good idea.

Step 2: Vaccinations

Your pet must be vaccinated for rabies between 30 days and 12 months prior to entering Ethiopia.

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 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 Ethiopia.

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).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.

A rabies titer test is required when entering Ethiopia, especially for pets entering from high-rabies countries. Pet owners from all countries should consider a rabies titer test to avoid any issues at customs clearance.

Additionally, as Ethiopia is classified by the World Organization of Animal Health as a high-rabies risk country. As such, this test may be required for your pet to return to your country should your pet be returning.

Step 4: Parasite Treatments

A tick and tapeworm treatment is not required prior to entering Ethiopia; however, it is recommended due to the availability of these products in the country. Pet owners should always protect their pets from foreign parasites.

Be aware that tick fever and intestinal parasites are a special problem with dogs and cats. Bring a good supply of flea and tick collars and shampoos. African tick fever has killed several American-owned dogs. Rabies and puppy vaccines are available only sporadically. There are American and European veterinarians working in Addis Ababa.

Step 5: Health Certificate

All countries worldwide require an original health certificate (also known as a Certificate of of Veterinary Inspection) issued in the country of origin, including the following information:

The veterinary health certificate for Ethiopia must be completed by a licensed veterinarian in the origin country. Although it is not required, we recommend that the authority of your country responsible for the import and export of animals certify the forms. Certification may be required as a part of export procedures in your country.

Step 6: Import Permit

All dogs and cats entering Ethiopia will need an import permit from the Ministry of Agriculture in advance of the arrival.

Other Information

Breeds Banned by Ethiopia

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

Entering Ethiopia by Air

Pets entering Ethiopia by air can do so via Addis Ababa Bole 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?

All pets transiting the European Union are subject to additional requirements.

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

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.

Importing Other Animals to Ethiopia

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 Ethiopia. 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 Ethiopia?

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Current Information

To the best of our ability, we ensure that recommendations given here 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 Ethiopian pet import requirements.