Guam Pet Import Requirements

What is a Pet Passport?

We refer to a pet passport as a collection of documents according to Guam 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 EU-resident pets. Your pet’s passport to enter Guam will include an import permit, proof of microchip, current rabies vaccination, rabies titer test, 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 dog 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 Guam below.

Pets in Guam

Although dogs and cats are very popular household companions in Guam, the island is home to various native wildlife species, and pet owners must be mindful of the environment. Keeping pets like cats indoors can prevent them from hunting and disturbing local wildlife, especially birds and reptiles. Guam is a tropical island with high temperatures and humidity year round. Pet owners should take all precautions to protect their pet when outside.

Guam is home to a significant U.S. military presence due to its strategic location in the Pacific. Both active-duty military personnel and their families and their pets live on the island. Many on-base housing communities are pet-friendly, though there are restrictions on the number, types and breeds of pets allowed. This can make active-order transfers difficult as service by commercial airlines to the island is very limited. United has recently been pressured to resume service by government officials for this reason.

Although Guam has widespread veterinary services available, there is a significant stray dog and cat population. Because Guam is a rabies-free island, spread of this disease is not as much of a concern; however, Guam pet import requirements for dogs and cats are very strict. Read on.

Guam has parks and beaches that are pet-friendly, where locals can take their dogs for walks or outdoor play. There are also many community events and holiday celebrations which a family and their pet can participate in.

Flying a Pet to Guam

As previously stated, commercial airline service to Guam from the United States through Hawaii is currently limited to cargo flights. Japan Airways offers service from Narita (NRT). It is advised to contact a local agent who serves Hawaii

Many pet owners importing their pets to Guam fly though Hawaii and their pets must conform to Hawaii pet import requirements.

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 Guam

Regulations for taking a pet dog or cat to Guam require that you must start the process no less than 120 days prior to arrival in order to enter Guam without quarantine. Regulations for taking a pet dog or cat to Guam require that you must start the
process no less than 120 days prior to arrival in order to enter Guam without quarantine.

Pets entering Guam that do not meet requirements will be quarantined up to 120 days upon arrival. Pet dogs and cats originating from the British Isles, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Hawaii on direct flights to Guam may be exempt from some quarantine requirements after meeting shipping and veterinary examination requirements.

Guam Pet Import Requirements

All steps required to conform to regulations to import a dog or cat to Guam must be completed in the origination country. Steps 1-6 should be followed in the order given.

Step 1: Application for Entry Permit and Affidavit for Export

Approximately three to four months prior to import, pet owners must apply for an Entry Permit from the Department of Agriculture in Guam. All required documentation as well as itinerary and kennel information must be provided.

The import permit will be returned, and the original must travel with your pet. No photocopies will be accepted. The documents and fee must arrive 10 days before your pet’s arrival.

If entering Guam from Hawaii, as the documents cannot be prepared by your veterinarian more than 14 days prior to arrival you must send them by Federal Express to qualify for airport release of the pet in Hawaii.

Step 2: Pet Microchip

Guam requires that your cat or dog be microchipped unless the full 120-day quarantine is to be served upon arrival. The health certificate from your veterinarian must state the number of the microchip, and it must contain the fact that the veterinarian was able to scan the chip successfully. The microchip can be of the standard US issue (Avid) or (Home Again) type or a 15-digit pet microchip that meets ISO (International Standards Organization) Standard 11784 or Annex A to ISO Standard 11785. The microchip must be implanted prior to your pet’s rabies vaccination.

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 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 your pet’s microchip.

Step 2: Vaccinations

Your dog or cat must have been vaccinated for rabies at least twice in its lifetime prior to release from quarantine (see below). The first rabies vaccination must be done after your dog or cat is over three months of age. The second vaccination must be done more than 30 days from the date of the first vaccination and must be current when entering Guam. The second vaccination must be administered no more than 12 months prior to arrival if a one-year vaccine was administered, or not more than 36 months prior to arrival if a three-year or longer vaccine was administered.

The administering veterinarian should issue, sign, and stamp:

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

Pets entering Guam from British Isles, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Hawaii on direct flights must be accompanied with an affidavit issued by a government or U.S. Army veterinarian attesting that your pets have resided in these countries and have not been vaccinated with a modified live rabies vaccine in the four months prior to import.

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

Other Vaccinations

Dogs must be vaccinated between 10 days and 12 months of entering Guam for the following diseases:
Canine Distemper Virus, Canine Infectious Hepatitis Virus or Canine Adenovirus-2, Canine Leptospirosis, Canine Parainfluenza, Canine Parvovirus and Canine Bordatella bronchiseptica (kennel cough).

Cats must be vaccinated between 10 days and 12 months of entering Guam for the following diseases: Feline Panleukopenia Virus (feline viral enteritis), Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (feline herpesvirus-1), Chlamydia and Feline Calicivirus.

All vaccinations must be recorded on the international health certificate (step 5).

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.

The rabies titer test must be done not more than 12 months prior to import and after the second vaccination. (Have your veterinarian scan your pet’s microchip prior to the titer test.) Your pet’s blood sample must be processed at approved laboratories and results must be sent directly to Guam. Do not have your pet revaccinated for rabies after the titer test has been administered.

Step 4: Parasite Treatments

Your pet must be treated for ticks not more than 14 days prior to arrival in Guam.

Step 5: Health Certificate

All countries worldwide require an original health certificate issued in the country of origin and Guam is no exception. The certificate must include the following information:

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

After issuance, this certificate must be endorsed by the government agency responsible for the import and export of animals in the country of origin depending on export procedures.

Step 6: Quarantine

All dogs and cats not meeting the requirements to enter Guam are subject to up to 120 days of quarantine. If your dog or cat has been vaccinated according to regulations and has had the rabies titer test, it can enter Guam early and serve the balance of the 120-day quarantine in Guam. There are four different options for quarantine. Some pets who exceed titer test results may be eligible for home quarantine after five days of commercial quarantine.

Animals originating from the British Isles, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Hawaii on direct flights to Guam may be exempt from all quarantine requirements after meeting shipping and veterinary examination requirements.

Other Information

Breeds Banned from Import to Guam

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

Entering Guam by air

Pets should enter Guam via Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport. Pet owners should contact customs in advance of arrival to arrange inspection of their pet and its documentation.

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 (IATA).

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.

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 Guam

Other mammals such as skunks, wolves, raccoons, ferrets are generally prohibited from entry.

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 Guam?

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

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

• Detailed instructions on importing your dog, cat or ferret to Guam from any country available in six languages
• Required Vaccinations and Intervals
• ISO 11784/11785 Compliant Microchip Information
• Parasite Treatments
• Entry Permit Instructions & Application
• Rabies Titer Test Instructions
• Approved Laboratories for Titer Samples
• Options for Quarantine
• 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 Guam (US/Canada)
• Microchip Certificate
• Airline Health Certificate

Have Questions About Importing a Pet to Guam?

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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 Guam pet import requirements.