Guyana Pet Import Requirements

What is a Guyana Pet Passport?

We refer to a pet passport as a collection of documents that fulfill Guyana 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 Guyana will include an 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 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 Guyana below.

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 Guyana

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

Guyana Pet Import Requirements

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

Step 1: Pet Microchip

To import your pet dog or cat to Guyana, it 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.

All required 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.

Step 2: Vaccinations

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

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

Guyana does not require other vaccinations for personal imports; however, you may want to discuss the following vaccinations with your veterinarian prior to travel:

• Dogs:  distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus and parainfluenza

• Cats: feline panleukopenia (distemper), viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and leukemia

All vaccinations can 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 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 Guyana from high-rabies countries. Pet owners from all countries should consider a rabies titer test to avoid any issues at customs clearance.

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

Step 4: Parasite Treatments

Parasite treatments are required shortly prior to entering Guyana. Pet owners should always protect their pets from foreign parasites. All treatments must be recorded on the pet health certificate.

Step 5: Health Certificate

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

Shortly before traveling, the Guyana pet health certificate must be issued by a licensed veterinarian in the country of origin. The governing authority of your country that is responsible for the import and export of animals should endorse the forms.

Step 6: Import Permit

Your pet must have a License for Import from the Ministry of Agriculture to enter the country. After they receive your request, Guyana will assign a veterinarian for the duration of your visit. You must notify the veterinarian 24 hours prior to your arrival in Guyana.

Other Information

Quarantine

At the time of permit application, it will be determined whether your dog or cat’s country of origin is a high-rabies country and whether up to 90 days of quarantine will be required. Examples of countries generally considered as rabies-free countries by Guyana include Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Barbados, Dominica, Republic of Ireland, Jamaica, Montserrat, New Zealand, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the United Kingdom. This list can change without notice.

If quarantine is required, it is important to contact the Guyana Livestock Development Authority to verify that space is available for your pet.

Breeds Banned from Import to Guyana

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

Entering Guyana by Air

Pets entering Guyana by air can do so via Cheddi Jagan International Airport in Timehri. 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 Guyana

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 Guyana. 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 Detailed Pet Import Requirements for Guyana?

Further details on permits, costs, tests and pet import regulations for Guyana are available at minimal cost. Unlimited email support for you and your veterinarian is included.

Have Questions About Importing Your Pet to Guyana?

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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 Guyana pet import requirements.