Honduras Pet Import Requirements

What is a Pet Passport?

We refer to a pet passport as a collection of documents that fulfill Honduras 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 passport to enter Honduras will be comprised of proof of rabies and other vaccinations, an import permit, and a pet 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 HONDURAS 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 Honduras

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

Honduras Pet Import Requirements

All steps required to conform to regulations to import a dog, cat or ferret to Honduras must be completed in the origination country. Steps 1-6 should be followed 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. Third, most countries require that pets be microchipped and compliant microchips may be difficult to find should your pet ever leave the country.

Although it is not required to import your pet dog or cat to Honduras, it is recommended 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.

Step 2: Vaccinations

All cats and dogs over three months of age must be vaccinated for rabies between 21 days and 12 months prior to entering Honduras. Multi-year rabies vaccinations are not recognized unless administered within 12 months of import.

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

Dogs should be vaccinated against distemper, hepatitis (adenovirus), parvovirus, and leptospirosis according to their country’s disease status.

Cats should be vaccinated against feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, panleukopenia, and leukemia.

All vaccinations can 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.

This test is not required to enter Honduras from any country; however, as Honduras is classified by the World Organization of Animal Health as a high-rabies risk country, this test may be required for a pet to return to the country of origin.

Step 4: Parasite Treatments

Parasite treatments for internal and external parasites are required and should be administered shortly prior to import 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 for external parasites, such as fleas and ticks, prior to any international travel.

Step 5: Health Certificate

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

Within 10 days of travel, a licensed veterinarian must complete the pet health certificate for Honduras (original and a copy). The governmental authority in your country responsible for the import and export of animals should endorse the pet health certificate. No consulate endorsement is required.

Step 6: Import Permit

Honduras requires an import permit from the Servicio Nacional de Sanidad Agropecuaria. You will need an agent or representative to apply for this permit in advance of travel. If, for reasons beyond your control that you can substantiate, this cannot be done before you enter Honduras with your pet, then the permit will be handled upon entering the country. Importers will need to obtain a certificate from a veterinarian in Honduras who will be responsible for treating your pet while in Honduras.

Other Information

Breeds Banned for Import to Honduras

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

Entering Honduras by Air

If flying, pets should enter Haiti via Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport in La Lima or Toncontín International Airport in Tegucigalpa during normal business hours.

Pets can enter as in-cabin, checked baggage, or air cargo, according to airline pet policies. The owner should be present at customs clearance.

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.

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.

Whenever you accompany your pet to a foreign country like Honduras, it is always advisable to carry some form of identification indicating ownership of your pet.

Importing Other Animals to Honduras

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 Honduras. 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 Honduras?

Have a comment about importing a pet to Honduras? 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 Honduras pet import regulations.