Ivory Coast Pet Import Requirements

What is a Pet Passport?

We refer to a pet passport as a collection of documents, as detailed below, that are required for dogs and cats entering the Ivory Coast (Côte d’Avoire) from other countries. This term is not to be confused with an official EU Pet Passport issued in the European Union for resident pets. Your pet’s pet passport will be comprised of proof of microchip (recommended), rabies vaccination, an international export health certificate, and an import license.

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 IVORY COAST below.

Find a Licensed Transporter

Before beginning any pet export procedure, verify that your veterinarian is approved by the governing veterinarian authority in your pet’s country of origin. Your veterinarian should work for or be licensed by the agency of the government that handles the movement of live animals.

Quarantine for Pets Entering Ivory Coast

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

Ivory Coast Pet Import Requirements

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

Step 1: Pet Microchip

Identifying a pet 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. Secondly, if, for any reason, your pet is separated from your during travel, the chances of reuniting with your pet significantly increase if you register your information in a microchip database.

Your pet dog or cat should be identified with a 15-digit pet microchip that meets ISO (International Standards Organization) Standard 11784 or Annex A of ISO Standard 11785 prior to entering the Ivory Coast in accordance with the origination country’s procedures.

All documents must reflect the microchip number. If your pet is microchipped and the microchip is not ISO 11784/11785 compliant, a microchip scanner that will read the microchip can be provided by the importer.

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

All cats and dogs entering the Ivory Coast must be vaccinated for rabies between 30 days and 12 months prior to travel.

The administering veterinarian should issue, sign, and stamp:

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

Other Vaccinations

Pet owners should always consider healthy vaccinations against diseases such as:

• canine distemper
• canine hepatitis
• canine leptospirosis
• canine parvovirus
• feline viral rhinotracheitis
• feline panleukopenia
• feline leukemia
• feline calcivirus

These other vaccinations are always strongly recommended, not only for good health at home, but also when traveling internationally; however, proof of these vaccinations is not required when entering the Ivory Coast.

Step 3: Rabies Titer (Serology) Test

A rabies titer test is not required to import a dog or cat to the Ivory Coast from any country.

Step 4: Parasite Treatments

Parasite treatments for internal and external parasites are not required prior to entering the Ivory Coast; however, these treatments can protect pets from foreign pests when traveling internationally. Licensed veterinarians should administer the treatments with products approved in your country. The administering veterinarian can record these treatments on the health certificate or issue a record of treatment. Pets should always be inspected for parasites prior to any international travel.

Step 5: Health Certificate

All countries worldwide require an original health certificate, and the Ivory Coast is no exception. The following information should be included:

A licensed veterinarian in your country must complete the Pet Health Certificate for Ivory Coast within 10 days of entry.

This certificate must be endorsed by the government agency in the origination country responsible for the import and export of animals.

Step 6: Import Permit

An import permit is not required for dogs and cats entering the Ivory Coast with their owners. Unaccompanied pets or those being imported for commercial reasons will require a permit. The import of other types of animals will also require a permit.

Other Information

Importing Puppies and Kittens to the Ivory Coast

Puppies and kittens should be vaccinated for rabies no sooner than 3 months of age and wait for 30 days prior to import. Unvaccinated puppies and kittens traveling under the rabies certificate of their mothers should pursue guidance from the Ministry of Agriculture.

Related: More information on transporting a puppy.

Breeds Banned from Import to the Ivory Coast

The Ivory Coast does not publish a list of banned breeds. Pet owners are always responsible for their pet’s behavior.

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Entering the Ivory Coast by Air

Pets must enter the Ivory Coast via Port Bouet International Airport. Pets can arrive in the cabin, as checked baggage or as air cargo.

Related: Is your pet’s crate IATA compliant?

Upon arrival in the Ivory Coast, you will present the documents, and the veterinary officer stationed at the entrance port will stamp them.

All domestic dogs and cats must be free of any signs of illness that can be transmitted to humans when evaluated at the entry airport. Importers will need to pay for further veterinary testing at this time if the health of your cat or dog is not acceptable.

Exporting Resident Pets from the Ivory Coast

Cats and dogs departing the Ivory Coast must have all required documentation required by their destination country.

Importing Other Animals to the Ivory Coast

Birds, invertebrates, tropical fish, reptiles, amphibia, and mammals such as rodents and rabbits are not subject to the requirements of rabies vaccination but may have to meet other requirements and should have a health certificate and an import permit to enter the Ivory Coast. 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 Pet Import Requirements for the Ivory Coast?

Further details on permits, costs, tests and pet import regulations for the Ivory Coast are available at minimal cost.

Have questions?

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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 the Ivory Coast pet import requirements.