What is a Pet Passport?
We refer to a pet passport is a collection of documents as detailed below that are required for dogs and cats as per Liberia pet import requirements. This term is not to be confused with an official EU Pet Passport issued in the European Union for resident pets. Your pet passport to enter Liberia will include proof of microchip, rabies vaccination and international 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 LIBERIA below.
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 Liberia
There will be no quarantine imposed on your pet when entering Liberia 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.
Liberia Pet Import Requirements
All steps required to conform to Liberia pet import requirements 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. 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 not required, your pet should be identified with a 15-digit pet microchip which is compliant with International Standards Organization standard 11784 or Annex A of ISO standard 11785 prior to entering Liberia. All documentation must reflect the microchip number. If your pet’s microchip is not ISO 11784/11785 compliant, importers can provide a microchip scanner that will read their pet’s microchip.
Your veterinarian, a veterinary hospital or trained nurse should implant the microchip. Documentation should be provided as to the manufacturer of the microchip and registration instructions.
Step 2: Vaccinations
All cats and dogs must be vaccinated for rabies between 30 days and 12 months prior to entering Liberia. The administering veterinarian should record vaccination information, sign and stamp one of the following documents depending on veterinary practices in the country of origin:
- a rabies certificate
- a government-issued vaccination booklet or
- an EU Pet Passport
Dogs should be vaccinated against distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, and parvovirus. Cats should be vaccinated against feline viral rhinotracheitis, panleukopenia and feline leukemia.
Veterinarians must record vaccinations on the international health certificate (step 5) at intervals required by veterinary health procedures of the origination country.
Step 3: Rabies Titer (Serology) Test
A rabies titer test, also known as a rabies antibody test or rabies serology test, is a blood test that measures the level of rabies antibodies in your pet’s blood. The test will assess the effectiveness of a rabies vaccination or determine your pet’s immune response to the rabies virus. When required, a licensed veterinarian will administer the test more than 30 days after the most current rabies vaccination.
Liberia does not require a rabies titer test for cats and dogs from any country. However, all pets originating in countries classified as having a high risk of rabies should always travel with a rabies titer test. In addition, the World Organization of Animal Health classifies Liberia as a high-rabies risk country. As such, if your pet will be returning to the origin country, this test may be required.
Note that rabies titer test results or veterinary exemption letters are no substitution for proof of rabies vaccination.
Step 4: Parasite Treatments
Liberia does not require parasite treatments for internal and external parasites. However, pet owners should protect their pet against foreign parasites when traveling internationally. The administering veterinarian can record these treatments on the health certificate or issue you a record of treatment.
Step 5: Health Certificate
All countries worldwide require an original health certificate including:
- details of your pet and
- vaccinations and treatments and
- veterinary attestations regarding symptoms of contagious diseases at the time of export.
Further, your veterinarian must certify that your pet is healthy enough to travel and is not from a region that is subject to rabies restrictions. The health certificate must properly identify your pet. Your veterinarian will include additional details and treatments on the certificate depending on the country of origin.
A licensed veterinarian in the origination country must complete the Pet Health Certificate for Liberia shortly prior to departure.
A government veterinarian must either issue the certificate or endorse the certificate after issuance by a licensed veterinarian. This official represents the agency in the origination country that is responsible for the import and export of live animals.
Step 6: Import permit
Liberia requires that you obtain an import permit from Ministry of Agriculture prior to entering the country.
Other Information
Importing Puppies and kittens to Lesotho
Puppies and kittens should not be vaccinated for rabies prior to three months of age. They must be vaccinated after 3 months of age and wait for 30 days before travel. Pet puppies and kittens must be vaccinated for rabies to conform to Liberia import requirements.
Related: More information on transporting a puppy.
Breeds Banned for Import to Lesotho
Liberia does not publish a list of banned breeds. Pet owners are always responsible for their pet’s behavior.
Entering Liberia by Air
Pets must enter Liberia as air cargo via Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport. Importers will need an IATA-compliant pet crate to transport any dog or cat. Pets can arrive as checked baggage or as air cargo according to airline pet policies.
Flights should be direct if the duration of the flight does not violate animal welfare laws. Layovers should be short and not involve a change in airline companies. If your pet’s itinerary involves a layover in the European Union, then additional requirements will apply.
Importers will need to provide advance notice to veterinary officials at the airport so they will be available to inspect your pet and its passport documentation upon landing.
Whenever your pet travels to a foreign country like Liberia, it is always advisable to carry some form of identification indicating ownership of your pet.
All domestic dogs and cats must be free of evidence of disease communicable to humans when examined at the entry airport.
A government veterinarian will provide further examination if your dog or cat is not in apparent good health when entering Liberia. All costs associated with further inspections or treatments will be borne by the importer.
Importing Other Pet Animals to Liberia
Birds, invertebrates, tropical fish, reptiles, amphibia, mammals such as rodents and rabbits are not subject to requirements of rabies vaccination but may have to meet other requirements and should have an import permit and a health certificate to enter Liberia. 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 crucial 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 this is the case, importers will have to submit additional permit applications. The agency that issues these permits is responsible for the protection of wildlife in your country.
Over 180 countries participate and enforce CITES regulations.
Related: Search the CITES database or Search the Species+ database
Related: Read more about CITES
Need More Detailed Pet Import Requirements and Forms for Liberia?
Visit PetTravelStore.com to find further detail on permits, costs, tests and pet import requirements for Liberia. Unlimited email support for you and your veterinarian is included.
Have Questions About Importing Your Pet to Liberia?
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Please note that the accuracy of comments made from Facebook users other than Pet Travel have not been verified. 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, return your pet to the country of origin, or euthanize your pet. To avoid these consequences, we suggest that you minimize the disruptions that may occur by following Liberia pet import requirements.
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