Marshall Islands Pet Import Requirements

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What is a Pet Passport?

We refer to a pet passport as a collection of documents that fulfill Marshall Island 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 will include proof of microchip, rabies vaccination, titer test and international export health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian in the origination country.

Animals Eligible for These Regulations

These rules apply to the transport of domestic dogs, cats and ferrets 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 THE MARSHALL ISLANDS below.

Proof of spaying or neutering must be available for all cats and dogs entering the Marshall Islands.

Approved Countries for Import

Below are regulations for taking a pet dog or cat from the mainland United States, Canada and other countries with a low incidence of rabies in which it has lived for at least six months prior to entering the Marshall Islands.

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 handles the movement of live animals.

Quarantine in the Marshall Islands

The Marshall Islands do not have quarantine facilities, so they allow your pet to enter from other countries if they spend 120 days in quarantine in a country considered as rabies-free or your pet qualifies for entry to Hawaii or Guam. The easiest way to import a pet to the Marshall Islands is through Hawaii.

There is limited veterinary care on the islands. Veterinarians visit only several times a year for routine care.

All steps required to conform to Marshall Islands 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.

Your pet must 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 the Marshall Islands. 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.

Your pet’s microchip number must be recorded on all required documentation.

Step 2: Vaccinations

All cats and dogs must be vaccinated for rabies a minimum of 30 days prior to entering the Marshall Islands. 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 must be vaccinated against distemper, hepatitis, 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).

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.

A rabies titer test is required to enter the Marshall Islands. The test should be administered no sooner than 30 days after rabies vaccination and processed at an approved laboratory.

Note that rabies titer test results or veterinary exemption letters are no substitution for proof of rabies vaccination.

Step 4: Parasite Treatments

According to all preventative measures to ensure public health and the safety of your pet, treatments for internal and external parasites should be administered prior to entering the Marshall Islands.

The treatment of pets for internal parasites, especially Echinococcus multilocularis, is recommended for all dogs traveling internationally. Treatments for external parasites (fleas and ticks) must be administered by your veterinarian within 3 days of travel.

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 (sometimes known as a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection) for live animals entering their country. The certificate should include the following information:

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 health certificate within 48 hours of entry.

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: Letter of Request for Pet Entry

An import permit is not required to enter the Marshall Islands; however, it is required to enter Hawaii or Guam. A letter of request must be sent to Veterinary Services in the Marshall Islands.

Other Information

Importing Puppies and Kittens to the Marshall Islands

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 conform to pet import requirements listed here.

Related: More information on transporting a puppy.

Breeds Banned for Import to the Marshall Islands

Marshall Island regulations do not reflect banned breeds. Pet owners are always responsible for their pet’s behavior.

Entering the Marshall Islands by Air

Pets must enter the Marshall Islands by air at the Marshall Islands International Airport. Flights from Hawaii should be arranged by an agent as service is limited.

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. This is especially important if your pet will be arriving outside of normal business hours.

Whenever your pet travels to a foreign country like the Marshall Islands, 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 the Marshall Islands. All costs associated with further inspections or treatments will be borne by the importer.

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 in and enforce CITES regulations.

Related: Read more about CITES

Need More Detailed Pet Import Requirements and Forms for the Marshall Islands?

Visit PetTravelStore.com to find further detail on permits, costs, tests and pet import requirements for the Marshall Islands.

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What You Get with our Marshall Islands pet passport package:

Detailed step-by-step instructions for importing your dog or cat to the Marshall Islands from any country
Veterinary Health Certificate Instructions
Microchip Information & Certificate
Required Vaccinations
Blood Titer Test instructions and approved laboratories
Parasite Treatments
Importer Checklists
Importer Application
Quarantine Form
Quarantine Instructions
Carrier and Crate Requirements
Tips on Flying a Pet Internationally
Layover Considerations & Requirements for Airline Pet Travel
Responsibilities of a Pet Transporter
FREE unlimited email support for both for you and your veterinarian, should either of you have any questions.

Have Questions About Importing Your Pet to the Marshall Islands?

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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, 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 Marshall Islands pet import requirements.