What is a Pet Passport?
We refer to a pet passport as a collection of documents according to Palau 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 and international export health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian in the origination country.
Animals Eligible for These Regulations
Unless otherwise stated, the regulations below apply to domestic dogs and cats including service and assistance dogs and cats. These regulations do not include the import of Wolf hybrids, Savannah and Bengal cats, unless 5th generation removed from the pedigree.
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 Palau
There has never been a case of rabies reported on the island of Palau. Unless your dog or cat enters Palau from a country classified by the World Organization of Animal Health as rabies-free, there will be 120 days of quarantine for your pet upon entry. Exceptions are made when pet import requirements for Hawaii are met.
Pets not meeting import regulations will be quarantined, returned to the origin country or euthanized. All costs are the responsibility of the importer.
Related: Pet import requirements for Hawaii
Palau Pet Import Requirements
All steps required to conform to regulations to import a pet to Palau 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.
All pet dogs and cats must first 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 Palau. All documentation should 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.
The microchip number must be correctly recorded on all required documents. If your pet’s microchip cannot be read when entering Palau, it will be subject to 120 days of quarantine.
Step 2: Vaccinations
To satisfy pet import requirements for Hawaii, all cats and dogs must be vaccinated twice for rabies. The second vaccination must be administered between 30 days and 12 months prior to entering Palau. 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
Proof of rabies vaccinations must be available as original documents.
Other Vaccinations
Dogs must be vaccinated against distemper, hepatitis and parvovirus at least one month and not more than three months before travel. Cats must be vaccinated against Feline Panleukopenia at least one month and not more than twelve months before shipment and Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis/Calicivirus at least one month and not more than six months before shipment.
Veterinarians must record vaccinations on the international health certificate (step 5) at intervals required by veterinary health procedures of Palau.
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 (FAVN) is required to import a pet dog or cat to Palau. A 30-day waiting period after the approved laboratory receives the sample for the titer test is imposed prior to departure. If this period cannot be fulfilled, your pet will be quarantined for the balance of time required to complete the 30-day waiting period. The test is valid for 36 months.
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 Palau.
The treatment of pets for internal parasites, especially Echinococcus multilocularis, as well as external parasites (fleas and ticks) should be discussed with your veterinarian who will administer according to disease status of the origination country. Your pet must be treated for external parasites shortly prior to entry.
Note: Dogs and cats entering Palau from Australia will require both internal and external parasite treatments very shortly prior to departure.
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. Palau is no exception to this pet import requirement. 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 14 days of entry.
Related: Pet Health Certificate for Palau
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
Importers must apply for an Import Permit from the Chief of Agriculture in advance of entering Palau. Single permits are valid for 30, 60 or 90 days.
Other Information
Importing Puppies and Kittens to Palau
Puppies and kittens should not be vaccinated for rabies prior to three months of age. They must be at least seven months to conform to Palau pet import requirements.
Related: More information on transporting a puppy.
Breeds Banned from Import to Palau
Palau does not publish a list of banned breeds. Pet owners are always responsible for their pet’s behavior.
Entering Palau by Air
Pets must enter Palau via Roman Tmetuchl International Airport. All pets must enter the country as manifest (air) cargo. The flight must be direct unless prior permission is secured. Importers will need to carry a declaration stating your pet’s details such as country of origin and other specific guarantees related to its import.
Related: Is your pet’s crate IATA-compliant?
Flights to Palau should be direct or transit through a rabies controlled country or another EU Member State if possible*. *Note: If your pet has a layover in an EU Member State in its itinerary, then additional requirements will apply.
Flights should be direct. 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.
The estimated time and date of arrival in Palau as well as the airline/flight number must be provided to the Chief of
Agriculture at the earliest possible time and no later than one working day before the arrival of your pet. This is especially important if your pet will be arriving outside of normal business hours.
Whenever your pet travels to a foreign country like Palau, 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 Palau. All costs associated with further inspections or treatments will be borne by the importer.
Importing Other Pet Animals to Palau
Snakes, parrots, Mynah birds, mongoose, minks, monkeys, American Gray Squirrel, or any venemous insect or animal will not be permitted entry to Palau.
Rabbits will need a health certificate issued within 24 hours of travel, treated for endoparasites and ectoparasites within 3 days of travel, treated with anthelmintic twice in 21 day period with the last treatment 48 hours prior to travel. Your rabbit must have been born or spent the last 6 months in a rabies-free or rabies-controlled area.
Birds (with the exception of Mynah and parrots) are permitted but must pass stringent requirements.
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: Search the CITES database or Search the Species+ database
Related: Read more about CITES
Need More Detailed Pet Import Requirements and Forms for Palau?
Visit PetTravelStore.com to find further detail on permits, costs, tests and pet import requirements for Palau. Unlimited email support is included.
Have Questions About Importing Your Pet to Palau?
Have a comment about importing a pet to Palau? Post it below and be published! 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 below by 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 Palau pet import requirements.
Leave a Reply