What is a Pet Passport?
We refer to a pet passport as a collection of documents according to Philippines 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 the Philippines will include proof of a microchip and current vaccinations, an export health certificate, and an import permit 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 the Philippines
Your pet will be subject to 30 days of home quarantine even if the following regulations 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.
Philippines Pet Import Requirements
All steps required to import a pet dog or cat to the Philippines must be completed in the origination country. Complete steps 1-6 in the order given.
Step 1: Pet Microchip
To import your pet dog or cat to the Philippines, it must first be identified with a 15-digit pet microchip that is compliant with International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 11784 or Annex A of 11785 . The microchip number should be reflected on all documentation. If your pet’s current microchip is not ISO 11784/11785 compliant, importers can provide a microchip scanner that will read their pet’s microchip.
Your veterinarian, veterinary hospital, or trained nurse should implant the microchip. You should receive documentation as to the manufacturer of the microchip and instructions on how to register your pet’s information in the manufacturer’s or government’s database.
Microchip numbers must be recorded on all documentation required in your pet’s passport to enter the Philippines.
Step 1: Vaccinations
All cats and dogs must be vaccinated for rabies between 30 days and 12 months prior to entering the Philippines.
Multi-year rabies vaccines are accepted as boosters only, and proof must be signed and stamped by both the administering veterinarian and a government veterinarian.
The administering veterinarian should either issue a rabies certificate or record vaccination information in a government-issued vaccination booklet or EU Pet Passport, sign, and stamp.
Dogs must also be vaccinated against canine distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, leptospirosis, adenovirus, and coronavirus. A Bordetella vaccination is recommended, especially if kenneling will be required.
Cats should be vaccinated against feline leukemia, rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, panleukopenia, and pneumonitis.
Step 3: Rabies Titer (Serology) Test
A rabies titer test is not required to enter the Philippines; however, having acceptable results from this test is beneficial for entering any country.
Note that rabies titer test results are no substitute for proof of rabies vaccination (rabies certificate, government-issued vaccination booklet, or EU Pet Passport).
Step 4: Import Permit
Importers must obtain a Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearance from the Bureau of Animal Industry in advance of the pet’s arrival. This permit is valid for up to 3 pets and for two months. The permit must be applied for online or in person.
For the import permit, all dogs and cats will require an application, a pro forma invoice (cargo only), and any other permits (e.g., CITES or local permits). If you are a Filipino who is importing a pet, you will also need to submit a Notarized Affidavit of Undertaking. If you are a foreign pet owner or agent importing a pet to the Philippines, then you will need to submit an Undertaking for Foreign Importers form. In either case, all animal health and identification information is required.
Step 5: Parasite Treatments
Parasite treatments must be performed very shortly prior to entry to the Philippines. Cats are exempt from the tapeworm treatment.
Step 6: Health Certificate
All countries worldwide include a pet health certificate in their import regulations. A licensed veterinarian in the origination country must complete the veterinary health certificate for the Philippines within 30 days of entry. Commercial transport will require that the certificate be issued within ten days of entry.
The health certificate must clearly identify your pet, including its microchip number. Your veterinarian must state that your pet is fit to travel and is not originating from an area that is under restrictions for rabies. Additionally, your veterinarian should attest that your pet is displaying no symptoms of any contagious diseases.
After issuance, the certificate must be certified (endorsed) by a government veterinarian representing the agency in the origination country that is responsible for the import and export of live animals.
Other Information
Importing Puppies and Kittens to the Philippines
Puppies and kittens should not be vaccinated for rabies prior to three months of age. The Philippines require that puppies and kittens be four months of age and fully vaccinated for rabies at least 30 days prior to entering the country.
Related: More information on transporting a puppy.
Breeds Banned for Import to the Philippines
The Philippines does not publish a banned breed list. Pet owners of all dogs are responsible for their behavior.
Entering the Philippines by Air
Pets can arrive in the Philippines in the cabin or as checked baggage or air cargo at the international airport at Manila or Cebu according to airline pet policies. Thirty (30) days of home quarantine are required. If you are importing more than five animals, an inspection of the residence is required.
Related: Is your pet’s crate IATA-compliant?
Flights to the Philippines 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.
Notice should be given to veterinary officials at the airport so they will be available to inspect your pet and its passport documentation upon landing, especially if arrival is outside of normal business hours.
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.
All domestic dogs and cats must be free of evidence of disease communicable to humans when examined at the entry airport.
Further examination and treatment by a licensed veterinarian may be required at your expense if your dog or cat is not in apparent good health.
Whenever your pet travels to a foreign country like the Philippines, it is always advisable to carry some form of identification indicating ownership of your pet.
Exporting Resident Pets from the Philippines
A pet health certificate must be submitted and endorsed by the National Veterinary Quarantine Service (NVQS) prior to an export permit being issued. Your pet can be inspected at this agency or a health certificate can be issued by a private vet no sooner than 3 days of visiting the NVQS.
Puppies and kittens must be at least 3 1/2 – 4 months of age prior to exportation. They must be vaccinated for rabies at least 14 days prior to export or according to the regulations of the destination country.
Dogs must have proof of vaccinations against distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, and parvovirus, and cats should be vaccinated against feline panleukopenia.
All required permits and certificates for the destination country must be provided.
For domestic transport, your dog or cat must be no less than 3 1/2 months in age if vaccinated for rabies at 91 days of age. A rabies certificate will be required when applying for a permit showing rabies vaccination between 14 days and 12 months of transport.
Importing Other Pet Animals to the Philippines
The import of animals other than dogs and cats will require a letter of request with the following information:
(a) species & breed of animal
(b) sex, age and number of animals
(c) expected date of arrival
(d) country of origin
(e) address, phone number, email address and contact details of the importer.
The letter must be submitted in person to the Animal Health Division.
The Philippines does not permit entry of birds from any county with confirmed Avian Influenza detections. The World Organization of Animal Health keeps track of these areas.
The agency that administers regulations for the keeping of wild animals is the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Import of wild animals permitted in the Philippines will require preapproval from this agency. The keeping of certain wild animals is permitted only with a Certificate of Wildlife Registration (CWR). Wild animals that can be kept as pets include iguanas, king cobra, monitor lizard, beetles, Philippine hawk-eagle, and scops owl.
All CITES permits must be provided, if applicable. If the import involves more than 5 pets, an inspection of premise for home quarantine will be necessary.
Contact us at info@pettravel.com for an agent reference if needed.
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
Importers should verify that their pet is not protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). This is important if your pet is not a dog or cat and very important if it is a turtle or parrot. You will need to apply for additional permits if this is the case. Over 180 countries participate and enforce CITES regulations.
Related: Search the CITES database or Search the Species+ database
Related: Read more about CITES
Have Questions About Importing Your Pet to the Philippines?
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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. We suggest that you minimize the disruptions that may occur by following Philippines pet import requirements.
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