What is a Pet Passport?
We refer to a pet passport as a collection of documents according to Puerto Rico 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 Puerto Rico
Quarantine will not be imposed on your pet 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.
Puerto Rico Pet Import Requirements
All steps required to conform to Puerto Rico pet import regulations 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 Puerto Rico. 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 28 days and 6 months prior to entering Puerto Rico. 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
Other Vaccinations
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.
Puerto Rico 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.
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 Puerto Rico.
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. These treatments are required to be administered by your veterinarian within 72 hours of 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. 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 30 days of entry. An alternate certificate in Spanish is highly recommended.
Related: Pet Health Certificate for Puerto Rico
A government veterinarian can 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. Endorsement is not necessary when importing a pet to Puerto Rico from the United States.
Step 6: Import Permit
Pet dogs and cats entering Puerto Rico with their owners do not need an import permit. Commercial imports will require an import permit.
Other Information
Importing Puppies and Kittens to Puerto Rico
Unvaccinated puppies and kittens that are not yet four months old may enter Puerto Rico with a health certificate from rabies-free or rabies-controlled countries. Once your puppy or kitten turns three months of age, it must be vaccinated for rabies and wait 30 days before entering Puerto Rico.
Related: More information on transporting a puppy.
Breeds Banned from Import to Puerto Rico
In July of 2018, Puerto Rico ended their ban on American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Terriers and all Pit Bulls or their crosses. Pet owners are responsible for their pet’s behavior.
Entering Puerto Rico by Air
If flying, pets must enter Puerto Rico via the international airport in San Juan. Pets can arrive in the cabin, as checked baggage or as air cargo according to airline pet policies.
Related: Is your pet’s crate IATA-compliant?
Flights to Puerto Rick 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 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 Puerto Rico, it is always advisable to carry some form of identification indicating ownership of your pet. Your pet should have a sturdy collar and two identification tags. The tags should include both your permanent address and telephone number, along with an address and cell phone number where you can be reached while traveling.
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 Puerto Rico. All costs associated with further inspections or treatments will be borne by the importer.
Importing Other Pet Animals to Puerto Rico
Birds entering Puerto Rico are subject to the same requirements as they are entering the United States. (30 days quarantine) Birds that were obtained in the United States may enter Puerto Rico without quarantine. All birds will need a permit number and an endorsed health certificate issued right before travel and proof of negative test results for Avian influenza, Chlamydia psittaci and Newcastle disease.
Other animals such as reptiles, rabbits and small rodents will need a current health certificate and import permit to enter Puerto Rico.
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
Have Questions About Importing Your Pet to Puerto Rico?
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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 Puerto Rico pet import requirements.
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