Vanuatu Pet Import Requirements

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What is a Pet Passport?

We refer to a pet passport as a collection of documents according to Vanuatu 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 an import permit, rabies vaccination, parasite treatments 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.

Dogs can enter Vanuatu only after conforming to requirements and being imported to Australia or New Zealand. Cats can enter Vanuatu only after conforming to requirements and being imported to Australia, New Zealand or New Caledonia. There will be a heavy penalty for breach of import regulations.

Pets in Vanuatu

Vanuatu has a unique pet culture influenced by both traditional practices and modern influences. As access to Vanuatu is constricted, veterinary services in Vanuatu are limited, particularly in remote areas. The main islands such as Efate (where the capital, Port Vila, is located) have veterinary clinics offering basic services. Pet owners who are planning to return to Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia or further travel to Fiji should fully research requirements to reenter these countries prior to departure.

Flying a Pet to Vanuatu

As dogs can only enter Vanuatu after entering Australia or New Zealand and cats can also enter from New Caledonia, flights to Vanuatu that accept animals are limited to Aircalin (cats only), Solomon Airlines, and Virgin Australia.

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 Vanuatu

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.

All steps required to import a pet dog or cat to Vanuatu must be completed in the country of origin. Complete steps 1-6 in the order given.

Step 1: Import Permit

Prior to bringing a pet to Vanuatu you must apply for an Import Permit from the Vanuatu Quarantine & Inspections Service.

Step 2: Pet Microchip

Having your pet identified with a microchip is important when traveling internationally for several reasons. First, a microchip will tie your pet to its documentation when entering a foreign country. Second, 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.

Vanuatu pet import requirements do not reflect the need for microchipping; however, your pet must be identified with a microchip when entering Australia, New Zealand or New Caledonia. The 15-digit pet microchip should be compliant with International Standards Organization standard 11784 or Annex A of ISO standard 11785. The chip should have all numbers, no letters and not begin with the numbers 99.

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.

Step 3: Vaccinations

All cats and dogs over three months of age must be vaccinated for rabies between 14 days and 12 months prior to entering Vanuatu. Note that the rabies vaccination must also conform to regulations in Australia, New Zealand or New Caledonia.

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) according to intervals required by the origination country.

Step 4: 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.

Vanuatu does not require a rabies titer test for cats and dogs; however, this test is required to enter Australia, New Zealand or New Caledonia and should be administered according to their pet import requirements.

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

Step 5: 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 Vanuatu.

The treatment of pets for internal parasites, especially Echinococcus multilocularis, must be administered by a licensed veterinarian within 3 days of import.

Treatments for external parasites must be administered by a licensed veterinarian twice at least 14 days apart, within the 30 days prior to departure. The second treatment must be given within three days of departure. Dogs may also be washed twice with an effective insecticide solution at seven-day intervals, the second being within three days of departure.

The administering veterinarian can record these treatments on the health certificate or issue you a record of treatment.

Step 6: 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 10 days 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 Australia, New Zealand or New Caledonia (cats only) that is responsible for the import and export of live animals.

Other Information

Importing Puppies and Kittens to Vanuatu

Puppies and kittens should not be vaccinated for rabies prior to 3 months of age. Unvaccinated puppies and kittens under the age of 4 months will not be permitted to enter Vanuatu because they cannot conform to pet import requirements.

Entering Vanuatu by Air

Live animals entering Vanuatu should do so as air cargo at Bauerfield International Airport in Port Vila.
Notice must be given to the Principal Veterinary Officer at the airport more than 24 hours prior to entry.

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 Vanuatu. All costs associated with further inspections or treatments will be borne by the importer.

Whenever your pet travels to a foreign country like Vanuatu, it is always advisable to carry some form of identification indicating ownership of your pet.

Importing Other Pet Animals to Vanuatu

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 a health certificate to enter Vanuatu if permitted. 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 in and enforce CITES regulations.

Related: Read more about CITES

Need More Detailed Pet Import Requirements and Forms for Vanuatu?

Visit PetTravelStore.com to find further detail on permits, costs, tests and pet import requirements for Vanuatu. They all contribute to the Vanuatu pet passport. Unlimited email support is included.

Have Questions About Importing Your Pet to Vanuatu?

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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 Vanuatu pet import requirements.