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Country entry guide · South America

Traveling to Colombia with your dog

Difficulty: Moderate — one uniform scheme, but several vaccinations and a breed import ban ⏱ Several weeks to a few months

Colombia welcomes dogs, and it runs one uniform national scheme managed by the ICA (Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario), the official animal-health authority. There is no EU pet passport here: the key document is a Sanitary Inspection Certificate (CIS) that the ICA issues at the airport, seaport or land border when you arrive. Before you travel you register online and pay, then carry an official veterinary health certificate from your country of origin (issued within 10 days), proof of a valid rabies vaccination and several other canine vaccinations, and evidence of internal and external parasite treatment. Colombia asks for no rabies antibody test and no routine quarantine for a compliant, healthy pet. One important warning: Colombian law bans the import of certain pit-bull-type and "potentially dangerous" breeds. This guide explains exactly what to prepare, and when, before you book your flight.

📋 At a glance

Dogs allowed	Yes (some breeds banned)
Microchip	Not required (recommended for ID)
Rabies vaccination	Required
Rabies antibody test	Not required
Other canine vaccinations	Required (distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, coronavirus, parainfluenza)
Official veterinary certificate + CIS	Required
Parasite treatment (internal & external)	Required
Quarantine	Not required for a compliant, healthy pet

⚠️ Important

MyDogCanFly provides general information — not veterinary or legal advice.
Only a veterinarian can confirm the exact procedure for your individual dog.
Requirements depend on: the country of origin, previous travel history, identification, vaccinations, the itinerary and the travel date.

Always consult your veterinarian before booking your trip.

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Find a flight to Colombia

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🔎 Find a flight to Colombia

🧭 How your dog's entry requirements are decided

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Country of destination — Colombia★★★★★
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Country of departure★★★★★
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Countries your dog recently stayed in★★★★☆

✅ Entry requirements

Requirement	Required?	Exceptions	Official reference
ISO microchip	Not required	The ICA identifies the dog by its physical characteristics (species, breed, sex, age, coat colour and distinguishing marks). A microchip is not demanded for entry, but is strongly advised for identification and the return trip.	ICA — Ingreso de perros y gatos a Colombia
Rabies vaccination	Required	If rabies vaccination is not carried out in the origin country, the official veterinary service must certify this; the dog then enters only under a home quarantine, during which it is vaccinated in Colombia by an ICA-registered vet with ICA-registered products.	ICA — Ingreso de perros y gatos a Colombia
Rabies antibody test	Not required	Colombia does not require a rabies antibody test to enter. The ICA only recommends it for pets that will later return to the European Union or to other countries that demand it — that is, before leaving Colombia, not to enter it.	ICA — Ingreso de perros y gatos a Colombia
Other canine vaccinations	Required	If one of these vaccinations is not administered in the origin country, the official service must certify this; the dog is then allowed to enter without a home quarantine (only missing rabies vaccination triggers quarantine).	ICA — Ingreso de perros y gatos a Colombia
Official veterinary health certificate	Required	No apostille or consular legalization is required for cats and dogs.	ICA — Ingreso de perros y gatos a Colombia
Parasite treatment (internal & external)	Required	—	ICA — Ingreso de perros y gatos a Colombia
Advance ICA registration & CIS request (SISPAP)	Required before arrival	If the online request is impossible, it can be completed at the ICA office at the point of entry, presenting the pet and the physical documents and paying on site (card only, no cash). Up to 10 animals of the same species per request.	ICA — Guía de registro del viajero y pago del CIS
Border check & CIS issuance (ICA inspection)	Required on arrival	If the inspection is not satisfactory, the ICA may apply retention, home quarantine, re-shipment (reembarque) or humane sanitary sacrifice, depending on the dog's health; all costs fall on the owner.	ICA — Ingreso de perros y gatos a Colombia
Minimum age	At least 15 weeks	Airline age rules and your home country's return rules may be stricter.	ICA — Ingreso de perros y gatos a Colombia
Restricted / banned breeds	Import prohibited for listed breeds	Check your dog's breed against the current legislation before booking — a banned breed will be refused entry regardless of its documents.	Ley 746 de 2002; Ley 1801 de 2016 (Código Nacional de Policía y Convivencia)
Quarantine	Not required (conditional cases only)	A home quarantine applies only where rabies vaccination is not available in the origin country (to be vaccinated in Colombia), or as a sanitary measure if the arrival inspection is not satisfactory.	ICA — Ingreso de perros y gatos a Colombia

🗓 In what order, and when

Some steps only count once the previous one is done — check each deadline against the official reference above.

Rabies vaccinationA current rabies vaccination is required, certified with vaccine name, lot number, date and validity. A first (primary) rabies vaccination must be given at least 21 days before the shipment date.
Other canine vaccinationsFor dogs the certificate must show current vaccination against distemper (Carré), canine hepatitis, leptospirosis (canicola and icterohaemorrhagiae), parvovirus, coronavirus and parainfluenza, each with product name, lot, date and validity.
Official veterinary health certificateOriginal certificate issued or endorsed by the official veterinary authority of the origin country, with seal and signature (handwritten or electronic), dated no more than 10 calendar days before entry. It certifies the dog's characteristics, freedom from infectious and parasitic diseases, parasite treatment and fitness to travel.
Parasite treatment (internal & external)The dog must have received internal and external antiparasitic treatment within the 60 days before travel, with products authorised in the origin country; the certificate must state the product name, active ingredient and date of administration.
Advance ICA registration & CIS request (SISPAP)Before travelling, register as an ICA user online, then request the Sanitary Inspection Certificate (CIS) in the SISPAP system, enter the traveller and pet data, pay, and print the request and payment receipt to present on arrival.
Border check & CIS issuance (ICA inspection)At the airport, seaport or land border, the ICA veterinarian performs a documentary inspection (certificate, vaccination record, request and payment) and a physical inspection of the dog, then issues the Sanitary Inspection Certificate (CIS) if everything is satisfactory.
Minimum ageThe minimum age to enter the country is 15 weeks. This aligns with the rule that a primary rabies vaccination must be given at least 21 days before shipment.
Restricted / banned breedsColombian law prohibits importing pit-bull-type dogs — Pit Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier and Staffordshire Terrier — and their crosses or hybrids. The ICA also states that dogs classed as 'potentially dangerous' under the National Police and Coexistence Code cannot enter the country.
QuarantineNo routine quarantine for a compliant, healthy pet.

🌍 The different cases

Standard scheme — health certificate + CIS

For almost every origin the path is the same. Before travelling you register as an ICA user online and request the Sanitary Inspection Certificate (CIS) via SISPAP, entering your and your dog's details and paying. Your dog needs an official veterinary health certificate from the origin country (issued within 10 days, with seal and signature), proof of a valid rabies vaccination and the other canine vaccinations, and internal and external parasite treatment within 60 days. On arrival the ICA inspects the documents and the dog and issues the CIS. No microchip, no antibody test and no apostille are required.

⏱ Standard case: a few days to assemble the documents once the vaccinations are valid — the official health certificate must be issued within 10 calendar days before entry, and you register and pay the CIS online beforehand.

Where rabies vaccination is not available at origin

If your dog comes from a country where rabies vaccination is not carried out, the official veterinary service must certify that fact. The dog may then enter only on condition of a home quarantine, during which it must be vaccinated against rabies in Colombia by an ICA-registered veterinarian using ICA-registered vaccines. All other requirements — health certificate, other vaccinations, parasite treatment, CIS — still apply.

⏱ If the first rabies shot is still needed: plan ~3 weeks, as a primary rabies vaccination must be given at least 21 days before the shipment date. Minimum entry age is 15 weeks.

Banned breeds & non-compliant arrivals

Certain breeds cannot be imported at all: Colombian law bans pit-bull-type dogs (Pit Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Terrier) and their crosses, and the ICA states that 'potentially dangerous' breeds under the National Police Code may not enter. If a dog arrives without meeting the sanitary requirements, the ICA may apply retention, home quarantine, re-shipment or humane sanitary sacrifice; the resulting costs fall on the owner.

⏱ Special cases: if rabies vaccination is not available in the origin country (home quarantine + vaccination in Colombia), or your dog is a restricted breed, allow much more time — some breeds cannot enter at all.

🛬 Arrival

What happens when your dog reaches Colombia centres on the ICA office at your point of entry.

Go straight to the ICA office at the airport, seaport or land border where you enter, with your dog and all documents, to obtain the Sanitary Inspection Certificate (CIS).
The ICA carries out a documentary inspection (health certificate, vaccination record, printed CIS request and payment receipt) followed by a physical inspection of the dog.
Payment is by card only (debit/credit) — the ICA does not accept cash. For pets in the cabin or as accompanied baggage, pay the ICA officer at the international pier; for pets arriving as cargo, pay by bank transfer, PSE or Baloto points.
The official health certificate is valid only if issued within the 10 calendar days before entry, so time your departure accordingly.
If documents are missing or the dog does not pass inspection, the ICA may apply retention, home quarantine, re-shipment or humane sanitary sacrifice, at the owner's expense.
A banned breed will be refused entry regardless of its paperwork, so verify the breed rules before you travel.

🛫 Leaving the country (return trip)

Colombia is non-listed, so a valid rabies antibody titer is mandatory to return to the EU — plus a sanitary inspection certificate (CIS) issued by ICA at the airport.

⚠️ Start before you leave Plan the rabies titer early: per ICA, the blood sample must be taken at least 1 month after vaccination and 3 months before travel (minimum age about 7 months).
On site, before the flight Register and request the ICA inspection up to 3 days before travel; an inspection is done about 24h before departure at the ICA airport office, then the CIS is issued.

⚠️ If your dog already had a valid EU rabies titer before leaving, it stays valid for life as long as the rabies vaccination is kept up — check this before you travel.

🔗 Authority: ICA

🚫 Restricted dogs

Unlike many countries, Colombia does restrict certain breeds at the border. Colombian law bans the import of specific pit-bull-type dogs, and the ICA's official guidance states that 'potentially dangerous' breeds cannot enter the country. This is an entry restriction, not only an ownership rule.

Category 1

Import prohibited: Colombian law (Ley 746 de 2002) prohibits importing Pit Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier and Staffordshire Terrier dogs, and any crosses or hybrids of these breeds, given their classification as highly dangerous.

Category 2

Potentially dangerous breeds: the National Police and Coexistence Code (Ley 1801 de 2016, Chapter IV) defines a wider list of 'potentially dangerous' dogs, and the ICA's official notice states that such dogs cannot enter Colombia. If your dog could fall into this category, confirm its status against the Code before booking.

Because these are import restrictions, verify your dog's breed before you book. A prohibited breed will be refused entry even with a perfect health certificate and CIS request.

✈️ Airlines flying to Colombia with a dog

Carriers we document that serve this country and accept dogs. The verdict is the airline's general policy — it does not prejudge your breed, your crate or your exact route.

Avianca🇨🇴 3 airports Cabin American Airlines 3 airports Cabin LATAM 3 airports Cabin Aeromexico 3 airports Cabin ≤9 kg Copa Airlines 3 airports Cabin Delta Air Lines 2 airports Cabin

+16 more documented airlines accept dogs to this country. See all airlines →

🛂 Airports in Colombia

Check where your dog can relieve itself at each airport — and whether it's before or after security.

Bogotá BOG Cartagena CTG Medellín MDE

Colombia with a dog: common questions

Colombia: What does my dog need to enter?

Colombia requires: Rabies vaccination, Other canine vaccinations, Official veterinary health certificate, Parasite treatment (internal & external), Advance ICA registration & CIS request (SISPAP).

Colombia: Is a rabies antibody test required?

Colombia — Rabies antibody test: Not required.

Colombia: Are any dog breeds banned?

Colombia: How long does it take to prepare a dog?

Standard case: a few days to assemble the documents once the vaccinations are valid — the official health certificate must be issued within 10 calendar days before entry, and you register and pay the CIS online beforehand.…

Colombia: Do domestic flights have the same requirements?

Domestic flight in Colombia: no import formality, but aviation rules require a vaccination record. Aviation regulation RAC 3 requires a vaccination card or certificate signed by a vet, with their professional registration number.…

Colombia: What is needed to leave with a dog?