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Country entry guide · Caribbean

Traveling to the Dominican Republic with your dog

Difficulty: Easy — one health certificate, no permit for personal pets ⏱ A few weeks to prepare

The Dominican Republic welcomes dogs, and its rules are relatively straightforward: the country runs its own scheme through the Directorate General of Livestock (DIGEGA), not the EU pet-passport system. A dog travelling with its owner needs a veterinary health certificate issued in the country of departure, a valid rabies vaccination and up-to-date core vaccines, plus internal and external parasite treatment. No prior import permit is needed for a personal pet accompanying its owner — only a commercial import requires a DIGEGA authorization. What you must prepare still depends on your dog's country of departure and recent history, because the certificate must confirm the dog comes from a disease-free zone. This guide explains exactly what to prepare before you book your flight.

📋 At a glance

Dogs allowed	Yes
Microchip	Microchip or tattoo for identification
Rabies vaccination	Required
Core vaccinations & parasite treatment	Required
Rabies antibody test	Not in DIGEGA's published requirements
Veterinary certificate	Required
Import permit (personal pet)	Not required
Quarantine	Only if documents are incomplete on arrival

⚠️ 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 Dominican Republic

Compare the airlines that accept dogs and check their conditions.

🔎 Find a flight to Dominican Republic

🧭 How your dog's entry requirements are decided

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

✅ Entry requirements

Requirement	Required?	Exceptions	Official reference
Identification (microchip or tattoo)	Required	DIGEGA accepts a microchip and/or a tattoo; a microchip is recommended and is required by most airlines and by the vaccination record.	DIGEGA — Zoosanitary requirements for dogs and cats
Rabies vaccination	Required	Adult dogs (15 months or older) with a documented vaccination history (first shot after 3 months) plus booster records do not need to wait the 30 days.	DIGEGA — Zoosanitary requirements for dogs and cats
Minimum age / puppies	Effectively ≥4 months	The rabies vaccination certificate must state the puppy's age or date of birth.	DIGEGA — Zoosanitary requirements for dogs and cats
Core vaccinations	Required	DIGEGA does not publish a fixed list of core vaccines; U.S. export guidance cites DHPP (distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, parvovirus). Confirm the schedule with your vet.	DIGEGA — Zoosanitary requirements; USDA APHIS export page
Anti-parasite treatment	Required	No specific tapeworm (Echinococcus) treatment window is published — a general internal/external parasite treatment is required.	DIGEGA — Zoosanitary requirements for dogs and cats
Rabies antibody test	Not required	DIGEGA's published zoosanitary requirements for dogs do not include a rabies antibody test. Whether one is requested for specific high-risk origins is not published — confirm with DIGEGA before travel.	DIGEGA — Zoosanitary requirements for dogs and cats
International veterinary health certificate	Required	The dog must be examined within 72 hours before departure; the endorsed certificate is valid 10 days after issuance. Consular endorsement is not required for personal pets.	DIGEGA — Zoosanitary requirements; USDA APHIS health certificate (DO)
Import authorization (DIGEGA / VUCE)	Commercial imports only	Not required for a personal pet travelling with its owner.	DIGEGA — Zoosanitary requirements (commercial import)
Inspection on arrival	Required	If requirements are met the animal is released; otherwise it is sent to the quarantine station.	DIGEGA — Frequently asked questions
Quarantine	Only if non-compliant	A dog arriving without a valid certificate or vaccination record is sent to the DIGEGA quarantine station.	DIGEGA — Frequently asked questions

🗓 In what order, and when

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

Identification (microchip or tattoo)The health certificate must carry the full identification of the animal, including a microchip and/or tattoo number.
Rabies vaccinationInactivated-virus vaccine given no more than 12 months and no less than 30 days before departure; the vaccination must not expire during the trip.
Minimum age / puppiesPuppies cannot be vaccinated against rabies before 3 months (12 weeks / 90 days); with the 30-day wait, a first-time-vaccinated dog is about 4 months old at travel.
Core vaccinationsThe certificate must list the vaccines applied, with the vaccination record (labels, batch, manufacture and expiry dates).
Anti-parasite treatmentThe dog must be treated against internal and external parasites; the certificate must state the dewormer used, its manufacturer and active ingredients.
International veterinary health certificateIssued and signed by a veterinarian in the country of departure; if that vet is not an official vet, it must be countersigned and stamped by an official (government) vet. It records the owner's name/address and full animal identification.
Import authorization (DIGEGA / VUCE)Required for the commercial-scale import of dogs and cats; requested through the VUCE single window using the Importation of Domestic Animals form.
Inspection on arrivalDogs and cats may enter without a prior permit but must arrive with the health certificate and an up-to-date vaccination record; DIGEGA inspects the animal and documents on arrival.
QuarantineThere is no routine quarantine for a compliant dog.

🌍 The different cases

Standard — a pet travelling with its owner

A dog accompanying its owner needs a veterinary health certificate from the country of departure, a valid rabies vaccination, core vaccines and internal/external parasite treatment. No prior import permit is required. The dog is examined within 72 hours of departure, and the endorsed certificate is valid 10 days. On arrival DIGEGA checks the animal and papers and, if all is in order, releases it — no routine quarantine.

⏱ A few days if the rabies vaccine is already valid — the health certificate is issued after an exam within 72 hours of departure and is valid 10 days.

Puppies and first-time vaccination

A puppy cannot be vaccinated against rabies before 3 months (12 weeks). A first rabies shot must be given at least 30 days before departure, so a first-time-vaccinated dog is about 4 months old at travel. The rabies certificate must show the date of birth or age. Adult dogs with a documented, unbroken vaccination history do not have to wait the 30 days.

⏱ ~1 month if a first rabies shot is still needed: it must be given at least 30 days before departure (dog at least 3 months old).

Commercial or resale imports

Importing dogs or cats on a commercial scale requires a DIGEGA authorization, requested through the VUCE single window using the Importation of Domestic Animals form. The application lists species, sex, breed, colour, age, quantity, country of origin and departure, ports of embarkation/arrival, means of transport and commercial value, signed and stamped by the interested party. This is in addition to the health certificate and vaccination requirements above.

⏱ Longer for a commercial import: allow extra time to obtain the DIGEGA authorization through the VUCE single window before shipping.

🛬 Arrival

What happens when your dog reaches the Dominican Republic depends on whether its documents are complete.

Dogs and cats may enter without a prior import permit but must arrive with the veterinary health certificate and an up-to-date vaccination record.
DIGEGA inspects the animal and documents on arrival; if everything is in order the dog is released with no routine quarantine.
If the certificate or vaccination record is missing or invalid, the animal is sent to the DIGEGA quarantine station.
Carry the original endorsed documents (not copies); the certificate is valid only 10 days after issuance.
Consular endorsement is not required for a personal dog or cat.
Airlines have their own crate, breed and booking rules — confirm them separately before you fly.

🛫 Leaving the country (return trip)

The Dominican Republic is non-listed, so a valid rabies antibody titer is mandatory to return to the EU — plus a health certificate validated by DIGEGA.

⚠️ Start before you leave Anticipate the rabies antibody titer: blood test in an EU-approved lab, at least 30 days after vaccination — a valid result is essential to re-enter the EU and cannot be arranged at the last minute.
On site, before the flight A private vet does the pre-export check and completes the EU non-commercial certificate; it is signed by the veterinary college (COLVET) where required, then submitted to DIGEGA for validation and official signature.

⚠️ 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: DIGEGA

🚫 Restricted dogs

The Dominican Republic has no national breed-specific import ban published by DIGEGA. Animal keeping is governed by the Animal Protection and Responsible Ownership Law (Ley 248-12), and a bill to regulate certain breeds has been proposed but is not enacted law.

Category 1

No dog breed is currently prohibited from entering the Dominican Republic under national law. Any dog meeting DIGEGA's health-certificate, vaccination and parasite-treatment requirements may be imported regardless of breed.

Category 2

A proposed bill would regulate ownership of breeds such as Pit Bull Terrier, Rottweiler, Doberman, American Staffordshire Terrier, Bull Terrier, Bullmastiff, Dogo Argentino, Dogue de Bordeaux, Fila Brasileiro and Tosa Inu (registration, sterilization, liability insurance). If enacted it would affect keeping, not necessarily import — check its status before travel.

Municipalities and airlines may set their own rules for certain breeds. Confirm current national and local rules, and your airline's breed policy, before booking.

✈️ Airlines flying to Dominican Republic 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.

Delta Air Lines 2 airports Cabin United Airlines 2 airports Cabin American Airlines 2 airports Cabin Air Canada 2 airports Cabin JetBlue 2 airports Cabin Condor 2 airports Cabin

+19 more documented airlines accept dogs to this country. See all airlines →

🛂 Airports in Dominican Republic

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

Punta Cana PUJ Santo Domingo SDQ

Dominican Republic with a dog: common questions

Dominican Republic: What does my dog need to enter?

Dominican Republic requires: Identification (microchip or tattoo), Rabies vaccination, Core vaccinations, Anti-parasite treatment, International veterinary health certificate.

Dominican Republic: Is a rabies antibody test required?

Dominican Republic — Rabies antibody test: Not required.

Dominican Republic: Are any dog breeds banned?

Dominican Republic: How long does it take to prepare a dog?

A few days if the rabies vaccine is already valid — the health certificate is issued after an exam within 72 hours of departure and is valid 10 days. Longer for a commercial import: allow extra time to obtain the DIGEGA authorization through the VUCE single window before shipping.

Dominican Republic: Do domestic flights have the same requirements?

Domestic flight in the Dominican Republic: no State requirement — the movement guide does not cover dogs. The national movement guide applies to sheep, goats, horses, cattle and bees — dogs are not listed. Any paperwork at the airport is the airline's own.…

Dominican Republic: What is needed to leave with a dog?