Country entry guide · Caribbean
Traveling to the Dominican Republic with your dog
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 |
⏱️ Estimated preparation time
Times are indicative. The rabies antibody test alone adds a fixed 3-month wait.
⚠️ 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.
Find a flight to Dominican Republic
🧭 How your dog's entry requirements are decided
The exact documents depend on three things — the Dominican Republic (your destination) is only the first.
- 1 Country of destination — Dominican Republic★★★★★
DIGEGA runs a certificate-based scheme: a veterinary health certificate, a valid rabies vaccination, core vaccines and internal/external parasite treatment are always required. No import permit is needed for a personal pet.
- 2 Country of departure★★★★★
The certificate must state that your dog comes from a zone free of species-relevant diseases in the last 60 days and was examined within 72 hours before departure, so the departure country's health status matters directly.
- 3 Countries your dog recently stayed in★★★★☆
Your dog's recent residence and rabies history determine whether its vaccination record is complete and valid for the whole trip. It is the dog's real history that counts — not only the last airport.
So read the requirements below as the Dominican framework, then confirm your dog's exact origin and history with your vet.
✅ Entry requirements
| Requirement | Required? | When | Exceptions | Official reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Identification (microchip or tattoo) | Required | The health certificate must carry the full identification of the animal, including a microchip and/or tattoo number. | 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 | Inactivated-virus vaccine given no more than 12 months and no less than 30 days before departure; the vaccination must not expire during the trip. | 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 | Puppies 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. | The rabies vaccination certificate must state the puppy's age or date of birth. | DIGEGA — Zoosanitary requirements for dogs and cats |
| Core vaccinations | Required | The certificate must list the vaccines applied, with the vaccination record (labels, batch, manufacture and expiry dates). | 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 | The dog must be treated against internal and external parasites; the certificate must state the dewormer used, its manufacturer and active ingredients. | 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 | Issued 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. | 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 | Required for the commercial-scale import of dogs and cats; requested through the VUCE single window using the Importation of Domestic Animals form. | Not required for a personal pet travelling with its owner. | DIGEGA — Zoosanitary requirements (commercial import) |
| Inspection on arrival | Required | Dogs 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. | 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 | There is no routine quarantine for a compliant dog. | A dog arriving without a valid certificate or vaccination record is sent to the DIGEGA quarantine station. | DIGEGA — Frequently asked questions |
🌍 Rules according to your dog's origin
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.
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.
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.
🛬 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.
🧳 Real traveller experience
No reliable documented traveller feedback available.
🚫 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.
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.
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.
🛂 Airports in Dominican Republic
Check where your dog can relieve itself at each airport — and whether it's before or after security.
🧾 Preparation checklist
- ☐Identification recorded on the certificate (microchip and/or tattoo)
- ☐Valid rabies vaccination (inactivated virus, 30 days to 12 months before departure)
- ☐Core vaccines up to date with the vaccination record (labels, batches, dates)
- ☐Internal and external parasite treatment (dewormer with active ingredients noted)
- ☐Veterinary health certificate, exam within 72 hours, endorsed by an official vet, valid 10 days
- ☐DIGEGA / VUCE import authorization only if the import is commercial
- ☐Original documents carried with you (not copies)
- ☐Airline reservation and suitable IATA crate if travelling in the hold
📚 Official sources
- DIGEGA — Zoosanitary requirements to import dogs and cats into the Dominican Republic
- DIGEGA — Zoosanitary requirements for dogs and cats (full text)
- CNMSF / DIGEGA — Livestock updates pet import certification (2024)
- USDA APHIS — Pet Travel from the United States to Dominican Republic (health certificate)