Country entry guide · Africa
Traveling to Nigeria with your dog
Nigeria admits pet dogs, but entry is controlled by its own veterinary authorities — the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) and the Federal Department of Livestock and Pest Control Services, both under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. No dog should be shipped without an import permit obtained in advance from the Nigerian authorities. Every dog must be microchipped, carry a valid rabies vaccination and travel with an official international veterinary health certificate endorsed by the exporting country's government vet. On arrival, NAQS veterinary officers inspect the dog and its documents at the point of entry. Nigeria is a rabies-endemic country and applies its own national scheme rather than the EU framework, so the exact steps depend on where your dog is coming from. This guide explains what to prepare before you book your flight.
📋 At a glance
| Dogs allowed | Yes (with import permit) |
| Microchip | Required |
| Rabies vaccination | Required |
| Import permit | Required (in advance) |
| Rabies antibody test | Not required |
| Veterinary health certificate | Required (endorsed) |
| Arrival inspection | Required (NAQS) |
| Quarantine | Not routine |
⚠️ Important
- MyDogCanFly provides general information — not veterinary or legal advice.
- Only a veterinarian can confirm the exact procedure for your individual dog, and NAQS / the Federal Department of Livestock and Pest Control Services set the exact conditions on your import permit.
- 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 Nigeria
🧭 How your dog's entry requirements are decided
- 1 Country of destination — Nigeria★★★★★
- 2 Country of departure★★★★★
- 3 Countries your dog recently stayed in★★★★☆
✅ Entry requirements
| Requirement | Required? | Exceptions | Official reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Import permit | Required | No exceptions — dogs without a valid import permit may be refused, seized or quarantined by NAQS. Exact fees and processing time: Unknown (not officially published). | NAQS — Animal Quarantine; Federal Department of Livestock and Pest Control Services |
| Microchip | Required | The official veterinary health certificate requires a microchip but does not itself specify the ISO standard. | Veterinary Health Certificate for export of dogs to Nigeria (box 21 / note) |
| Rabies vaccination | Required | The minimum interval between vaccination and travel is not specified on the official certificate: Unknown. Confirm the exact timing with your vet. | Veterinary Health Certificate for export of dogs to Nigeria (rabies statement) |
| Rabies antibody test | Not required | A rabies antibody test is not a mandatory statement on the official Nigerian veterinary health certificate (it appears only as an optional test field). | Veterinary Health Certificate for export of dogs to Nigeria (optional tests section) |
| Official veterinary health certificate | Required | The certificate is valid for 30 days after issuance and must still be valid on arrival; NAQS authenticates it at the point of entry. | Veterinary Health Certificate for export of dogs to Nigeria (validity + certification) |
| Parasite treatment | Not mandatory | No specific tapeworm or tick treatment is mandated in the published requirements: Unknown for individual permit conditions. | Veterinary Health Certificate for export of dogs to Nigeria (optional treatments section) |
| Advance notification | Required | Allow ample time to obtain the permit before travel; NAQS advises applicants to plan well ahead. | NAQS — Animal Quarantine (declaration and verification at point of entry) |
| Arrival veterinary inspection | Required | If a dog is suspected of carrying a contagious disease or is found to have been illegally imported, NAQS may intercept, seize, quarantine or destroy it. | NAQS — Animal Quarantine (surveillance and inspection at points of entry) |
| Quarantine | Not routine | NAQS may quarantine an animal for 2–3 weeks where a contagious disease is suspected or the import is irregular. | NAQS — Animal Quarantine (interception / quarantine 2–3 weeks) |
| Puppies / minimum age | Unknown | Exact minimum age is not officially published: Unknown. Confirm with your vet and the Nigerian authorities before booking. | No explicit minimum age in the published Nigerian requirements |
🗓 In what order, and when
Some steps only count once the previous one is done — check each deadline against the official reference above.
- Import permitApply in advance to the Director, Federal Department of Livestock and Pest Control Services (Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security), Area 11 Garki, Abuja, before the dog is shipped. NAQS verifies the permit at the point of entry.
- MicrochipAll dogs must be microchipped; the microchip number must appear on the health certificate and be verified by the certifying vet. An internationally readable ISO 11784/11785 chip is advisable.
- Rabies vaccinationVaccinated against rabies within one year of the date of departure, with an inactivated rabies vaccine, and still valid on arrival. Nigeria is rabies-endemic, so a current vaccination is essential.
- Official veterinary health certificateInternational veterinary health certificate completed by a licensed vet and endorsed by the official (government) veterinary authority of the exporting country. It certifies the dog is free of infectious/contagious disease including rabies, and comes from an area not quarantined for rabies.
- Parasite treatmentNot a mandatory item on the official Nigerian health certificate; internal/external parasite treatment may be recorded in the optional section and is good practice before travel.
- Advance notificationThe import permit obtained in advance is the authorisation to import. On arrival, declare the animal to NAQS for inspection and certification, presenting the full set of accompanying documents.
- Arrival veterinary inspectionNAQS veterinary officers inspect every arriving dog at the point of entry, verify the import permit and international veterinary certificate, and check the health status of the animal.
- QuarantineNo automatic quarantine when the permit and documents are in order and the dog is healthy on inspection.
- Puppies / minimum ageA dog needs a valid rabies vaccination to enter, which in practice sets a minimum age, but Nigeria's published requirements do not state an explicit minimum travelling age.
🌍 Rules according to your dog's origin
From Europe / the EU
There is no EU pet-passport shortcut into Nigeria: the EU passport is not a Nigerian document. A dog from Europe still needs an advance import permit from the Nigerian veterinary authorities, a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and an official international veterinary health certificate endorsed by the government vet before departure. No rabies antibody test is required on the certificate.
⏱ From Europe: allow ~4–6 weeks — the advance import permit is the pacing step, plus a rabies vaccination and a health certificate valid for 30 days.
From a rabies-controlled country
From countries with a controlled rabies situation (United States, Canada, Gulf states, most of Europe and others), the same core scheme applies: advance import permit, microchip, valid rabies vaccination and an endorsed international health certificate valid for 30 days. No blood test, and normally no quarantine on arrival if the dog is healthy and the documents are in order.
⏱ From a rabies-controlled country (US, Canada, Gulf states…): ~4–6 weeks, driven by the import permit and the endorsed health certificate.
From a high-rabies-risk country
Nigeria does not add a mandatory antibody test even for high-risk origins, but the health certificate must confirm the dog comes from an area not quarantined for rabies and has not been exposed to rabies. Dogs from a rabies-quarantined zone may be refused or held for examination. Expect closer scrutiny at the airport and keep original documents ready.
⏱ From a high-rabies-risk country: similar base steps, but expect closer scrutiny at the airport; dogs from an area quarantined for rabies may be refused.
🛬 Arrival
When your dog reaches Nigeria, NAQS veterinary officers handle the check at the point of entry.
- Declare the animal to NAQS on arrival and present the full document set — the import permit, the endorsed international veterinary health certificate and the rabies vaccination record.
- NAQS officers verify the documents against the animal and check its health status before clearing it.
- Carry original documents, not copies, and keep a set with you throughout the journey; the health certificate must still be within its 30-day validity on arrival.
- A healthy dog with a valid permit and complete papers is normally cleared without quarantine.
- If the dog is suspected of a contagious disease, or the import is irregular or the documents deficient, NAQS may quarantine the animal (2–3 weeks), seize it or, in the worst case, destroy it.
🛫 Leaving the country (return trip)
Nigeria is non-listed, so a valid rabies antibody titer is mandatory to return to the EU — plus an export health certificate endorsed by the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS).
- ⚠️ 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 NAQS Animal Quarantine performs the export health inspection and certifies the veterinary health certificate, with the Chief Veterinary Officer issuing the export permit.
🚫 Restricted dogs
No national breed-specific import ban for dogs is published by NAQS or the Nigeria Customs Service. Entry is controlled by the veterinary import permit and health requirements, not by breed.
The Nigeria Customs Service import prohibition list does not list dog breeds among prohibited imports. We found no official Nigerian legislation banning specific dog breeds from import.
Wildlife and endangered species (and their derivatives) are separately restricted or prohibited, and unvaccinated puppies should not be imported, but these are not breed-specific dog rules. Any local or state ownership rules: Unknown.
Because published rules may change, confirm the current position on any specific breed directly with NAQS or the Federal Department of Livestock and Pest Control Services before you travel.
✈️ Airlines flying to Nigeria 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.
+10 more documented airlines accept dogs to this country. See all airlines →
🛂 Airports in Nigeria
Check where your dog can relieve itself at each airport — and whether it's before or after security.
Nigeria with a dog: common questions
Nigeria: What does my dog need to enter?
Nigeria requires: Import permit, Microchip, Rabies vaccination, Official veterinary health certificate, Advance notification.
Nigeria: Is a rabies antibody test required?
Nigeria — Rabies antibody test: Not required.
Nigeria: Are any dog breeds banned?
No national breed-specific import ban for dogs is published by NAQS or the Nigeria Customs Service. Entry is controlled by the veterinary import permit and health requirements, not by breed.
Nigeria: How long does it take to prepare a dog?
From Europe: allow ~4–6 weeks — the advance import permit is the pacing step, plus a rabies vaccination and a health certificate valid for 30 days. From a high-rabies-risk country: similar base steps, but expect closer scrutiny at the airport; dogs from an area quarantined for rabies may be refused.
Nigeria: What is needed to leave with a dog?
Nigeria is non-listed, so a valid rabies antibody titer is mandatory to return to the EU — plus an export health certificate endorsed by the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS).
Nigeria: Is it difficult to travel there with a dog?
Nigeria — Moderate — advance import permit + endorsed certificate. MyDogCanFly provides general information — not veterinary or legal advice.
Answers drawn from the official sources listed below; entry information last verified 15 July 2026. Rules change — confirm with the authorities of Nigeria and your vet before booking.
📚 Official sources
- NAQS — Animal Quarantine (import/export of animals, inspection, quarantine)
- Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service — home / mandate
- USDA APHIS — Pet Travel From the United States to Nigeria
- Veterinary Health Certificate for Export of Dogs and Cats to the Federal Republic of Nigeria (agreed with Nigerian authorities)
- Nigeria Customs Service — Revised Import Prohibition List