Country entry guide · Africa
Traveling to Senegal with your dog
Senegal welcomes pet dogs, but entry runs through the country's own scheme managed by the Direction des Services Vétérinaires (DSV) of the Ministry responsible for livestock, not the EU framework. Before you travel you must obtain an import authorization ("autorisation d'introduction d'animaux de compagnie") from the DSV: it is requested in advance, is valid for three months, and must be presented on arrival. Every dog also needs a permanent identification (microchip or tattoo), a valid rabies vaccination and an original international veterinary health certificate issued shortly before departure by a government-mandated vet of the country of origin, along with an up-to-date vaccination booklet. On arrival, the animal and its documents are checked by the official veterinary services. This guide explains the import authorization, the rabies rule, the certificate and the border check so you know exactly what to prepare before you book your flight.
📋 At a glance
| Dogs allowed | Yes (with import authorization) |
| Import authorization (DSV) | Required in advance |
| Identification (microchip or tattoo) | Required |
| Rabies vaccination | Required |
| Rabies antibody test | Not part of published entry rules |
| International veterinary certificate | Required (original) |
| Quarantine | Not required if compliant |
| Banned breeds | No published breed-specific import ban |
⏱️ 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, and the DSV sets the exact conditions on your import authorization.
- 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 Senegal
🧭 How your dog's entry requirements are decided
The exact documents depend on three things — Senegal (your destination) is only the first.
- 1 Country of destination — Senegal★★★★★
Senegal runs its own DSV scheme: an advance import authorization, a permanent identification (microchip or tattoo), a valid rabies vaccination and an original international veterinary certificate are always required, and the animal is checked by the official veterinary services on arrival.
- 2 Country of departure★★★★★
The international veterinary certificate is issued by a government-mandated vet in the country of departure, using that country's official model. The country of departure decides who signs your certificate and shapes the rabies-vaccination evidence the Senegalese authorities expect.
- 3 Countries your dog recently stayed in★★★★☆
Your dog's rabies history and recent country of residence matter to the veterinary services, not only the last airport. A stay in a rabies-risk country can affect what the DSV asks for, so confirm your dog's full history with your vet and the DSV. Note that Senegal is itself a rabies-endemic country, which matters for any later return to the EU.
So read the requirements below as Senegal's framework, then confirm your dog's exact origin, length of stay and history with your vet and the DSV before booking.
✅ Entry requirements
| Requirement | Required? | When | Exceptions | Official reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Import authorization (DSV) | Required (in advance) | Request an 'autorisation d'introduction d'animaux de compagnie' from the Director of Veterinary Services before travel, stating the country of origin, the species/breed, and the traveller's name. It is valid for three months from issuance and must be presented on arrival. | No exceptions published — a dog without an approved authorization risks refusal at the border. | Sénégal Services / Ministère de l'Élevage (DSV) — import authorization for pets |
| Identification (microchip or tattoo) | Required | A permanent identification (electronic microchip or legible tattoo) must identify the animal and match the veterinary certificate; place it before the rabies vaccination. An ISO microchip is the standard and is needed for a later return to the EU. | None published — the identification is part of the required documents. | Sénégal Services (DSV) — required documents for pet import |
| Rabies vaccination | Required | A valid rabies vaccination is mandatory and recorded in the vaccination booklet and on the certificate. Where it is a primary vaccination, it should be given at least 21 days before travel; confirm the exact validity window with the DSV. | A dog too young to be validly vaccinated cannot meet the rabies requirement. | Sénégal Services (DSV); USDA APHIS — Pet Travel to Senegal |
| Rabies antibody test | Not published | Senegal's published entry rules for personal pets do not require a rabies antibody test for import into the country. (A titration may still be relevant for a later return to the EU, because Senegal is rabies-endemic.) | Unknown for special cases — confirm with the DSV, as conditions can differ by the dog's origin and rabies history. | Sénégal Services (DSV) — published pet import requirements |
| International veterinary health certificate | Required (original) | An original international veterinary certificate must be issued shortly before departure by a government-mandated vet of the country of origin and validated by the official veterinary authority. The Senegalese portal references issuance within the week before departure; check the exact window with your official vet. | None — an original official certificate must accompany every dog. | Sénégal Services (DSV) — international veterinary certificate; USDA APHIS |
| Vaccination booklet | Required | Carry an up-to-date vaccination booklet (carnet de vaccination) recording identification and vaccinations, including rabies; it is exchanged for the introduction authorization together with the international veterinary certificate. | None published. | Sénégal Services (DSV) — required documents for pet import |
| Parasite / tapeworm treatment | Not published | Senegal does not publish a mandatory internal or external parasite treatment for personal pet dogs on its official entry pages. | Unknown — a vet may recommend treatments; confirm any requirement with the DSV. | Sénégal Services (DSV) — published pet import requirements |
| Minimum age / puppies | Linked to rabies vaccination | A puppy must be old enough to be validly vaccinated against rabies (generally about 3 months / 12 weeks) with the vaccination taking effect before travel. No separate stand-alone minimum age is published. | Puppies too young to be vaccinated cannot meet the rabies requirement — confirm with the DSV. | Sénégal Services (DSV) — rabies vaccination requirement |
| Border veterinary inspection & customs | Required | On arrival (e.g. at Blaise Diagne International Airport), present the import authorization, the international veterinary certificate, the vaccination booklet and proof of identification and rabies vaccination to the official veterinary services alongside customs. | Animals in international transit without unloading are outside these formalities. | Sénégal Services (DSV) — authorization presented on arrival |
| Quarantine | Not required if compliant | — | Non-compliant animals may be refused, returned or held under veterinary control at the owner's expense. | Sénégal Services (DSV) — pet import procedure |
| Banned / restricted breeds | No published breed ban | — | Senegal publishes no breed-specific import ban for dogs on its official pages. This is an absence of published rule, not a guarantee — confirm your dog's breed with the DSV before travel. | No breed-specific import legislation found on official Senegalese sources |
🌍 Rules according to your dog's origin
From the European Union
For a dog leaving the EU, first obtain the DSV import authorization, then have an official EU vet issue the international veterinary certificate close to departure. Your dog needs a permanent identification (an ISO microchip in practice), a valid rabies vaccination recorded in the passport / vaccination booklet, and the certificate validated by the official authority. No rabies antibody test is published for entry into Senegal. On arrival, the official veterinary services check the dog and its documents with customs.
From another third country
From a non-EU country, the core requirements are the same: the DSV import authorization, a permanent identification, a valid rabies vaccination and an original international veterinary certificate issued by the government veterinary services of the country of origin, plus the vaccination booklet. Use your country's official export certificate model and have it signed by a government-mandated vet close to departure. (For travellers from the United States, USDA APHIS accepts the APHIS 7001 certificate issued within 21 days of travel.)
Rabies history & special cases
Senegal does not publish a separate at-risk-country track or a rabies antibody test for personal pets entering the country, but the DSV can attach conditions to your import authorization based on the dog's origin and rabies history. If your dog has stayed in a high-risk country, confirm directly with the DSV what evidence will be required before you travel. Because Senegal is itself rabies-endemic, plan the rabies antibody test now if you intend to bring the dog back into the EU later.
🛬 Arrival
What happens when your dog reaches Senegal depends on your import authorization and your documents.
- At the point of entry (e.g. Blaise Diagne International Airport), your dog is checked by the official veterinary services alongside customs.
- Present the originals: the DSV import authorization, the international veterinary certificate, the vaccination booklet and proof of identification and rabies vaccination.
- The import authorization must still be valid (three months from issuance) on the day of arrival.
- If documents are missing or invalid, the animal may be refused entry, returned or held under veterinary control — at the owner's expense.
- Keep a full set of original documents with you throughout the journey.
🧳 Real traveller experience
No reliable documented traveller feedback available.
🚫 Restricted dogs
No breed-specific import ban for dogs is published on Senegal's official veterinary or government-service pages. Entry is controlled by the import authorization and the health requirements, not by a national list of prohibited breeds.
We found no official Senegalese instrument banning breeds such as pit bull types from import. This is an absence of published rule rather than a positive authorisation of any specific breed.
There is likewise no published lighter 'permitted with conditions' breed category at the border. Local ownership or public-order rules could still exist; they are not part of the published import procedure.
Because rules can change and may not be fully published online, confirm your dog's breed and any cross with the DSV before you travel.
🛂 Airports in Senegal
Check where your dog can relieve itself at each airport — and whether it's before or after security.
🧾 Preparation checklist
- ☐Request the DSV import authorization in advance (state country of origin, species/breed, traveller's name)
- ☐Permanent identification (ISO microchip or legible tattoo) placed before the rabies vaccination
- ☐Valid rabies vaccination recorded in the vaccination booklet (primary shot at least 21 days before travel)
- ☐Original international veterinary certificate issued shortly before departure and validated by the official authority
- ☐Up-to-date vaccination booklet (carnet de vaccination) carried with you
- ☐Check that the import authorization is still valid (3 months) on your arrival date
- ☐Original documents ready for the border veterinary check and customs
- ☐If you will return to the EU, plan the rabies antibody test (Senegal is rabies-endemic)
- ☐Airline reservation confirming your dog's travel option and suitable IATA crate
📚 Official sources
- Sénégal Services (official portal) — Request authorization to import pets
- Sénégal Services (official portal) — Import authorization for domestic and/or wild animals
- Ministère de l'Élevage et des Productions Animales — Administrative procedures (import authorization)
- Service Public du Sénégal — Administrative procedures
- USDA APHIS — Pet Travel From the United States to Senegal (dog requirements)