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Country entry guide · Africa

Traveling to Senegal with your dog

Difficulty: Moderate — advance import authorization + veterinary certificate ⏱ Several weeks to a few months

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

⚠️ 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.

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Find a flight to Senegal

Compare the airlines that accept dogs and check their conditions.

🔎 Find a flight to Senegal

🧭 How your dog's entry requirements are decided

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

✅ Entry requirements

Requirement	Required?	Exceptions	Official reference
Import authorization (DSV)	Required (in advance)	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	None published — the identification is part of the required documents.	Sénégal Services (DSV) — required documents for pet import
Rabies vaccination	Required	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	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)	None — an original official certificate must accompany every dog.	Sénégal Services (DSV) — international veterinary certificate; USDA APHIS
Vaccination booklet	Required	None published.	Sénégal Services (DSV) — required documents for pet import
Parasite / tapeworm treatment	Not published	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	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	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

🗓 In what order, and when

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

Import authorization (DSV)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.
Identification (microchip or tattoo)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.
Rabies vaccinationA 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.
Rabies antibody testSenegal'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.)
International veterinary health certificateAn 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.
Vaccination bookletCarry 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.
Parasite / tapeworm treatmentSenegal does not publish a mandatory internal or external parasite treatment for personal pet dogs on its official entry pages.
Minimum age / puppiesA 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.
Border veterinary inspection & customsOn 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.

🌍 Rules according to your dog's origin

From the EU

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 the EU: allow one to two weeks — request the DSV import authorization in advance, and have an official vet issue the international veterinary certificate close to departure if identification and rabies vaccination are already in order.

From a listed country

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.)

⏱ From another third country: similar timing using that country's official export certificate model; allow about 3 weeks if the first rabies shot is still needed, since the vaccination must precede the certificate.

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.

⏱ Whatever the origin, the limiting step is the advance import authorization and the rabies vaccination itself — plan around requesting the DSV authorization early rather than around a long list of tests.

🛬 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.

🛫 Leaving the country (return trip)

Senegal is non-listed, so a valid rabies antibody titer is mandatory to return to the EU — plus an export authorization from the Veterinary Services (DSV).

⚠️ 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 Request the export authorization from the Director of Veterinary Services; an international zoosanitary certificate is then issued and certified by an official veterinarian, with veterinary inspection for pets flying out.

⚠️ 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: DSV

🚫 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.

Category 1

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.

Category 2

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.

✈️ Airlines flying to Senegal 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 1 airport Cabin Transavia 1 airport Cabin ≤8 kg Turkish Airlines 1 airport Cabin ≤8 kg Air France 1 airport Cabin ≤8 kg Emirates 1 airport Hold Iberia 1 airport Cabin ≤8 kg

+12 more documented airlines accept dogs to this country. See all airlines →

🛂 Airports in Senegal

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

Dakar DSS

Senegal with a dog: common questions

Senegal: What does my dog need to enter?

Senegal requires: Import authorization (DSV), Identification (microchip or tattoo), Rabies vaccination, International veterinary health certificate, Vaccination booklet.

Senegal: Is a rabies antibody test required?

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.)

Senegal: Are any dog breeds banned?

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

From the EU: allow one to two weeks — request the DSV import authorization in advance, and have an official vet issue the international veterinary certificate close to departure if identification and rabies vaccination are already in order.…

Senegal: What is needed to leave with a dog?