Country entry guide · South America
Traveling to Venezuela with your dog
Venezuela welcomes dogs, and its rules are run by INSAI (Instituto Nacional de Salud Agrícola Integral), the national agricultural-health authority that regulates the entry of animals. There is no EU pet passport here: a dog entering with its owner needs a valid rabies vaccination certificate, a current international veterinary health certificate, an up-to-date vaccination card (the canine "séxtuple"), proof of internal and external deworming, and an official zoosanitary export certificate from the country of origin. On arrival, INSAI issues a movement permit (guía de movilización) against a set fee. Pets coming from the European Union face an extra step — a microchip and a rabies antibody test, or an EU pet passport instead. One important warning: Venezuelan law prohibits importing pit-bull-type dogs. Venezuela publishes little of this in a stable, central form, so treat the details below as a starting framework and confirm the current requirements with INSAI and your veterinarian before you book.
📋 At a glance
| Dogs allowed | Yes (pit-bull-type breeds banned from import) |
| Microchip | Required for pets from the EU; otherwise recommended |
| Rabies vaccination | Required (valid ≤ 1 year) |
| Rabies antibody test | Only for pets from the EU (or an EU passport instead) |
| Core vaccinations (séxtuple) & deworming | Required |
| Health certificate + origin export certificate | Required |
| INSAI movement permit (guía de movilización) | Required (fee paid on arrival) |
| Quarantine | Not published (Unknown) |
⏱️ 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.
- Venezuela publishes little of this in a stable, central form — confirm every detail directly with INSAI before you travel.
Always consult your veterinarian before booking your trip.
Find a flight to Venezuela
🧭 How your dog's entry requirements are decided
The exact documents depend on three things — Venezuela (your destination) is only the first.
- 1 Country of destination — Venezuela★★★★★
Venezuela applies its own INSAI scheme: a valid rabies vaccination, an international health certificate, an up-to-date vaccination card (canine séxtuple), internal and external deworming, an origin export certificate, and a movement permit (guía de movilización) issued against a fee on arrival. Pit-bull-type dogs are banned from import.
- 2 Country of departure★★★★★
INSAI requires an official zoosanitary export certificate issued by the competent veterinary authority of the country of origin. The origin also changes the rules: pets coming from the European Union must additionally carry a microchip and a rabies antibody test, or an EU pet passport instead.
- 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, and whether the EU-origin extra steps apply. It is the dog's real history that counts — not only the last airport.
So read the requirements below as Venezuela's framework, then confirm your dog's exact origin, breed and history with INSAI and your vet.
✅ Entry requirements
| Requirement | Required? | When | Exceptions | Official reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISO microchip | Required for EU-origin pets; recommended otherwise | INSAI requires a 12–15 digit identification microchip for pets entering from the European Union (together with a rabies antibody test, or an EU pet passport instead). For other origins a microchip is not stated as mandatory but is strongly advised for identification and the return trip. | A US export health certificate identifies the dog by its recorded details rather than a mandatory microchip. Confirm the current identification rule with INSAI. | INSAI — Requisitos para el ingreso de mascotas (caninos y felinos) a Venezuela |
| Rabies vaccination | Required | A current rabies vaccination certificate is required, no more than one year old (original and copy). The US export health certificate to Venezuela likewise certifies rabies vaccination, except for a dog less than 4 months old. | A dog under 4 months old is not required to be vaccinated against rabies on the US export certificate; a dog under 3 months cannot travel to the EU/UK because it is not yet rabies-vaccinated. | INSAI — Requisitos de ingreso; USDA APHIS — Health Certificate for export of dogs and cats to Venezuela |
| Rabies antibody test | Only for pets from the EU | Pets entering Venezuela from the European Union must present a rabies neutralizing antibody test together with a microchip — or, instead, the original and copy of the EU pet passport. The test is not stated as a requirement for pets from other origins. | INSAI notes the antibody test can be run in the USA, Spain and France, or the sample sent to the INIA laboratory in Maracay (Aragua), and that a result may take about 15–21 days. | INSAI — Requisitos para el ingreso de mascotas (caninos y felinos) a Venezuela |
| Core vaccinations (séxtuple) | Required | A current vaccination card (original and copy, valid one year) must show the canine 'séxtuple' with the batch, expiry date and product name. The US export certificate lists distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus and parainfluenza for dogs. | — | INSAI — Requisitos de ingreso; USDA APHIS — Health Certificate (dogs & cats, Venezuela) |
| Internal & external deworming | Required | A current deworming certificate (original and copy, valid three months) must state the full identification of the product used and the date it was administered, against both internal and external parasites. | No specific tapeworm (Echinococcus) treatment window is published — a general internal and external parasite treatment is required. | INSAI — Requisitos para el ingreso de mascotas (caninos y felinos) a Venezuela |
| International veterinary health certificate | Required | A current international health certificate (original and copy, valid one month) must certify that the animal was examined and showed no signs or symptoms of any infectious-contagious disease. From the USA, the USDA-endorsed export health certificate is examined within 10 days of departure and is valid 14 days after issuance. | The certificate must be issued by a veterinarian recognised by the competent authority; from the USA it is endorsed by USDA APHIS. | INSAI — Requisitos de ingreso; USDA APHIS — Health Certificate for export to Venezuela |
| Origin zoosanitary export certificate | Required | INSAI requires the official zoosanitary export certificate for pets (dogs and/or cats) issued by the competent authorities of the country of origin, in addition to the international health certificate. | — | INSAI — Requisitos para el ingreso de mascotas (caninos y felinos) a Venezuela |
| INSAI movement permit (guía de movilización) | Required on arrival | A sanitary movement permit for animals is issued by INSAI against a fee/bank deposit of 5 tax units (UT), under Article 81(32) of the Ley de Salud Agrícola Integral. For arrivals at Maiquetía (Simón Bolívar International Airport) it is handled at the INSAI airport office, floor 3, customs area (passenger section). | No consular procedure is required for a personal dog or cat. Fee amounts in UT and office locations can change — confirm with INSAI. | INSAI — Requisitos de ingreso; Ley de Salud Agrícola Integral, Art. 81(32) |
| Import permit (other species) | Only for species other than dogs/cats | To bring in a pet that is not a dog or cat, you must first obtain an Import Permit issued by INSAI plus a permit from the Ministry of the Environment. | A prior import permit is not stated as required for a personal dog or cat accompanying its owner. | INSAI — Requisitos para el ingreso de mascotas (caninos y felinos) a Venezuela |
| Border / airport check | Required on arrival | INSAI processes pets at the point of entry and issues the movement permit there; the fee is paid at the INSAI airport office on arrival. Exact inspection steps for imports are not published in detail. | The consequences of arriving with missing or invalid documents are not published — confirm with INSAI before travel. | INSAI — Requisitos para el ingreso de mascotas (caninos y felinos) a Venezuela |
| Minimum age | Not published (Unknown) | INSAI does not publish a single minimum entry age for Venezuela. In practice age is tied to rabies vaccination: the US export certificate exempts a dog under 4 months from rabies vaccination, and a dog under 3 months cannot travel to the EU/UK. | Airline age rules and your home country's return rules may be stricter. | USDA APHIS — Health Certificate (dogs & cats, Venezuela); INSAI notes |
| Restricted / banned breeds | Import prohibited for pit-bull-type dogs | Venezuelan law — the Ley para la Protección de la Fauna Doméstica Libre y en Cautiverio (Gaceta Oficial N° 39.338, 2010) — prohibits the import, breeding, adoption and sale of pit-bull-type dogs (Pit Bull, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier and their crosses). | The exact article wording could not be confirmed from an online official gazette copy — verify the current law before booking. A banned breed will be refused entry regardless of its documents. | Ley para la Protección de la Fauna Doméstica Libre y en Cautiverio (Gaceta Oficial N° 39.338, 2010) |
| Quarantine | Not published (Unknown) | INSAI does not publish a routine quarantine requirement for a compliant, healthy dog entering Venezuela. | Whether a quarantine or sanitary measure applies to a non-compliant arrival is not published — confirm with INSAI. | INSAI — Requisitos para el ingreso de mascotas (caninos y felinos) a Venezuela |
🌍 Rules according to your dog's origin
Standard scheme — a dog entering from a non-EU country
For a dog or cat entering with its owner from a non-EU origin (for example the Americas), the path is document-based. Your dog needs a valid rabies vaccination certificate (≤ 1 year), a current international health certificate (valid one month), an up-to-date vaccination card showing the canine séxtuple, proof of internal and external deworming (valid three months), and the official zoosanitary export certificate from the origin country. On arrival INSAI issues the movement permit (guía de movilización) against a fee. No prior import permit is stated for a personal dog or cat.
Pets coming from the European Union
A dog or cat arriving from the European Union must additionally carry a 12–15 digit identification microchip and a rabies antibody test — or, instead, present the original and a copy of the EU pet passport. INSAI notes the antibody test can be run in the USA, Spain or France, or sent to the INIA laboratory in Maracay (Aragua), and a result can take about 15–21 days. All the standard documents (rabies certificate, health certificate, vaccination card, deworming, origin export certificate, movement permit) still apply.
Other species & banned breeds
A pet that is not a dog or cat cannot travel on this scheme: you must first obtain an INSAI Import Permit plus a permit from the Ministry of the Environment. And certain dogs cannot be imported at all — Venezuelan law (Gaceta Oficial N° 39.338, 2010) prohibits importing pit-bull-type dogs and their crosses. Verify your dog's breed against the current law before booking; a banned breed will be refused regardless of its paperwork.
🛬 Arrival
What happens when your dog reaches Venezuela centres on INSAI at your point of entry, most often Maiquetía (Simón Bolívar International Airport).
- Present your dog and all documents (rabies certificate, international health certificate, vaccination card, deworming certificate and origin export certificate) to INSAI at the point of entry.
- At Maiquetía the movement permit (guía de movilización) is handled at the INSAI airport office on floor 3 in the customs area (passenger section), against a fee of 5 tax units (UT).
- Carry the original documents and a copy of each; INSAI's published requirements ask for both the original and a copy.
- The international health certificate is valid one month and (from the USA) the endorsed export certificate is valid 14 days after issuance — time your departure accordingly.
- For pets from the European Union, be ready to show the microchip and rabies antibody test, or the EU pet passport instead.
- No consular procedure is required. A pit-bull-type dog will be refused entry regardless of its documents, so verify the breed rules before you travel.
🧳 Real traveller experience
No reliable documented traveller feedback available.
🚫 Restricted dogs
Venezuela does restrict certain breeds by law. The Ley para la Protección de la Fauna Doméstica Libre y en Cautiverio (Official Gazette N° 39.338, 2010) prohibits pit-bull-type dogs, and this is reported to include an import ban — an entry restriction, not only an ownership rule.
Import prohibited: Venezuelan law prohibits the import, breeding, adoption and sale of pit-bull-type dogs — Pit Bull, American Staffordshire Terrier and Staffordshire Bull Terrier — and their crosses. A dog of these breeds cannot be brought into the country.
Verification needed: the precise breed list and article text should be checked against the official gazette, as the details available online come largely from secondary reporting of the law. No wider category of 'potentially dangerous' breeds with a separate import rule is confirmed from an official source.
Because this is an import restriction, verify your dog's breed and the current law before you book. A prohibited breed will be refused entry even with a perfect set of health documents.
🧾 Preparation checklist
- ☐Valid rabies vaccination certificate (≤ 1 year), original and copy
- ☐International veterinary health certificate (valid one month), original and copy; from the USA, USDA-endorsed
- ☐Up-to-date vaccination card showing the canine séxtuple (batch, expiry, product name), original and copy
- ☐Internal and external deworming certificate (valid three months), original and copy
- ☐Official zoosanitary export certificate from the country of origin
- ☐If coming from the EU: microchip + rabies antibody test, or the EU pet passport (original and copy)
- ☐Budget for the INSAI movement permit fee (5 UT) paid at the airport on arrival
- ☐Check your dog is not a banned pit-bull-type breed under Venezuelan law
- ☐Airline reservation confirming your dog's travel option and a suitable IATA crate if in the hold
📚 Official sources
- INSAI (via Embassy of Venezuela in France) — Requirements to bring a pet (dogs/cats) into Venezuela
- INSAI — Import and export of pets (requisitos)
- INSAI RUNSAI — User manual, pet export permits (documentary requirements)
- USDA APHIS — Pet Travel From the United States to Venezuela
- USDA APHIS — Veterinary Health Certificate for export of dogs and cats to Venezuela (PDF)