Pets are family. There’s no doubt about that! Moving to another country will not be as exciting if our lovely pet won’t be joining our new adventure. Thankfully, traveling with pets to Colombia is not as complicated. You don’t need an import permit for your personal pet dogs and cats! If you own other pets though, Colombia requires that they have an import permit from ICA* with them before your travel date. Here’s what you need to know before traveling with pets to Colombia:

Prepare the following when traveling with pet dogs and cats to Colombia:

  • Original health certificate endorsed by USDA* APHIS* Veterinary Services within 10 days of travel
  • Photocopy of the original health certificate
  • Original vaccination/rabies certificate (should include the name of the vaccine, batch number, date of administration and expiration date)
  • Photocopy of vaccination/rabies certificate
  • Note that they should be vaccinated at least 30 days before entering Colombia
  • Debit/credit card for paying the ICA fee as they do not accept cash (47,311 COP for normal hours and 70,966 COP outside of normal business hours as of September 2019); check the hours of availability at your port of entry through contacting their representative
  • If you wish to pay through banks, click here
  • Register to ICA before your travel date; email  alex.lizarazo@ica.gov.co or hector.mora@ica.gov.coif you’re having a problem with the registration

*Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario 

*United States Department of Agriculture

*Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

traveling with pets to colombia

Vaccinations required for cats:

  • Rabies
  • Panleukopenia

Vaccinations required for dogs:

  • Distemper
  • Hepatitis
  • Leptospirosis
  • Parvovirus

Vaccinations needed if entering from outside the Andean Community*:

  • Parainfluenza
  • Coronavirus

*Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia

 

Dogs that are not allowed

Due to their level of danger, Colombia prohibits the import of the following breeds and the crossbreeds:

  • Staffordshire terrier
  • American Staffordshire terrier
  • Bull Terrier
  • Pit Bull Terrier
  • American Pit Bull Terrier

 

Recommended airlines when traveling with pets to Colombia

Although bringing a pet or dog to Colombia can be a relatively easy process, doublecheck the required documents with your airline. Expats have had good experience with the following airlines. Click the link to see their guidelines for traveling with pets.

Upon arrival

  • Declare your pet at the ICA
  • Documentary inspection: present the  health certificate and vaccination records for inspection
  • Physical inspection
  • Issuance of Certificate of Sanitary Inspection (CIS) by ICA
  • Payment of ICA fee

 

Useful Sources:

 

How’s your experience with traveling with your pets to Colombia? Do you have any advice for future travelers with pets? Share in the comments!

 

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