Taking your Dog or Cat from the US to the Dominican Republic
What your dog or cat needs to fly from the United States to the Dominican Republic and home again, including the papers you must get before you leave: certificates, vaccines, deadlines and the official sources, checked daily. Free.
Monitored DailyOfficial pages last read October 15, 2026 · Watched dailyDIGEGA
Things to Arrange
12
Tightest Window
72 hours
Health Certificate Within 72 Hours, Endorsed by USDA
Coming Home
Harder than going
Watch Out For
The steps people miss most: short windows measured back from the flight, and papers you can only get before you leave the US.
The rabies shot must be an inactivated vaccine given no more than 12 months and no less than 30 days before you fly. A 3-year rabies shot given more than a year ago does not count for the Dominican Republic, so your dog may need a booster first. The certificate lists the vaccine, its lot number and dates.
The Official Sources Differ. DIGEGA's page says adult dogs with a history of rabies shots and boosters do not need to wait 30 days after a booster. DIGEGA's email to us gives the 30 days with no exception, so we show the 30 days.
Health Certificate Within 72 Hours, Endorsed by USDA
Within 72 hours before your flight A USDA-accredited Vet
A USDA-accredited vet examines your dog no more than 72 hours before you fly and fills in the health certificate for the Dominican Republic. USDA then endorses it. Three days is tight, so ask for USDA's digital endorsement, which comes back by email. The certificate names you, the address where you will stay in the Dominican Republic, and your dog in full (name, breed, sex, color, date of birth, microchip). No import permit is needed when your dog flies with you.
How to Do It
Book a USDA-accredited vet for 1 to 3 days before your flight. Ask whether they send certificates to USDA online (VEHCS), so USDA can endorse it digitally in time.
Have the address where you will stay in the Dominican Republic ready for the certificate.
At the visit, the vet examines your dog, gives the worming and flea and tick treatment if it is not done yet, and writes the vaccines and treatments on the certificate.
The vet sends it to USDA. Print the endorsed certificate when it comes back.
Keep the original, the vaccination record and a copy in your hand luggage.
The Official Sources Differ. Our earlier reading of USDA's certificate for the Dominican Republic allowed 10 days. DIGEGA's page and DIGEGA's written answer to us (October 12, 2026) both say 72 hours, so we show 72 hours. DIGEGA's email also says the certificate is endorsed by the official vet at the airport; its page says the official vet at the departure port, which in the US is USDA.
Before you leave the US. CDC suggests about 30 days ahead A USDA-accredited VetOnly Before you Leave the US
Because this trip includes the Dominican Republic, bringing your dog home needs CDC's "Certification of U.S.-issued Rabies Vaccination". A USDA-accredited vet fills it in and USDA endorses it. It is not the ordinary rabies certificate, and it cannot be arranged once you are abroad. After a first-ever rabies shot, wait at least 28 days. You can reuse the form on later trips while the rabies shot is valid. Carry 3 printed copies. Instead of this form, CDC also accepts a USDA-endorsed export health certificate issued on or before July 31, 2025, if it shows the microchip, the dog's age, and a rabies shot still valid that was given after the microchip.
The US only accepts a rabies vaccination given after the microchip went in. If the shot came first, it has to be given again. Dogs coming home also need a microchip a universal scanner can read.
DIGEGA asks for all of your dog's vaccines to be up to date and listed on the certificate. Bring the vaccination record with the vaccine stickers on it, showing each vaccine's lot number, made date and expiry date. Ask your vet for the stickers if your record does not have them.
Your dog must be treated for internal and external parasites before the certificate visit, and the certificate lists each treatment with the product's maker and active ingredient. Keep the packaging, or ask your vet to give the treatment at the visit.
DIGEGA told us a microchip is required, with the number on the certificate. You need one for the trip home to the US too.
The Official Sources Differ. DIGEGA's page asks for "microchip and/or tattoo". Its email to us says a microchip is required, so we show the stricter one.
As you get off the plane, a vet from the Dominican Republic's animal health service checks every document and examines your dog. There is a fee: RD$500 when DIGEGA last told us, October 2026. Have the certificate, the vaccination record and some Dominican pesos ready; DIGEGA did not tell us which forms of payment are taken. Bringing more than 5 pets means filling in customs documents too.
Dogs flying from the Dominican Republic to the US need a certificate saying a vet inspected them for screwworm no more than 5 days before the flight and found none. DIGEGA told us a private licensed vet (veterinario colegiado) fills it in and signs it, and that you do not need to visit DIGEGA's offices.
How to Do It
Book a licensed vet near where you are staying for 1 to 5 days before your flight home. Earlier than 5 days is too early.
Bring your dog, your flight date, the rabies certificate and your dog's microchip number.
The vet examines your dog for screwworm and signs the certificate. Check it says no screwworm was found, and that the date is no more than 5 days before your flight.
Keep the original with you and a photo on your phone. The airline and US officials can ask to see it.
If your flight moves to more than 5 days after the visit, book a new inspection.
The Official Sources Differ. USDA's leaflet says an official government vet signs this certificate. DIGEGA, the Dominican Republic's livestock authority, told us in writing (October 12, 2026) that a private licensed vet signs it. If you want to be doubly sure, ask your airline which they accept.
Free, online, and filled in by you. Every dog needs its own form. Because this trip includes the Dominican Republic, the receipt covers one arrival only, so each trip home needs a new form.
How to Do It
Open CDC's Dog Import Form (link below). Answer Yes to the high-risk question, because the Dominican Republic is on CDC's high-risk list.
About you: date of birth, passport or driver's licence number, email and phone, and the US address where your dog will stay.
About your dog: name, age, sex, breed (choose Mixed Breed/Other if it is not listed), colour and markings, microchip number, and a photo showing face and body (JPG or PNG, under 10 MB). A dog under 1 year needs a photo taken within 15 days of arrival.
Purpose: Personal Pet, or Service Animal only for a trained service dog travelling with the person it helps. An emotional support dog is a Personal Pet.
Answer Yes when asked about the Certification of U.S.-issued Rabies Vaccination (see Before you Leave the United States).
Your trip: the Dominican Republic as the country you fly from, every country your dog has been in during the last 6 months, the arrival date, the US airport, the airline and flight number, and how your dog flies (in the cabin is "hand-carried").
Type your name as the signature and press Submit. CDC emails you from 1cdpwebsurvey@cdc.gov to confirm your email address (check spam), then emails the receipt.
Show the receipt, on your phone or printed, to the airline before you board and to US Customs when you land.
DIGEGA told us that to fly back to the US with your dog you do not need to go to its offices. The screwworm certificate is listed with your flight home.
Rabies Certificate and Microchip Papers in your Bag
You
Your dog needs a microchip a universal scanner can read, and the CDC rabies form from before you left the US. Carry the ordinary rabies certificate as well.
How to Do It
Pack the rabies certificate (the original and a copy) and a note of the microchip number.
Save photos of both on your phone, or upload them to your dog's documents here.
At the screwworm visit, ask the vet to scan the microchip and check the number matches your papers.
At the customs counter, hand the officer the CDC Dog Import Form receipt, the CDC rabies form and the screwworm certificate, and have the rabies certificate with you in case they ask. There is no separate office to visit. Your dog must look healthy and be at least 6 months old. The arrival airport must match the one on the receipt.
The rabies shot must be an inactivated vaccine given no more than 12 months and no less than 30 days before you fly. A 3-year rabies shot given more than a year ago does not count for the Dominican Republic, so your cat may need a booster first. The certificate lists the vaccine, its lot number and dates.
The Official Sources Differ. DIGEGA's page says adult dogs with a history of rabies shots and boosters do not need to wait 30 days after a booster. DIGEGA's email to us gives the 30 days with no exception, so we show the 30 days.
Health Certificate Within 72 Hours, Endorsed by USDA
Within 72 hours before your flight A USDA-accredited Vet
A USDA-accredited vet examines your cat no more than 72 hours before you fly and fills in the health certificate for the Dominican Republic. USDA then endorses it. Three days is tight, so ask for USDA's digital endorsement, which comes back by email. The certificate names you, the address where you will stay in the Dominican Republic, and your cat in full (name, breed, sex, color, date of birth, microchip). No import permit is needed when your cat flies with you.
How to Do It
Book a USDA-accredited vet for 1 to 3 days before your flight. Ask whether they send certificates to USDA online (VEHCS), so USDA can endorse it digitally in time.
Have the address where you will stay in the Dominican Republic ready for the certificate.
At the visit, the vet examines your cat, gives the worming and flea and tick treatment if it is not done yet, and writes the vaccines and treatments on the certificate.
The vet sends it to USDA. Print the endorsed certificate when it comes back.
Keep the original, the vaccination record and a copy in your hand luggage.
The Official Sources Differ. Our earlier reading of USDA's certificate for the Dominican Republic allowed 10 days. DIGEGA's page and DIGEGA's written answer to us (October 12, 2026) both say 72 hours, so we show 72 hours. DIGEGA's email also says the certificate is endorsed by the official vet at the airport; its page says the official vet at the departure port, which in the US is USDA.
DIGEGA asks for all of your cat's vaccines to be up to date and listed on the certificate. Bring the vaccination record with the vaccine stickers on it, showing each vaccine's lot number, made date and expiry date. Ask your vet for the stickers if your record does not have them.
Your cat must be treated for internal and external parasites before the certificate visit, and the certificate lists each treatment with the product's maker and active ingredient. Keep the packaging, or ask your vet to give the treatment at the visit.
DIGEGA told us a microchip is required, with the number on the certificate. You need one for the trip home to the US too.
The Official Sources Differ. DIGEGA's page asks for "microchip and/or tattoo". Its email to us says a microchip is required, so we show the stricter one.
As you get off the plane, a vet from the Dominican Republic's animal health service checks every document and examines your cat. There is a fee: RD$500 when DIGEGA last told us, October 2026. Have the certificate, the vaccination record and some Dominican pesos ready; DIGEGA did not tell us which forms of payment are taken. Bringing more than 5 pets means filling in customs documents too.
DIGEGA told us that to fly back to the US with your cat you do not need to go to its offices. The screwworm certificate is listed with your flight home.
Airlines set their own rules, separate from the government's. These Latin American airlines count the pet and the carrier together in the cabin. Confirm with the airline before you book.
Aeroméxico9 kg (19.8 lb) with the carrierseen September 20, 2026
Copa10 kg (22 lb) with the carrierseen September 20, 2026
Avianca10 kg (22 lb) with the carrierseen September 20, 2026
Volaris10 kg (22 lb) with the carrierseen September 22, 2026
Annual Subscription
What Annual Subscribers Get for the Dominican Republic
This guide is free for everyone. For $79 a year, the Annual Subscription keeps watching your own trip:
Deadline RemindersA reminder before "Health Certificate Within 72 Hours, Endorsed by USDA", which has a 72-hour window, and before every other deadline, counted from your real flight dates.
Each Pet's Records CheckedYour pet's saved records checked against every rule here, starting with "Rabies Shot Within the Last 12 Months", so you see what is on file and what still needs doing.
Rule Change AlertsAn email if DIGEGA or any of the 7 official pages behind this guide changes a rule on your trip.
Vet Visit PacketA page for your vet with exactly what goes on the "Health Certificate Within 72 Hours, Endorsed by USDA" and the dates it must fall between.
Scan a DocumentPhotograph any vet record or certificate: we read it, you check it, and it fills your pet's profile, files the paper and ticks off the trip tasks it covers.
While we launch, every feature is free for everyone with an account, the Annual Subscription included. Nothing is charged, and we will tell you well before that changes.
Compass & Collar explains the rules; your vet issues the certificates and border officials make the decisions. Rules change, so check the official pages and call your airline before you travel.