Your dog or cat to the Dominican Republic: a health certificate, rabies and 72 hours
A dog or cat may enter the Dominican Republic with a health certificate from a veterinarian, signed by an official veterinarian in the country of departure. The rabies vaccination must be at least 30 days and at most 12 months old, and the examination takes place in the 72 hours before departure. In the Netherlands that means an appointment with the NVWA.
4 min read
Written and checked by Auke on , against the sources at the bottom. Is something no longer right? Report it below and I'll fix it.
A dog or cat may enter the Dominican Republic with a health certificate. A veterinarian fills it in, and an official veterinarian in the country of departure signs and stamps it. That is what the Dirección General de Ganadería (DIGEGA) writes, the Dominican service that regulates the import of animals.
Three things to know in advance:
- The rabies vaccination must have been given at least 30 days and at most 12 months before departure.
- The veterinarian examines your animal in the 72 hours before departure.
- In the Netherlands the official veterinarian is the NVWA. Make an appointment there well in advance.
| Requirement | What DIGEGA asks |
|---|---|
| Certificate | filled in by a veterinarian, co-signed and stamped by an official veterinarian in the country of departure |
| Identification | name, breed, sex, colour, date of birth, microchip or tattoo |
| Companion | name and address of whoever receives the animal in the Dominican Republic |
| Rabies | inactivated vaccine, at least 30 days and at most 12 months before departure |
| Puppies and kittens | rabies vaccination at 90 days of age at the earliest, then a 30-day wait |
| Deworming | against internal and external parasites, with manufacturer and active ingredient |
| Examination | within 72 hours before departure, free of contagious diseases |
What is on the certificate?
DIGEGA wants a complete picture of the animal. The certificate names the person who accompanies the animal in the Dominican Republic and their address. It also gives the animal's identification: name, breed, sex, colour, date of birth and microchip or tattoo.
The certificate lists the vaccinations and the treatment against internal and external parasites. For the deworming it states the manufacturer and the active ingredient. The vaccination record goes with it, with the vaccine labels: lot number, production date and expiry date.
What about rabies?
The vaccination against rabies is given with an inactivated vaccine. It is no older than 12 months and no younger than 30 days on the day of departure.
Young animals have their own rule. A puppy is vaccinated at 90 days of age at the earliest, and only travels 30 days later. An adult dog with an unbroken vaccination history and a booster does not need to wait 30 days again.
The NVWA points out the order. The microchip must be in place before the rabies vaccination. Otherwise the vaccination does not count.
Plan backwards from your departure date. The examination falls in the last 72 hours, the rabies vaccination between 30 days and 12 months before, and the NVWA wants an appointment at least 14 working days in advance.
Who signs in the Netherlands?
DIGEGA requires an official veterinarian at the port of departure to countersign and stamp the certificate. In the Netherlands that is the task of the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA).
The NVWA describes the route for countries outside the EU in steps:
- Have your animal microchipped and vaccinated and request an EU pet passport from your own veterinarian.
- Check the NVWA's Exportassistent for a "binding certificate" for your destination, with instructions.
- If there is none, e-mail the NVWA with your destination, your stopovers and your departure date. It tries to reply within two working days with the requirements and how to meet them.
- If the NVWA must legalise documents, you go to its office in Utrecht. You e-mail at least 14 working days in advance for an appointment. Your animal does not come along.
According to the NVWA, the preparation takes weeks to over half a year, depending on the country. So start as soon as your departure date is set.
What happens on arrival?
In a news item DIGEGA wrote that the certificate for importing pets has been updated. The animals must be accompanied by the certificate, with the vaccinations and the treatment against parasites. Customs' Manual del viajero refers to the requirements of the Ministry of Agriculture for animals. If you have questions about a specific breed or a stopover, ask DIGEGA in advance through the contact details on its website.
Travelling with an assistance dog, such as a guide dog? Customs admits aids for people with a disability without tax. For the dog itself the requirements of the Ministry of Agriculture apply.
What else do you arrange yourself?
One thing beyond the paperwork: the way back. The NVWA advises checking before departure whether you already need to arrange something for if you ever return to the Netherlands with your animal.
What else you take along is in household goods to the Dominican Republic. The order of your first weeks is in the first weeks.
What this rests on
The facts in this article come from these official pages. Rules change. When in doubt, go by the source, not this article.
- DIGEGA (Dirección General de Ganadería) — the requirements for importing dogs and cats — ganaderia.gob.do
- DIGEGA — the certificate for importing pets — ganaderia.gob.do
- NVWA — travelling with your dog or cat to a country outside the EU — nvwa.nl
- DGA — Manual del viajero, animals and the requirements of the Ministry of Agriculture — aduanas.gob.do
Read on
- Dominican RepublicThe move4 min
Car and driving licence in the Dominican Republic: five years old is the limit, and you convert your licence in Santo Domingo
A used car may only enter the Dominican Republic if it is at most five years old, and the vehicle year closes every year on 30 June. Pensionados and rentistas get a partial exemption from import duties for one car. Your Dutch driving licence is valid in the country; as a resident you convert it at the INTRANT in Santo Domingo, for RD$ 1,900.
Updated 15 October 2026
- Dominican RepublicThe move4 min
Your household goods to the Dominican Republic: free of import duty, once, and only if you stay
Anyone who settles permanently in the Dominican Republic may bring their used household goods and professional tools without import duty. You get that privilege once. Pensionados and rentistas have their own scheme, but it applies only to the main applicant, not to the partner. What you import this way may not be sold without paying the duties after all.
Updated 15 October 2026
- Dominican RepublicYour visa5 min
Residence routes to the Dominican Republic: first the visa in The Hague, then the card in Santo Domingo
Anyone who wants to live in the Dominican Republic applies for a residence visa at the Dominican consulate in the Netherlands, then arranges the residence card with the migration service on the spot. For retirees and people with a steady income from assets there is a separate law, with an income test of 1,500 or 2,000 dollars a month. The visa can be used for 60 days, and after arrival you have 30 days.
Updated 15 October 2026