Barbados Pet Import Requirements

The animal must be implanted with a microchip before or at the time of vaccination against rabies. Only inactivated virus vaccines manufactured in compliance with the recommendations of the OIE Terrestrial Animal Manual should be used. The validity

of the vaccine is according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

The vaccination should have been carried out when the animal was at least three (3) months old. In the case of a booster vaccination, the booster must have been administered on or before the date of expiry of the previous vaccine. There is a wait of thirty-five (35) days from the date of administration of a primary

rabies vaccination or revaccination of an expired or missed rabies booster vaccination before your dog or cat is eligible to enter Barbados. If the vaccine manufacturer’s data sheet requires more than one vaccination to complete the primary course of vaccinations, the 35 day wait applies from the date of the final
vaccination of that course. The day of vaccination counts as day 0.

For countries where the following diseases are endemic, the pets must be tested for heartworm, leishmaniasis, nipah virus and/or hendra virus and found to be negative. 

Heartworm Disease Test: Dog over 6 months old must be tested for heartworm disease within the 30 days prior to leaving the U.S. (Cats do not require a heartworm test): 

ELISA antigen tests such as the IDEXX® SNAP® test kit may be used. If the ELISA test is positive or if the animal was previously treated for heartworm, then the modified Knott’s test may be carried out to demonstrate the absence of microfilaraemia.

 

Rabies Antibody Titer Test: Animals that have been in a Category 2 country in the 3 months prior to travel from the U.S. to Barbados as well as pets arriving by sea must be tested for rabies antibodies using a FAVN test done at an approved laboratory. The test must be done at least 30 days after rabies vaccination with results ≥ 0.5 IU/ml. In the case of a failed test result (less than 0.5 IU/ml), the animal must be revaccinated and retested before travel is allowed.

Barbados does not allow dogs or cats arrive on commercial, private, or cargo vessels (boats) to disembark the vessel for any reason. This includes assistance animals. All pets must be declared once at port, and available for inspection. They must be locked aborad the vessel while at port. Pets leaving the vessel (including a walk on the pier, quay, port land, or beaches) are subject to immediate seizure.

Please provide the following information:

• Name, address (in Barbados) and contact information of the owner/agent.
• Name and contact information of the Customs broker.
• Date and time of arrival.
• Airline and Flight number or vessel name. The Airlines must issue a “Pre-Alert” notifying the relevant parties in Barbados of the pets on board the aircraft.

The import health requirements will differ depending on the category of country. However, irrespective of the country of origin and its rabies status, all cats and dogs entering Barbados must be permanently identified with a microchip and must be vaccinated against rabies after microchip implantation.

Persons are asked to note that all pets must clear customs and veterinary checks upon arrival, and they will need to employ the services of a customs broker to facilitate customs clearance. According to the Animal (Diseases and Importation Control) Regulations CAP. 253, Section 5, the airline must issue a “Pre-Alert” notifying the relevant parties in Barbados of the pets on board the aircraft.

For further information on the conditions for the importation of a cat or dog into Barbados, persons may call the Veterinary Services Department at 535-0220 or 535-0221 or email vetservices@agriculture.gov.bb. 

Whichever country the pet comes in from, if travelling by commercial airline it must arrive in Barbados as manifested cargo.  All pets must clear customs and veterinary checks upon arrival. You will need to employ the services of a customs broker to facilitate customs clearance. Upon arrival, the pet will be taken by the aircraft handlers directly to the Animal Reception Centre where it will be examined by a Veterinary Officer and once approval has been given for the pet to enter the country, a Customs Officer will apply the relevant duties and the pets can be collected by their owner.

You must give at least three (3) working days’ notice of the expected date and time of arrival of the animal. Failure to do so will result in significant delays in getting your pet once it arrives. Contact Veterinary Services at (246) 427-5492; (246)427-5073; Fax: (246) 429-2143; email: vetservices@caribsurf.com. Please provide the following information:

a. Name, address (in Barbados) and contact information of the owner/agent.

b. Name and contact information of the Customs broker.

c. Date and time of arrival.

d. Airline and Flight number or vessel name

5. In addition to custom duties, Barbados legislation allows for the collection of various fees on the importation of dogs and cats. Animals landed in Barbados outside of Government working hours, 8.15 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. Monday to Friday, and on weekends and Bank Holidays are subject to overtime inspection fees

6. The legal instruments include the Agricultural, Diagnostic and Other Services (Fees) Order, 2008 and the Animals (Diseases and Importation Control) (Amendment) Regulations, 2014.

7. Under these regulations, fees levied by the Veterinary Services are:

a. Import permit application fee: $25.00

b. Landing certificate fee (per animal): $60.00

c. Overtime fees payable to the inspector: $150.00 – $300.00 depending on the day and time of arrival/inspection

8. Failure to satisfy all of the health conditions laid out in the health requirements will result in your pet being refused entry into Barbado

• Contact the originating country's department of animal health to determine if import health requirements are on file for the destination country.
• If not, contact the originating country's Agricultural Officer at the Embassy or Consulate in the destination country. They should be able to provide the import health requirements in the language of the originating country.
• Alternatively, go to the source in the destination country and contact the country's Department of Animal Health.

 

NOTICE: Assistance Dogs

We regret that at this time there are no special exemptions to the import health requirements for assistance dogs. These dogs must satisfy the same import conditions as pets.

The laws of Barbados do not provide for access of assistance dogs to public places (shops, restaurants, hotels, etc.).

Please contact Veterinary Services for specific conditions for various animal species and the conditions related to their importation prior to making an application.