Travelling with your Pet

Traveling to the USA or Canada

What you need to know:

If you are traveling to the USA or Canada & ARE NOT RETURNING to the Cayman Islands:

Subject to making the relevant booking with your chosen airline……..

    • You will need a ‘Health Certificate’ to be issued in order to travel.
    • To get a Health Certificate you must bring your pet for a full physical examination.
    • The Health Certificate will be faxed to the Department of Agriculture for approval and an export permit will be issued to you.
    • You need to allow 3 working days in most cases for this process & must collect the official papers to travel yourself from the department of Agriculture in Lower Valley
    • Once issued, the Health Certificate is valid for 14 days of travel. This means that:

You must travel outbound within the 14 day period.

If you are traveling to the USA or Canada & WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO RETURN to the Cayman Islands:

Subject to making the relevant booking with your chosen airline……..

1.   Your pet first needs to be micro-chipped with an ISO microchip.

  1. Your pet then needs 2 vaccines against rabies given 30 days apart.  These are given ONLY at the department of agriculture – phone 947 3090 for an appointment.
  2. A minimum of 21 days later (it can be longer, but no earlier), your pet needs to take the rabies titer blood test.  It takes 14-21 days to get the results back.  You will need an appointment here for this blood test.
  3. If your pet passes the titer test, he or she will be eligible to travel to & from Cayman and Canada and the US immediately.
    • You will need a ‘Health Certificate’ to be issued in order to travel.
    • To get a Health Certificate you must bring your pet for a full physical examination.
    • We will need to see your rabies vaccine certificates & your rabies titer test results.
    • The Health Certificate will be faxed to the Department of Agriculture for approval and an export permit will be issued to you.
    • You need to allow 3 working days in most cases for this process & must collect the official papers to travel yourself from the department of Agriculture in Lower Valley

**In the event that you need to travel outbound before receiving the results of your pets rabies titer test, you may do so provided that:

  1. 1.     you understand that your pet cannot return to the Cayman Islands until you receive the successful rabies titer test results.
  1. 2.     you assume the risk that if in the event your pet FAILS the rabies titer test, he or she will have to remain in the USA/Canada whilst he or she is revaccinated for rabies and repeats the rabies titer test.  It will then be six months from the date the blood was tested before your pet can re-enter the Cayman Islands.
    • Once issued, the Health Certificate is valid for 14 days of travel. This means that:

For Export only (not returning) or trips lasting longer than 14 days.

  1. A.   You must travel outbound within the 14 day period.

For Export/Import (returning within a 14 day period)

  1. B.   You can travel outbound & back in within the 14 day period on the same Health Certificate provided:

ü  We apply ‘Frontline Plus’ to your pet at the office visit – you may supply your own if you wish.

ü  We give your pet an oral de-wormer at the office visit – this will be dispensed by the veterinarian.

For trips lasting longer than 14 days

  1. C.   You can stay off island for longer than 14 days but you will be required to see a USDA vet in the states or Canada with your pet in order to get a Health Certificate issued to come back in.  You will need to submit the new Health Certificate to the Cayman Islands Department of Agriculture for approval and to receive an import permit.  Please see the C.I.D.A for more details on how to do this.
  2. D.   **Up to date C.I.D.A pet passport holders will not need to submit this second certificate to the department of agriculture but instead must carry it with them along with their pet passport for inspection at the airport.  When accompanied by the new Health Certificate, the passport IS your import permit.

Please note, this information is provided as a guideline only. 

We do not take any responsibility for your pets travel plans & require you to research your trip carefully and make all of the necessary arrangements yourself.

Traveling to the UK ?

First take a look at the UK pet importation website: www.defra.gov.uk & select ‘PETS’ travel scheme to review the information.

What you need to know:

  1. Your pet first needs to be micro-chipped with an ISO chip.
  2. Your pet then needs 2 vaccines against rabies given 30 days apart.  These are given ONLY at the department of agriculture – phone 947 3090.
  3. A minimum of 21 days later, your pet needs to take the rabies titer blood test.  It takes 14-21 days to get the results back.  You will need an appointment here for this blood test.
  4. If your pet passes the titer test, he or she will be eligible to enter the UK under the PETS travel scheme

**bookings for pets wishing to travel into the UK on the British Airways direct flight are handled by the Cayman Airways Cargo department located near the airport fire station.  You should go in person between 8.30am – 12noon Mon-Fri and ask to speak to Leonardo. Pets can only travel on weekdays & arrangements for travel need to be made well in advance of making the booking for the intended travel date – do not leave it to the last minute!** As of August 1st 2010 a one-way journey to London, Heathrow for a medium sized dog cost approximately $1400.00

Travel to the UK requires a health certificate to be issued no more than 48 hours and no less than 24 hours prior to departure for England.  You will also need to make an appointment at the department of agriculture the same day to have the documents endorsed.

At the visit with us you will need:

  • o Proof of the date your pet was micro-chipped.
  • o Original rabies vaccine certificates.
  • o Original rabies titer test results.
  • o The address in the UK you are moving to, including the postcode & contact telephone number in the UK.
    • We are required to apply ‘Frontline Plus’ to your pet at the office visit – you may supply your own if you wish.
    • We are also required to give your pet an oral de-wormer at the office visit – this will be dispensed by the veterinarian.

You will then carry the paperwork we issue you to your appointment at the department of agriculture to be endorsed by the government Veterinarian – you do not take your pet with you.

 

Please note, this information is provided as a guideline only. 

We do not take any responsibility for your pets travel plans & require you to research your trip carefully and make all of the necessary arrangements yourself.  If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

 

REGULATIONS FOR TAKING A PET DOG OR CAT TO THE CAYMAN ISLANDS

The Cayman Islands do not quarantine healthy pets who meet the following requirements:

To enter the Cayman Islands with a pet, you must obtain an Import Permit prior to entering the country.

Pets entering Cayman Islands must be microchipped with the ISO 11784/11785 15 digit pet microchip. Then your pet must be vaccinated for rabies and various other diseases and have a Blood Titer Test. If your pet’ microchip is not ISO 11784/11785 compliant, you can bring your own microchip scanner.

Shortly before travel, a USDA (or CFIA) accredited veterinarian must then complete the Cayman Islands Veterinary Certificate for endorsement by the USDA or CFIA if traveling from the United States or Canada. If you are traveling from another country, the Governmental Authority of your country should endorse your forms. A copy of the Rabies Certificate should also be included.

Just prior to entry, your pet will need a Ticks & Tapeworm Test.

Click Here for Pet Passport Forms for Cayman Islands

Failure to comply with these regulations will mean that your pet may be refused entry and the relevant authority in consultation with an authorized veterinarian can decide to return the pet home, or place the pet in quarantine at the expense of the owner or natural person responsible for pet, or as a last resort, without financial compensation, put the pet down where the return trip home or quarantine cannot be arranged.

All other pets (birds, invertebrates, tropical fish, reptiles, amphibia, mammals such as rodents and rabbits) are not subject to the regulations in respect of the anti-rabies vaccination but may have to meet other requirements as to a limit on the number of animals and a certificate to accompany them in respect of other diseases. Pet owners are strongly advised to seek further information from the relevant authority of their country and/or that of the country of destination.

VETERINARY CERTIFICATE
All countries have a unique veterinary certificates. This form differs from the International Veterinary Certificate issued by veterinarians in the United States. (APHIS 7001)

Find Veterinary Certificates for countries worldwide.

Cayman Islands requires an ISO pet microchip.