Traveling with pets: What are the requirements, qualifications, and where should we submit them?

Planning on bringing your furry friend with you to your next travel destination? Aside from their essentials such as food, water, and fans to keep them cool this dry season, don’t forget to also secure the required documents so you can push through with bringing them along your journey.

According to Bureau of Animal Industry – Veterinary Quarantine Service NAIA Veterinarian IV Dr. Noverlee P. Calub, among the reasons why these requirements are needed is to make sure that the pets are free from rabies and other diseases.

“Basta imu-move siya from one place to another, dapat ma-comply n’yo po lahat ng ‘yon para hindi niya madala ‘yung sakit,” he said.

“Mapa-public, mapa-private [vehicles], kapag dumaan ka ng check point or any port of entry or exit na merong mga quarantine officer, iche-check at iche-check po ‘yung requirements nung animal,” the veterinarian said.

Requirements for local travel

For local travel, there are two needed documents for your pets.

First is the veterinary health certificate, which can be accomplished by either government or private veterinarians.

This is issued to certify that the animals are alive and do not have any communicable diseases.

Remember to apply for their permit within the validity period of the veterinary health certificate, which is only valid for three days after the issuance.

Alongside this are your pet’s vaccination records. The front page of the record must include the name of the pet, breed, species, age, birthdate, sex, and name of the owner.

It should also show the vaccination date, the pet’s weight, the vaccine sticker or rabies vaccine used, the manufacturer’s lot and serial number, and the signature of the veterinarian with their license number, date of expiration, Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and Professional Tax Receipt.

Requirements for international travel

Calub said that requirements for international travel vary depending on the country.

But like local destinations, the general requirements for international countries include a veterinary health certificate and vaccination records.

Vaccination against rabies must not be earlier than 30 days before the travel schedule, and pets must be at least four months of age upon vaccination.

Dogs should also be vaccinated against distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, and parvovirus for not less than 14 days or more than a year.

Meanwhile, cats should be vaccinated against feline panleukopenia for not less than 14 days or more than a year.

The original copies must be brought along with one photocopy of each document.

Are pet passports and microchips required?

Calub said that the requirement for microchips depends on the location you’re visiting, which is why he strongly recommends checking the destination’s specific requirements first.

The same goes with pet passports.

“Pet passport is not a mandatory requirement. Usually, ginagamit lang siya as reference dun sa mga ibang requirements na hinahanap,” he said.

“For example, palabas siya ng ibang bansa, optional sa owner ‘yon na magkaroon ng pet passport kasi parang ‘yun ‘yung pinaka-paper nung animal. Puwede niya ring i-present dun as proof of ownership or anything na information na needed. ‘Yun ‘yung magpu-prove doon sa identity ng pet. Pero wala pa po tayong mandatory na nire-require ‘yung pet passport sa Pilipinas, even ‘yung import and export, wala po,” the veterinarian said.

Submission of requirements

Once you have completed the needed requirements, you may proceed to the main office in Quezon City at the Bureau of Animal Industry compound along Visayas Avenue.

The certification can be obtained in just one day, as long as you have the complete requirements.

There are also other Veterinary Quarantine Stations located in different regions of the country, which you may check in the BAI website.

“Maganda po na kapag may plano sila na mag-travel ay mag-consult muna sa Bureau of Animal Industry or Veterinary Quarantine Service na naka-station all over the Philippines para i-inquire ‘yung requirements na needed. Mahirap po na nasa station na po kayo or nasa mga ports, sea ports or airports, ay doon pa lang kayo kukuha,” Calub said.

For more information, you may email the Bureau of Animal Industry – Veterinary Quarantine Service at nvqsd@bai.gov.ph.

—MGP, GMA Integrated News