Pet Import Permit
Visitor Services
To enter Kenya from the Philippines, domestic dogs and cats must be accompanied by an official International Veterinary Health Certificate and a valid Animal Import Permit from the Directorate of Veterinary Services in Nairobi.
In accordance with the Kenya Animal Diseases Act, all domestic dogs and cats entering the Republic of Kenya from the Philippines must be accompanied by a valid Animal Import Permit issued by the Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) in Nairobi, alongside an official International Veterinary Health Certificate.
Mandatory Sanitary Requirements
To secure the import permit and clear border customs without quarantine, pets must fulfill the following technical health conditions:
- Microchip Identification: The pet should be permanently identified with an ISO 11784/11785 compliant 15-digit microchip. The microchip number must be explicitly recorded on all veterinary records.
- Rabies Vaccination: Animals older than three (3) months must be vaccinated against rabies at least thirty (30) days—but not more than twelve (12) months—prior to the travel date.
- Core Vaccinations:
- Dogs: Distemper, Canine Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parvovirus, and Parainfluenza (DHLPP).
- Cats: Feline Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia (FVRCP).
- Parasite Treatment: The pet must be treated for internal and external parasites (ticks and Echinococcus tapeworms) within forty-eight (48) hours of the departure flight.
Application and Clearance Procedure
Secure the Kenyan Import Permit
- Apply for the Import Certificate at least four (4) weeks before travel. This can be processed online through the Kenya TradeNet Portal or via the Consular Section by submitting the owner's passport copy, pet's vaccination booklet, and the statutory fee. The permit is valid for ninety (90) days for a single consignment.
Obtain Philippine Export Documentation
- Within five (5) days of departure, have your pet examined by a licensed veterinarian in the Philippines. Present the clinical findings to the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) to secure an official Export Permit and an International Veterinary Health Certificate.
Flight Manifesto and Pre-Alert
- Most commercial airlines require pets entering Kenya to travel exclusively as Manifest Cargo via an Air Waybill (AWB). Send a copy of the flight details and all certificates to the veterinary entry officers at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) at least 48 hours prior to touchdown.
Notice: Upon arrival in Kenya, the animal will undergo a physical health evaluation by a stationed Port Veterinary Officer. If the accompanying paperwork is structurally incomplete or the animal exhibits clinical symptoms of a communicable disease, it may be subject to isolation, deportation, or euthanasia at the owner's expense.
