Importing Pets to Brazil: The Complete Guide

Published on October 4, 2025 and written by Cyril Jarnias

Importing a pet to Brazil may seem complex, but understanding the essential steps makes the process more manageable. Whether you’re relocating or taking an extended vacation, it’s crucial to research required pet passports and ensure all necessary vaccinations are up to date to avoid complications upon arrival. A stress-free journey begins with precise knowledge of customs procedures and required documentation, ensuring a smooth arrival for your four-legged companions.

Details of Veterinary Formalities for Brazil

Quarantine Protocols

No systematic quarantine upon arrival if all health requirements are met.

If requirements are not met, the animal may be quarantined at your expense or returned to the country of origin.

Diseases Requiring Mandatory Vaccination

Rabies: mandatory vaccination, with rabies serology (antibody titration) greater than 0.5 IU/ml.

Other vaccines recommended depending on species and epidemiological context (e.g., distemper for dogs), but only the rabies vaccine is explicitly required by national regulations.

Disease	Mandatory Vaccination	Time Before Travel
Rabies	Yes	Minimum 21 days after initial vaccination
Distemper (dog)	Recommended	According to veterinary protocol

Required Veterinary Documents

• International Veterinary Certificate (CVI) compliant with the country of origin’s template and containing all mandatory fields.
• Certificate of Good Health, issued by a licensed veterinarian, recent (generally less than 10 days before departure).
• Health record/passport, indicating identification, rabies vaccination and possibly other vaccines.
• Official electronic identification certificate with ISO 11784/11785 microchip.
• Official rabies serum titration result.

Validity of Required Vaccines

The rabies vaccine must be administered at least 21 days before travel if it’s an initial vaccination. It must always be valid according to manufacturer recommendations (often valid for one or three years).

Document	Required Validity
Rabies vaccine	Min. 21 days after initial injection; valid booster
Rabies serology	≥0.5 IU/ml; min. 30 days post-vaccination; valid for life if boosters without interruption

Timelines for Obtaining Required Authorizations

1. Prior electronic identification
2. Rabies vaccination at regulatory age
3. Serum titration: performed at least 30 days after vaccination then observe additional timeframe according to final destination
4. Application for international certificate and final check by licensed veterinarian within last ten days before departure

Simplified chronological example:

1. Identification + Initial vaccination (>12 weeks)
2. Minimum wait: 21 days
3. Blood sample for rabies serum titration (>30 days post-vaccination)
4. Wait for titration results (>90 days for some international routes)
5. Complete file submission to competent service + final visit to licensed veterinarian

Mandatory Examinations Performed by Licensed Veterinarian

• General health status check
• Verification of identification/functional microchip
• Check of record/updated vaccinations including official rabies proof with valid serological titration
• Completion and signature of official certificates using required template

Recommended Minimum Age for Travel

For most international destinations:

• The animal must be over 7 months old, as it must have:
  • Minimum 12 completed weeks at first rabies vaccine
  • Minimum 4 additional months between blood sample/titration/result/mandatory timeframe before export
• Young animals under 7 months generally cannot meet vaccination and serum titration requirements

Obtaining a Pet Passport

A pet passport is an official document certifying your pet’s identity and health status. It’s essential for international travel, particularly to Brazil, as it proves the animal meets international health requirements and facilitates border crossing.

The passport is necessary to:

• Justify animal identification (via microchip)
• Certify validity of mandatory vaccines, particularly rabies vaccination
• Present health status compliant with destination country requirements

Steps to Obtain Pet Passport and Travel to Brazil:

• Animal Identification
  • The animal must be identified with an electronic microchip compliant with international standards (ISO 11784/11785).
  • Tattoos remain accepted only if done before July 3, 2011 and if legible.
• Rabies Vaccination
  • The animal must be vaccinated against rabies.
  • Vaccination can only be performed after identification and from 12 weeks of age.
  • A 21-day period after initial vaccination is required before departure.
• Rabies Serology (serum titration)
  • To guarantee return to the EU, a blood test is recommended to verify rabies vaccination effectiveness.
  • The result must be greater than 0.5 IU/ml and remains valid for life if vaccine boosters are up to date.
• Certificate of Good Health
  • Issued by a veterinarian, it certifies the animal shows no contagious diseases and is fit to travel.
• European Pet Passport
  • Document issued by an authorized veterinarian, containing all identification, vaccination and health information.

Step	Detail/Document to Provide
Identification	Electronic microchip (mandatory)
Rabies vaccination	Record/passport with current vaccine
Rabies serology	Serum titration result > 0.5 IU/ml (recommended)
Certificate of Good Health	Official template issued by veterinarian
Pet Passport	Issued by authorized veterinarian

Veterinarian’s Role:

• Performs electronic identification.
• Administers rabies vaccination and, if necessary, serum titration.
• Completes and issues European Pet Passport.
• Writes Certificate of Good Health according to template required by Brazilian authorities.
• Verifies compliance of all documents before departure.

Where and How to Obtain Pet Passport?

• Contact an authorized veterinarian who performs identification, vaccination and issues the passport.
• Allow sufficient time before departure to complete all steps (identification, vaccination, titration, document acquisition).
• For specific questions or to obtain certain certificates, contact the DDPP (Departmental Directorate for Population Protection) or airport veterinary service.

Practical Tips for Traveling with Your Pet to Brazil:

• Verify all passport information is correctly filled (identification, vaccines, dates).
• Anticipate timelines for vaccinations and serological tests.
• Print multiple copies of certificates and keep digital copies.
• Consult Brazilian consulate or embassy for possible regulation updates.
• Obtain pet health insurance covering international stays.
• Prepare pet first aid kit and personal items (food, medications, accessories).
• Arrange pet transport in crate meeting international standards.

Important: For any stay with your pet in Brazil, missing or absence of any required document may lead to boarding refusal, quarantine, or even animal rejection upon arrival.

Mandatory Vaccines for Entering Brazil

Mandatory Vaccines for Dogs and Cats Entering Brazil:

• Rabies vaccine: mandatory for all dogs and cats.
  • The vaccine must be administered at least 30 days before travel, but no more than one year before country entry.
  • Rabies vaccination certificate is required, clearly indicating administration date and vaccine validity.
  • For some cases, serological test (rabies antibody titration) may be required. This titration must be performed minimum one month after vaccination and obtained at least three months before arrival.
• Other recommended or sometimes required vaccines depending on origin:
  • Leptospirosis
  • Canine hepatitis
  • Brazilian authorities may request proof of vaccination against other concerning diseases depending on epidemiological context.

Required Certificates:

• Veterinary health certificate, issued by licensed veterinarian within ten days before departure.
• Passport or official document detailing:
  • Animal identification (microchip or tattoo)
  • List of recent vaccines with precise dates
  • Information on performed antiparasitic treatments

Document/Vaccine Validity Period Before Entry:

Document/Vaccine	Timeframe/Validity
Rabies vaccination	Minimum 30 days, maximum one year before entry
Rabies serological test	To be performed ≥1 month after vaccine & ≥3 months before entry
Health certificate	Issued ≤10 days before departure

Additional Verifications and Approvals Required by Brazilian Health Authorities:

• Airport control by “Vigilância Sanitária” service few days before flight.
• Presentation of duly completed Requerimento de Fiscalização para Animais de Companhia.

Required Serological Tests/Titrations:

For some animals coming from or returning to/from high-risk countries, rabies antibody titration is mandatory.

Serum titration validity depends on strict adherence to vaccination schedule; any delay requires new performance.

Mandatory/Scheduled Antiparasitic Treatments:

Deworming and antiparasitic applied via pipette at veterinarian during prior visit (often within five days before flight).

Essential Points to Follow When Traveling with Your Pet to Brazil:

1. Mandatory official identification.
2. Strict adherence to timelines for each administrative/vaccination step.
3. Rigorous preservation of original signed/stamped justifications.
4. Prior consultation with your veterinarian to anticipate any additional requirements based on your origin.

To enter Brazil with dog or cat:

• Rabies vaccination performed between D–365/D–30
• Health certificate issued ≤10 days
• Rabies antibody titration if necessary ≥90 days
• Proof of official identification (microchip/tattoo)
• Recent deworming/antiparasitic treatment