Pet travel from the United States to the Philippines

Last Modified: March 26, 2024
Print

Welcome! This page will guide you through the rules and requirements for traveling internationally with your pet.

Jump to Info for Accredited Veterinarians Jump to Info for Accredited Veterinarians

Before You Start the Process

Find a USDA-Accredited Veterinarian

With help from a USDA-accredited veterinarian, you can learn more about your destination country's entry requirements for pets, including any needed vaccinations, tests, or treatments. We recommend creating a schedule to make sure you meet all requirements within the specified timeframe.

Gather This Information for Your USDA-Accredited Veterinarian

  • The type of pet traveling
  • The destination country
  • If applicable, countries where your pet will stop (for customs clearance or upon leaving the airport or seaport) on the way to the destination country
  • The date of departure from the United States
  • Whether the pet will be traveling alone, as cargo, or with a person in the cabin of the plane
  • Note: If you're traveling with a pet bird or exotic animal, you may need to work with additional agencies, such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (1.41 MB) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Read These Resources

Travel Requirements Based on Pet Type

For more information on how to obtain an import permit please contact:

Bureau of Animal Industry
National Veterinary Quarantine Service
Visayas Ave., Diliman, Quezon City 1128
Tel. No. 011 (632) 920 0816/926 4343
Fax No. 011 (632) 920 0815
E-mail: bai_dir@yahoo.com; baiquarantineph@gmail.com; baiquarantine@hotmail.com

Philippines Requirements Memo (2.74 MB) 

A summary of the requirements are as follows;

  • Pet dogs and cats must first obtain an import permit from the Philippine Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI). 
  • You may apply for an import permit (known by the acronym “SPSIC”) from the BAI 

A Users Guide for the registration process  (1.87 MB)

  • For personal pets, please select “one-time importer” when applying for your SPSIC via the above website. 
  • Up to three animals total (dogs or cats, or combination thereof) can be listed on one SPSIC. 
  • The SPSIC will specify the animal health import requirements for the pet dogs and/or cats that must be met prior to travel to the Philippines. 
  • If your animal’s SPSIC is issued for one animal, then the corresponding export health certificate may be issued for ONLY that one animal.  However, if your animals’ SPSIC is issued for two or three animals, the corresponding export health certificate may be issued for the same two or three animals that are listed on the SPSIC.  The number of animals listed on the SPSIC must match the number of animals listed on the health certificate.
  • All health certificates for pet dogs and cats to the Philippines must be issued by a USDA accredited veterinarian, and then endorsed by USDA-APHIS prior to travel.
  • Your private USDA accredited veterinarian will then issue an export health certificate in accordance with the criteria listed in the SPSIC.
  • The USDA accredited veterinarian can either upload the completed fillable PDF health certificate and submit the form electronically to APHIS for endorsement through the Veterinary Export Health Certification System (VEHCS), or can complete the entire process including issuance and endorsement via VEHCS.

International Health Certificate (192.28 KB)

Philippines Requirements Memo  (2.74 MB)

A summary of the requirements are as follows;

  • Commercial U.S. exporters of dogs and cats should first ensure that their Philippine importer is registered with the Philippine Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and approved by BAI to import commercial shipments of pet dogs and cats. If the Philippine importer is not registered with BAI, he/she can apply to be registered. 

A Users Guide for the registration process (1.87 MB)

  • The registered Philippine importer will obtain the required Philippine import permit (known by the acronym “SPSIC”) from BAI and provide a copy of the SPSIC to the U.S. exporter.  There are no BAI restrictions on the number of dogs and/or cats that can be listed on a commercial SPSIC.   
  • The SPSIC will specify the animal health import requirements for the commercial U.S. origin dogs and/or cats that must be met prior to travel to the Philippines. 
  • The corresponding export health certificate can only list the same number animals that are identified on the SPSIC.  The number of animals listed on the SPSIC should match the number of animals listed on the APHIS export health certificate.   
  • All health certificates for commercial U.S. origin dogs and cats to the Philippines must be issued by a USDA accredited veterinarian, and then endorsed by USDA-APHIS prior to travel. 
  • Your private USDA accredited veterinarian will then issue an export health certificate in accordance with the criteria listed in the SPSIC. 
  • The USDA accredited veterinarian can either upload the completed fillable PDF health certificate and submit the form electronically to APHIS for endorsement through the Veterinary Export Health Certification System (VEHCS), or can complete the entire process including issuance and endorsement via VEHCS.

International Health Certificate (192.28 KB)

For pet travel requirements not listed, APHIS has not been officially informed by the foreign country about the requirements for your pet’s travel. We recommend that you contact a government official of the country you are traveling to for more information.

Country of Destination Contact Information

World Organisation for Animal Health: Members

U.S. Department of State: Foreign Embassies and Consulates

Important Travel Considerations

If you are transiting (passing through) the European Union:

If your pet is traveling through (transiting) a country in the European Union (EU) on the way to a third, non-EU country, you will also need a transit health certificate for your pet for the EU. The transit health certificate will be the same as if your pet’s final destination was the EU country. Use the information and steps above under “Travel Requirements Based on Pet Type” to determine which health certificate should be used. View a list of EU countries.

Considerations for airline travel:

Airlines and shipping lines have their own policies and requirements for transporting pets. Check with your airline or shipping representative to determine what requirements they may have.

View additional information for pet owners, airlines, and others about APHIS endorsement of international health certificates.


Will you be returning to the United States with your pet?

View the Requirements

ALERT: Read the CDC Notice of Temporary Suspension of Dogs Entering the United States From Countries Classified as High Risk for Dog Rabies.

 

Information for Accredited Veterinarians

Green Banner Country

For Accredited Veterinarians: Electronic signature ACCEPTED

For APHIS VMO: Digital endorsement ACCEPTED

eauth logo

Save Time and Money With VEHCS!

USDA-accredited veterinarians can submit health certificates for electronic signature through VEHCS (Veterinary Export Health Certification System).