Taking Your Dog to the Dominican Republic
Use this 2026 guide to plan your dog’s paperwork, health certificate, airline arrangements, and return trip to the United States.
Requirements for Bringing Your Dog to Dominican Republic
ISO Microchip
The Dominican Republic requirements published by USDA APHIS do not specifically state that pet dogs must have an ISO 11784/11785 15-digit microchip for entry. However, a microchip is strongly recommended because it is required for many return-to-US scenarios and must be implanted before rabies vaccination for dogs that may later re-enter the U.S. from a high-risk country.
Recommended before rabies vaccination and well before travelRabies Vaccination
A current rabies vaccination is recommended and is commonly required by airlines and veterinarians issuing international health paperwork. Because the Dominican Republic is a CDC-listed high-risk country for dog rabies, keeping rabies vaccination current is especially important if you plan to return to the United States.
Keep current before departure; for U.S. re-entry planning, first rabies vaccine must be given at least 28 days before travelRabies Titer Test
USDA APHIS does not list a rabies titer requirement for taking a pet dog from the United States to the Dominican Republic. A rabies serology test may still be needed later for return to the United States if your dog is foreign-vaccinated and has been in the Dominican Republic within the previous 6 months.
Not required for entry to the Dominican Republic; if needed for U.S. return, blood draw must be at least 30 days after initial rabies vaccination and at least 28 days before U.S. entryHealth Certificate
Because APHIS says it has not been officially informed of dog-specific pet travel requirements for the Dominican Republic, APHIS recommends traveling with a veterinary health certificate such as APHIS Form 7001 issued by a USDA-accredited veterinarian. You may also need airline-specific paperwork to board.
Obtain shortly before travel; allow several business days for USDA endorsement if your airline or itinerary requires endorsed paperworkImport Permit
USDA APHIS does not list an import permit requirement for pet dogs traveling from the United States to the Dominican Republic. The older Dominican Republic import health requirements document references an import permit and advance notice, but APHIS does not currently publish a dog-specific permit requirement on its pet travel page. Confirm directly with Dominican authorities or your airline before booking.
Verify before booking and again several weeks before departureParasite Treatment
USDA APHIS does not list a mandatory parasite treatment requirement for pet dogs entering the Dominican Republic on its current country page.
No official timeframe published by APHIS for pet dogsQuarantine Period
The Dominican Republic import health requirements document available through APHIS states animals are immediately quarantined on arrival for 8 days, with possible extension if deemed necessary by animal health officials. Because APHIS also notes it has not been officially informed of dog-specific pet requirements, travelers should verify current enforcement directly with Dominican authorities before travel.
8 days on arrival if applied; may be extended by officialsBanned Breeds
No official government source located in this research set published a national banned-breed list for pet dog importation to the Dominican Republic. Airline breed restrictions may still apply, especially for brachycephalic or heat-sensitive dogs.
Check airline rules before purchasing ticketsTransit Restrictions
The Dominican Republic import health requirements document available through APHIS states that animals must not transit any country en route to the Dominican Republic.
Plan routing before ticketingAdvance Notice of Arrival
The Dominican Republic import health requirements document available through APHIS states notice of arrival must be given 48 to 72 hours in advance so officials can receive the animals at Santo Domingo ports or airports and send them to quarantine.
48 to 72 hours before arrivalEstimated Costs
| Item | Cost(USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Veterinary exam | $75-250 | Typical private-practice exam range in the U.S.; exact clinic pricing varies by region and whether paperwork is completed during the visit. |
| Rabies vaccination | $25-75 | Only if your dog is not currently vaccinated or needs a booster before travel. |
| Rabies titer test | $0 | Not typically required for entry to the Dominican Republic from the U.S.; may become necessary for some return-to-US scenarios if the dog is foreign-vaccinated. |
| USDA health certificate endorsement | $101-160 | APHIS lists $101 per certificate when no tests are required, and $160 for one animal when 1-2 tests are required; rabies vaccination is not counted as a test. |
| Airline pet fee | $125-200+ | Examples from official airline sources: JetBlue in-cabin pet fee is $125 each way; American Airlines carry-on pet fee is $150 per kennel each way; Delta lists $200 each way for international in-cabin travel, but Delta also states pets are not permitted in cabin to or from the Dominican Republic and pets originating in the Dominican Republic are not accepted. |
| Import permit fee | $0 | No current official dog-specific permit fee found in the sources reviewed. |
| Microchip | $40-80 | Recommended even though a current Dominican Republic dog-entry microchip requirement was not confirmed by APHIS. |
| Total | $366-765+ |
Returning to the US with Your Dog
The Dominican Republic is on CDC’s list of high-risk countries for dog rabies. That means your return requirements depend on where your dog was vaccinated and whether it has been in the Dominican Republic during the 6 months before re-entry to the United States. All dogs entering or returning to the U.S. must appear healthy, be at least 6 months old, be microchipped, and have a CDC Dog Import Form receipt. If your dog was vaccinated in the United States and has been in the Dominican Republic within the last 6 months, CDC requires the CDC Dog Import Form receipt plus a valid Certification of U.S.-issued Rabies Vaccination form endorsed by USDA APHIS before the dog leaves the United States. For an initial rabies vaccine, CDC says the vaccine must be given on or after 12 weeks of age and at least 28 days before travel; boosters are valid immediately if there has been no lapse in coverage. If your dog is foreign-vaccinated and has been in the Dominican Republic within the last 6 months, additional CDC requirements apply, including a valid foreign rabies documentation pathway and, in many cases, a rabies serology titer from a CDC-approved laboratory. CDC notes the blood sample for serology must be drawn at least 30 days after the initial rabies vaccination and at least 28 days before U.S. entry, and travelers are advised to start at least 60 days before travel because lab turnaround times vary. If the foreign-vaccinated dog does not meet the required high-risk-country conditions, it may need to arrive through an airport with a CDC-registered animal care facility and may be subject to revaccination and quarantine procedures. Because CDC rules are strict and airline acceptance can be narrower than government rules, confirm your return plan before leaving the United States.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my dog need a microchip to enter the Dominican Republic?
USDA APHIS does not currently publish a dog-specific microchip requirement for entry to the Dominican Republic. Even so, a microchip is strongly recommended because CDC requires dogs entering the United States to be microchipped, and the chip must be in place before rabies vaccination for some U.S. re-entry pathways.
Is a rabies titer test required for the Dominican Republic?
Not according to the current USDA APHIS information reviewed for pet dogs traveling from the United States to the Dominican Republic. However, a rabies titer may be required later if your dog is foreign-vaccinated and you plan to return to the United States after being in the Dominican Republic.
Do I need a USDA-endorsed APHIS 7001 form?
Because APHIS says it has not been officially informed of dog-specific requirements for the Dominican Republic, it recommends traveling with a veterinary health certificate such as APHIS Form 7001. Whether USDA endorsement is necessary can depend on airline requirements and how your veterinarian prepares the paperwork, so confirm this before departure.
Is there quarantine when dogs arrive in the Dominican Republic?
An import health requirements document available through APHIS states animals are quarantined for 8 days on arrival and that the period may be extended if officials consider it necessary. Because APHIS does not currently publish a dog-specific summary page with confirmed requirements, verify current enforcement directly with Dominican authorities before travel.
Can my dog transit another country on the way to the Dominican Republic?
The Dominican Republic import health requirements document available through APHIS states animals must not transit any country en route to the Dominican Republic. If your itinerary includes a connection, confirm with the airline and Dominican authorities whether that routing is acceptable.
How early should I start planning?
Start at least 6 to 8 weeks before departure. That gives you time for a veterinary visit, any needed rabies booster, airline approval, and USDA endorsement if required. If you also need to prepare for return to the U.S. under high-risk-country rules, start even earlier.
What do I need to return to the United States from the Dominican Republic?
At minimum, all dogs need a CDC Dog Import Form receipt, must be at least 6 months old, appear healthy, and be microchipped. Because the Dominican Republic is a CDC high-risk country for dog rabies, many dogs will also need additional rabies documentation, and foreign-vaccinated dogs may need a rabies serology titer and arrival through a CDC-registered animal care facility.
Do airlines have extra pet rules for the Dominican Republic?
Yes. Airline rules can be stricter than government import rules. For example, Delta states pets are not permitted in the cabin to or from the Dominican Republic, and pets originating in the Dominican Republic are not accepted by Delta. Always check your airline before buying tickets.