Relocating to Antigua/Barbuda and want to bring your pet with you? Until fairly recently that was a very difficult thing to do and involved having the pet quarantined in the UK for six months before they would be allowed to enter Antigua. However, it can be much easier now.

We have set out below the contact information and requirements for obtaining a Veterinary Import License. This information was provided to us by the Veterinary & Livestock Division in the Ministry of Agriculture. We suggest you contact them if you need any additional information.

Contact Info:

Veterinary & Livestock Division
Ministry of Agriculture
Olivers, St. John’s, Antigua

Tel /Fax: (268) 460-1759

Email: antiguavet@hotmail.com

To bring your cat and/or dog into Antigua, you must apply for a Veterinary Import License from the Veterinary & Livestock Division.

The Country of origin will determine the procedure that is taken.

If the country of origin of the pet is an OIE certified Rabies-free country such as Barbados, Jamaica, to name a few, the requirements are:

A Veterinary Import License must be obtained from the Veterinary & Livestock Division. This Import License will request that the pet be:

Accompanied by an official (Government issued or certified) health certificate, issued within seven (7) days of departure, stating that the animal is in good health and free from communicable diseases.

• Imported directly from the country of origin.
• Inspected on arrival at the port of entry
• The license must be valid

If the country of origin is a Rabies infected country such as the USA, Canada, Grenada and Trinidad & Tobago to name a few, the requirements are:  

• The pet must be microchipped with an AVID microchip.
• The pet must have an up-to-date rabies vaccination.
• A Rabies Antibody Titre Test must be done at an approved laboratory e.g. the Kansas State University Laboratory (please check website www.defra.gov.uk or call 268-460-1759 for a complete list of approved laboratories world wide). The results of the test must be sent directly to the Chief Veterinary Officer, Ministry of Agriculture.
• If the results of this test are acceptable and after the review of the pet health records, an Import License will be issued.

Please Note: You must inform the Veterinary & Livestock Division of the date and time of arrival of your pet 48 hours ahead of time. A Veterinary Inspection Fee of EC$130.00 or US$50.00 is chargeable upon inspection on arrival. Animals are classified as property for the purposes of Customs and are subject to the imposition of import duty.