BRINGING A DOG FROMUnited States to Brazil
Dog · Moving
Bringing a cat instead?No quarantine when the paperwork is in order. Needs animal health certificate, microchip, rabies vaccination, parasite treatment, clinical examination, condition of the animal, customs declaration, arrival inspection and pet food.
Always confirm with the destination's official authority and your airline before travelling.
Entry requirements
Same requirements as the general rule, on the bilateral USDA APHIS form "Veterinary Health Certificate for Export of Dogs and Cats from the United States of America to Brazil" (NL 0325), issued by a USDA-accredited vet and endorsed by USDA (digital endorsement via VEHCS accepted). Valid 60 days from the accredited vet's signature and must be valid on arrival. About 4 weeks from a standing start (21 days after a first rabies vaccination).
APHIS bilateral certificate for Brazil (form NL 0325, three pages), completed and signed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and endorsed by USDA APHIS — electronic signature and digital endorsement through VEHCS are accepted, and the endorsed certificate can be printed from VEHCS. Valid 60 days from the date the accredited vet signs it; it must still be valid when the pet arrives in Brazil. The form also states it is valid for transit into MERCOSUR countries. (The APHIS form predates MAPA's August 2025 model; APHIS still publishes it as current.)
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APHIS bilateral certificate for Brazil (form NL 0325, three pages), completed and signed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and endorsed by USDA APHIS — electronic signature and digital endorsement through VEHCS are accepted, and the endorsed certificate can be printed from VEHCS. Valid 60 days from the date the accredited vet signs it; it must still be valid when the pet arrives in Brazil. The form also states it is valid for transit into MERCOSUR countries. (The APHIS form predates MAPA's August 2025 model; APHIS still publishes it as current.)
Not compulsory for entry into Brazil (Brazil has not made identification mandatory for pets). If the pet has a microchip it must be ISO 11784/11785 and the CVI must state its number, implant date and body location. Strongly advisable — the return trip to the EU/UK and most other countries requires one.
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Not compulsory for entry into Brazil (Brazil has not made identification mandatory for pets). If the pet has a microchip it must be ISO 11784/11785 and the CVI must state its number, implant date and body location. Strongly advisable — the return trip to the EU/UK and most other countries requires one.
Vaccinated against rabies, the certificate showing vaccination date, expiry date, vaccine name, manufacturer and batch. First (primary) vaccination: at least 21 days before departure. Animals under 90 days may travel unvaccinated with the form's alternative statement (no contact with urban rabies in the last 90 days).
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Vaccinated against rabies, the certificate showing vaccination date, expiry date, vaccine name, manufacturer and batch. First (primary) vaccination: at least 21 days before departure. Animals under 90 days may travel unvaccinated with the form's alternative statement (no contact with urban rabies in the last 90 days).
- · For pets aged 3 months or more
primary vaccination only
Broad-spectrum internal and external parasite treatment within the 15 days before the certificate is issued, with products authorised in the United States; product names, manufacturer, active ingredient and dates on the form.
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Broad-spectrum internal and external parasite treatment within the 15 days before the certificate is issued, with products authorised in the United States; product names, manufacturer, active ingredient and dates on the form.
Examined by the accredited vet within the 10 days before the certificate's date of issue (the exam date goes in field 14): no clinical signs of infectious or parasitic disease, fit for transport.
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Examined by the accredited vet within the 10 days before the certificate's date of issue (the exam date goes in field 14): no clinical signs of infectious or parasitic disease, fit for transport.
Brazil may refuse entry to an animal previously diagnosed with leishmaniasis. No test is required; the exam and certificate must not show the disease.
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Brazil may refuse entry to an animal previously diagnosed with leishmaniasis. No test is required; the exam and certificate must not show the disease.
Declare the pet on the e-DBV (Declaração Eletrônica de Bens do Viajante) and go through the "Bens a Declarar" (goods to declare) channel to the Vigiagro unit at the airport, port or border post. Where there is no such channel, go straight to the customs inspection. Unaccompanied baggage or cargo: a DAT-PF (agricultural transit declaration for individuals) and the air waybill / cargo manifest instead of the e-DBV.
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Declare the pet on the e-DBV (Declaração Eletrônica de Bens do Viajante) and go through the "Bens a Declarar" (goods to declare) channel to the Vigiagro unit at the airport, port or border post. Where there is no such channel, go straight to the customs inspection. Unaccompanied baggage or cargo: a DAT-PF (agricultural transit declaration for individuals) and the air waybill / cargo manifest instead of the e-DBV.
The Vigiagro inspector (AFFA) checks the documents, verifies the animal's identity against the certificate and inspects its health; the original CVI stays with the owner. A pet travelling on to another Brazilian state is released with a Vigiagro transit attestation. Pets with clinical signs of disease are refused (returned or destroyed); with no papers at all, refused and returned; with errors or missing items in the papers, the inspector may impose home quarantine supervised by a private vet at the owner's cost (TC-IAC undertaking: exam, rabies shot, parasite treatments, isolation for a set number of days).
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The Vigiagro inspector (AFFA) checks the documents, verifies the animal's identity against the certificate and inspects its health; the original CVI stays with the owner. A pet travelling on to another Brazilian state is released with a Vigiagro transit attestation. Pets with clinical signs of disease are refused (returned or destroyed); with no papers at all, refused and returned; with errors or missing items in the papers, the inspector may impose home quarantine supervised by a private vet at the owner's cost (TC-IAC undertaking: exam, rabies shot, parasite treatments, isolation for a set number of days).
Industrialised (commercially made, heat-processed, canned, pouch, pelleted or extruded) pet food and treats for the pet's own use may enter from any country in the original, intact, labelled packaging; the pack used during the trip may be open. Raw or home-made food and treats, raw hides/ears/hooves and feed additives are prohibited. (MAPA's older FAQ says leftover food is prohibited outright — the 2026 list, made under Portaria 872/2025, is the current rule.)
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Industrialised (commercially made, heat-processed, canned, pouch, pelleted or extruded) pet food and treats for the pet's own use may enter from any country in the original, intact, labelled packaging; the pack used during the trip may be open. Raw or home-made food and treats, raw hides/ears/hooves and feed additives are prohibited. (MAPA's older FAQ says leftover food is prohibited outright — the 2026 list, made under Portaria 872/2025, is the current rule.)
+1 more
- The form has optional fields for other vaccinations and for treatments in the last 3 months (with presumptive diagnosis) — fill them in only if applicable. — U.S. Department of Agriculture — APHIS
No quarantine when the paperwork is in order
If the pet does not meet the rules: Refusal, re-export to the country of departure, detention or other measures at the owner's cost. In practice (IN 39/2017): no papers at all → refused and returned; errors or gaps in the papers → home quarantine at the inspector's discretion, supervised by a private vet paid by the owner; clinical signs of disease → returned or destroyed.
Timeline
Working out your dates…
Documents
One paper per requirement above; carry originals. 0 of 5 ready.
Official fees
The official pages we researched for this route name no fee. Vet, lab and airline charges are not covered here.
Entry points
Where a pet may enter Brazil, per the rules.
- Airports: MCZ, MAO, SSA, FOR, BSB, CNF, CGR, CGB, BEL, REC, PHB, CWB, GIG, NAT, PVH, BVB, POA, FLN, VCP, GRUList as of 2026-09-25Not an official list of authorised entry points: it is MAPA's undated phone list of Vigiagro airport units, linked from the pets FAQ (Uvagro Cuiabá and Uvagro Roraima are given without "aeroporto"). The rule is "any port, airport or border post with a Vigiagro unit" (IN 39/2017); seaports and land crossings (e.g. Foz do Iguaçu, Uruguaiana, Chuí, Corumbá, Pacaraima) also have units — MAPA's spreadsheet "Contato das Unidades do MAPA para CVIs" lists them all. Confirm the unit's hours before booking a night or weekend arrival.Sources disagree — confirm with the authority
- “TELEFONES DAS UNIDADES VIGIAGRO EM AEROPORTOS” — Ministério da Agricultura e Pecuária (MAPA) — Vigiagro, checked 25 Sep 2026
Airlines
Airline rules are separate from entry rules and change without notice — confirm in writing when you book. Only what the carriers' own pages say, read 25 Sep 2026. All airlines
- Lufthansa LHCabinYesHoldYesSnub-nosedHold: no · Cargo: restricted
- Emirates EKCabinNoHoldYesSnub-nosedCargo: only Nov – Apr
- CabinNoHoldYes, up to 45 kg incl. crateSnub-nosedHold: not 1 May – 31 Oct
- Qantas QFCabinNoHoldCargo onlySnub-nosedNot stated
- CabinYesHoldNoSnub-nosedHold, cargo: no
- KLM KLCabinYes, up to 8 kg incl. carrier46 × 28 × 24 cmHoldYes, up to 75 kg incl. crateSnub-nosedHold: no
- Air France AFCabinYes, up to 8 kg incl. carrier46 × 28 × 24 cmHoldYes, up to 75 kg incl. crateSnub-nosedHold: no · Cargo: restricted
- CabinNoHoldCargo onlySnub-nosedCargo: restricted
- CabinNoHoldYes, up to 75 kg incl. crateSnub-nosedHold: restricted
Transit and stopovers
- Airside transit through Brazil is not addressed by MAPA's pages. The MERCOSUR requirements (and the CVI) cover transit through a State Party's territory, so a pet that enters Brazilian territory in transit needs the same CVI. — Ministério da Agricultura e Pecuária — Gabinete do Ministro (DOU 2024-12-12, Seção 1, p. 24; MAPA's print of the DOU page)
Return trip to United States
Moderate for a returning pet, about 6 weeks of preparation. No quarantine.
Full checklist for a dog from Brazil to United States
Leaving Brazil with the pet
- MAPA issues the CVI; for the USA, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela, Argentina/Paraguay/Uruguay, Japan, the EU/Norway/Switzerland/Northern Ireland and Great Britain it is an electronic CVI requested on gov.br — for most of them exclusively by a vet registered on the platform.
- Timing of the e-CVI request: USA — dogs 5 to 2 days before departure, cats 10 to 3 days; the other e-CVI countries 9 to 3 days (Mexico 14 to 3 days). Some destinations still need a physical stamp ("chancela") at a Vigiagro unit.
- Countries without an e-CVI get an in-person CVI at a Vigiagro unit — MAPA suggests contacting the unit at least 60 days ahead because appointments are required.
- Transit through the EU with a pet shipped as cargo needs a separate "transit CVI" meeting all EU requirements besides the destination CVI; a pet connecting with its owner (cabin or hold) that stays airside does not.
- The Brazilian pet passport (IN 54/2013, lifelong, free, issued by Vigiagro units and SFAs) replaces the CVI only for countries that accept it; check MAPA's list before relying on it.
Questions about Brazil
Answered in plain words from the authorities' own pages, each linked to its source.
01What are the rabies vaccination requirements for bringing a pet into Brazil?
Dogs and cats over 90 days old must be vaccinated against rabies using vaccines approved by the veterinary authority of their home country.
02Is there a waiting period after the first rabies shot before traveling to Brazil?
Yes, if the animal is receiving its first rabies vaccination, it may only leave its country of origin 21 days after the vaccine was administered.
03Can I bring a puppy or kitten under 3 months old into Brazil?
Pets under 90 days old can enter if the origin authority certifies their age and confirms they have not been in an area with urban rabies for the last 90 days.
04Does my pet need parasite treatment before entering Brazil?
Within 15 days before the CVI is issued, the animal must receive an effective broad-spectrum treatment for both internal and external parasites.
05When should the clinical examination be done for entry into Brazil?
A veterinarian in the origin country must perform a clinical exam within 10 days before the CVI is issued to certify the animal is healthy and fit for travel.
06Are there any disease restrictions for pets entering Brazil?
Brazil may refuse entry to animals that have been previously diagnosed with Leishmaniasis.
07What happens if my pet comes from a country that is free of rabies?
Animals from countries or zones officially declared free of rabies are exempt from the vaccination requirement, provided this status is certified in the health document.
08Can I return to Brazil with my pet without new documents?
If the animal left Brazil with a CVI or legalized passport, it can return within 60 days without additional documents, provided the rabies vaccine is still valid.
09Can I bring leftover pet food into Brazil?
No, pet food is prohibited from entering Brazil because these products pose sanitary risks to agriculture.
10How long is a foreign CVI valid for entry into Brazil?
A CVI issued by another country is valid for 60 days for entry into Brazil, as long as it was issued according to IN 05/2013.
11What microchip is required to get a Brazilian transit passport?
The animal must have an electronic identification chip that complies with ISO 11784 or the Annex A of ISO 11785.
12How long does it take to issue a Brazilian transit passport?
The processing time for the passport is 30 business days from the date the application is submitted to the MAPA unit.
13Do I need to declare my pet when arriving in Brazil?
Yes, you must declare your pet upon arrival because they are classified as restricted goods.
14Will I have to pay taxes if I bought my pet abroad and am bringing it to Brazil?
Yes, domestic animals bought abroad are treated as traveler's goods and are subject to standard taxation, although exemption quotas and quantity limits apply. They cannot be imported for commercial purposes.
What they actually checked at the border
Reports from people who made this trip, read by a person before publishing.
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Every requirement above comes from one of these pages. Last researched 25 Sep 2026. Seen a change? Tell us.
- USDA APHIS — Pet Travel From the United States to Brazil (opens official site)U.S. Department of Agriculture — APHIS · used for: animal health certificate, this route · checked 04 Oct 2026 · document dated 2026-07-23
- USDA APHIS — Veterinary Health Certificate for Export of Dogs and Cats from the United States of America to Brazil (bilingual form) (opens official site)U.S. Department of Agriculture — APHIS · used for: animal health certificate, rabies vaccination, parasite treatment, clinical examination, which origins the rule covers, notes, this route · checked 04 Oct 2026 · document dated 2025-03
- Portaria MAPA nº 741, de 10 de dezembro de 2024 — incorporates MERCOSUL/GMC/RES. nº 20/24 (requirements for entry and movement of domestic dogs and cats, CVI model, additional requirements model) (opens official site)Ministério da Agricultura e Pecuária — Gabinete do Ministro (DOU 2024-12-12, Seção 1, p. 24; MAPA's print of the DOU page) · used for: microchip, condition of the animal, arrival inspection, quarantine, this route, transit · checked 04 Oct 2026 · document dated 2024-12-10
- Instrução Normativa MAPA nº 39/2017 (Manual do Vigiagro) — Annex XLVI, import of animals; Vigiagro unit requirements for companion animals (opens official site)Ministério da Agricultura e Pecuária (MAPA) — HTML rendering of the IN and annexes · used for: customs declaration, arrival inspection, this route · checked 04 Oct 2026 · document dated 2018-03-29
- Portaria MAPA nº 872, de 12 de dezembro de 2025 — Regulamento para Ingresso de Bens Agropecuários Transportados como Bagagem de Viajantes (opens official site)Ministério da Agricultura e Pecuária — Gabinete do Ministro (DOU 2026-01-05) · used for: customs declaration, this route · checked 04 Oct 2026 · document dated 2025-12-12
- TC-IAC — Termo de Compromisso no Ingresso de Animais de Companhia (cães e gatos), Vigiagro form used when papers are irregular (opens official site)MAPA — SDA — Vigiagro · used for: arrival inspection, this route · checked 04 Oct 2026 · document dated 2021-02-15
- Lista de Bens Agropecuários Proibidos e Permitidos de Ingressar no Brasil como Bagagem de Viajantes, versão 2026.01 (item 1.1 dogs and cats, item 3.1 pet food) (opens official site)Ministério da Agricultura e Pecuária — Secretaria de Defesa Agropecuária · used for: pet food, this route · checked 25 Sep 2026 · document dated 2026-02-03
- Perguntas e Respostas frequentes sobre Viagens Internacionais com Cães e Gatos (MAPA FAQ) (opens official site)Ministério da Agricultura e Pecuária (MAPA) — Vigiagro · used for: pet food, this route, leaving with the pet · checked 04 Oct 2026 · document dated 2025-09-11
- Consulado-Geral do Brasil em Bruxelas — Animais domésticos e plantas (opens official site)Ministério das Relações Exteriores — Consulado-Geral em Bruxelas · used for: quarantine, this route · checked 04 Oct 2026 · document dated 2024-09-28
- Telefones das unidades Vigiagro em aeroportos (image linked from the MAPA pets FAQ; transcribed) (opens official site)Ministério da Agricultura e Pecuária (MAPA) — Vigiagro · used for: entry points, this route · checked 25 Sep 2026
- 42 CFR 71.51 — Dogs and cats (opens official site)HHS / CDC regulation, published by the Office of the Federal Register (eCFR) · used for: return trip · checked 04 Oct 2026 · document dated 2024-08-01
- Sair do Brasil — Viajar com animal de estimação para o exterior (MAPA; CVI issued in Brazil, e-CVI, agreed models) (opens official site)Ministério da Agricultura e Pecuária (MAPA) — Vigiagro · used for: leaving with the pet · checked 25 Sep 2026 · document dated 2026-08
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