Moving With Pets: Dogs and Cats
The health certificate, rabies vaccine and endorsement steps for bringing a dog or cat from the US to Brasil, from MAPA and USDA APHIS.
By Vaughn Bullard · · 3 min read
Last checked:
Affiliate disclosure: this guide covers a category where Past Customs has or may add affiliate links. If you sign up through one, Past Customs may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure.
Bringing a dog or cat to Brasil is entirely possible, and thousands of people do it. It takes planning, because the paperwork runs on fixed windows of days, and a missed window can mean starting again. This guide outlines the process from the US side and the Brazilian side.
The rules come from two agencies. In Brasil, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA) sets the entry requirements. In the US, the Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) endorses the export health certificate. Requirements change, and the exact day counts matter, so read both official pages and work with your veterinarian.
The Brazilian requirement
MAPA's page on pets entering Brasil states that dogs and cats must arrive with either:
- An International Veterinary Certificate (CVI), or
- An official pet passport issued by the veterinary authority of the country of origin,
meeting Brasil's health requirements. Those requirements are set by MAPA Portaria 741 of December 10, 2024. MAPA publishes a certificate model for dogs and cats coming to Brasil and states that it is mandatory from September 6, 2025.
The Portaria covers the details: rabies vaccination, parasite treatment, a clinical examination, and the time limits for each. Read it, or have your veterinarian read it, before you book anything.
The US side
APHIS's page on pet travel from the US to Brasil explains how the certificate is issued and endorsed:
- A USDA-accredited veterinarian completes the international health certificate. Not every vet is accredited, so ask.
- Brasil accepts electronic signature and digital endorsement. The vet submits the certificate through APHIS's system, VEHCS, and APHIS endorses it digitally.
- You can print the endorsed certificate. The printed certificate must travel with your pet.
- APHIS states that the certificate is valid for 60 days from the day the accredited vet signs it, and must be valid when you arrive in Brasil.
Timing
Most problems come from timing. The rabies vaccination, the parasite treatment, the vet's examination and the endorsement each have their own window, counted in days before travel or before the certificate. Official pages describe these windows in slightly different ways, so build your timeline from the Portaria and the APHIS certificate, and confirm it with your accredited vet. Check the official page rather than relying on a forum post.
A simple approach:
- Count back from your flight date.
- Confirm the rabies vaccination is valid and was given early enough.
- Book the vet exam and parasite treatment inside their windows.
- Leave time for APHIS endorsement before you fly.
Airlines
Airlines set their own rules for pets: in the cabin, as checked baggage, or as cargo, with limits on breeds, crate sizes and temperatures. APHIS reminds travelers to check with the airline. Book your pet's place when you book your own seat, and get the confirmation in writing.
Other animals
MAPA states that other pets, such as rabbits, ferrets and chinchillas, require an import authorization from MAPA's office in the state of final destination. APHIS notes import permits for some species. This guide covers dogs and cats only.
Coming back to the US
If you may return to the US with your pet, the rules for re-entry are set by US agencies. APHIS notes that the CDC is the primary authority for dog imports. Check before you leave, not after.
Arrival day
- Keep the printed, endorsed certificate and vaccination records in your carry-on.
- At the airport, the agriculture inspection (VIGIAGRO) checks pets' documents.
- Keep water, a leash and cleanup supplies handy.
Checklist
- Read MAPA Portaria 741/2024 and the APHIS Brasil page.
- Find a USDA-accredited veterinarian.
- Build a day-by-day timeline back from your flight.
- Confirm the airline's pet rules and book.
- Get the certificate issued and digitally endorsed.
- Carry the printed certificate and vaccine records.
The rest of your arrival paperwork is in Documents to carry when you land.
Common questions
Is a microchip required? Identification requirements are set in the Portaria and the certificate model. Check the official page; many vets microchip before the rabies vaccine so the vaccine record matches the chip.
Does my pet need quarantine in Brasil? The official pages describe document checks at arrival. If your pet's documents are not in order, the agriculture inspection applies its own procedures. Get the documents right and you avoid finding out what they are.
Sources
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; verify with the official source before acting.
General information only, not financial, legal, tax, insurance, or medical advice. Prices, rules, and terms change; check current details with the provider or an official source.
