Moving to Ecuador with Your Pet: Vet Certificates and Import Rules
Ecuador is an increasingly popular destination for expats – it offers a low cost of living, warm climate, and a welcoming attitude to foreign residents. Bringing a pet requires some planning, but the process is not especially complex for dogs and cats.
The Key Authority: AGROCALIDAD
All pet imports are overseen by AGROCALIDAD. Before you travel, download the current import requirements from agrocalidad.gob.ec – they update these periodically, and the version your vet finds on a general search may be out of date.
What You Need
- Official health certificate – issued by a government vet in your home country within 10 days of travel, endorsed by the national authority (e.g., USDA for the USA, APHA for the UK)
- Rabies vaccination certificate – current, administered at least 30 days before entry (first-time vaccines)
- External parasite treatment – documentation of flea/tick treatment within 10 days of travel
- Internal parasite treatment – deworming within 15 days of travel
- Microchip (strongly recommended, ISO 11784/11785)
The Appointment on Arrival
AGROCALIDAD has inspection stations at Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito (UIO) and Jose Joaquin de Olmedo Airport in Guayaquil (GYE). On arrival, you will be directed to the AGROCALIDAD desk where an officer checks all documentation. Have printed originals plus one copy of everything.
What If Paperwork Is Incomplete?
Pets can be detained at the airport veterinary facility while issues are resolved. In practice, a missing treatment certificate or a date discrepancy is the most common problem. Double-check all dates match exactly before departure.
Living in Ecuador with Pets
- Annual rabies vaccination is required by law
- Register your pet with your local municipality within 30 days of arrival in some provinces
- The Galapagos Islands have strict biosecurity rules – taking a pet there requires separate AGROCALIDAD approval and is rarely straightforward
Always verify requirements with AGROCALIDAD and your home country’s veterinary export authority before travel. This guide reflects conditions as of May 2026.