Ecuador Pet Import Requirements

Verification date not recorded. Confirm current requirements with the destination authority.
Prepared by , International Animal Health Consultant

Import Requirements

Every requirement below is taken from an official government page, and each one links to the page it comes from. The rules were last checked on 5 October 2026. They can change, so check the linked page again before you book.

Who is in charge

  • Agrocalidad states that in Ecuador only dogs and cats count as conventional companion animals; its pet import and export guidance sits under this section.
    Exportación e importación de mascotas, checked 1 October 2026

Where your pet travels from

GroupWhat appliesOrigins
All originsOne set of conditions for dogs and cats from any country: origin official export zoosanitary certificate meeting Agrocalidad's requirements. Sourceall
  • Agrocalidad sets one set of entry conditions for dogs and cats from any country: an export zoosanitary certificate from the origin country's official veterinary service, in Spanish or English, showing compliance with Ecuador's requirements.
    Ingreso al Ecuador de animales de compañía (perros y gatos), checked 1 October 2026

Import permit

  • A pet travelling in the cabin with the passenger, or handed over with checked baggage in the international arrivals area, is cleared on the origin export zoosanitary certificate alone. Applies to dogs and cats arriving in cabin or as accompanied baggage.
    Ingreso al Ecuador de animales de compañía (perros y gatos), checked 5 October 2026
    Official sources differUK APHA guidance 3010NFG (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65952d48579941001035a7b7/3010NFG.pdf, revised 05/12/2023) says 'An import permit is required for the import of dogs and cats and must accompany the animal at the time of import.' Agrocalidad, the importing authority, limits the Permiso Zoosanitario de Importación to pets arriving in the cargo hold; its own page is recorded as the rule. UK exporters should check whether their route is cargo.
  • A pet arriving in the cargo hold needs a Permiso Zoosanitario de Importación for subsequent customs clearance by SENAE. Applies to dogs and cats arriving as air cargo.
    Ingreso al Ecuador de animales de compañía (perros y gatos), checked 1 October 2026
    Official sources differThe 2009 Reglamento de Tenencia y Manejo Responsable de Perros (Acuerdo Ministerial 116, https://bioseguridadgalapagos.gob.ec/wp-content/uploads/downloads/transparencia/juridico/2016/04/a2/reglamento_de_tenencia_de_mascotas.pdf) says no companion animal may be exported or imported without Agrocalidad's permission. Agrocalidad's own current page limits the import permit to cargo-hold arrivals and is recorded as the rule.
  • Pets arriving in the aircraft cabin with the passenger or through a land border crossing do not need the import permit but must still present the origin export certificate. Applies to dogs and cats arriving in cabin or by land border.
    Ingreso al Ecuador de animales de compañía (perros y gatos), checked 1 October 2026

Microchip

Rabies vaccination

  • Rabies vaccination is listed for dogs and cats; where it is the animal's first rabies vaccination, at least 14 days must have passed since it was given.
    Requisitos zoosanitarios para la importación de animales de compañía (PDF), checked 1 October 2026
    Official sources differEcuador's Foreign Ministry page for Spain (20 September 2021, https://www.cancilleria.gob.ec/espana/2021/09/20/requisitos-de-ingreso-de-mascotas-de-compania-perros-y-gatos-a-ecuador/) says rabies vaccination between 1 and 12 months before shipment ("ha sido vacunado contra la rabia entre 1 y 12 meses que preceden al embarque"). Agrocalidad is the competent authority and its 2026 document is newer, so its rule is recorded; a vaccination 1 to 12 months old satisfies both.
  • All listed vaccinations, rabies included, must be current (in date) when the animals arrive (Agrocalidad import requirements, 2026).
    Requisitos zoosanitarios para la importación de animales de compañía (PDF), checked 1 October 2026

Rabies titre test

  • Not listed: Agrocalidad's import requirements document for companion animals (2026) is the importing government's own list of requirements for dogs and cats; read in full on 5 October 2026, it lists the export zoosanitary certificate, age over 4 months and identification, clinical exam, parasite treatment and current vaccinations, and contains no rabies antibody titre test. Agrocalidad Res. 0150 (2021) Article 4 lists the same kinds of items (with a minimum age of over 3 months rather than 4) and no titre test. Applies to origins other than Great Britain (see the separate GOV.UK entry). Applies to dogs and cats from origins other than Great Britain.
    Requisitos zoosanitarios para la importación de animales de compañía (PDF), checked 5 October 2026
    Official sources differUK APHA guidance 3010NFG (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65952d48579941001035a7b7/3010NFG.pdf, revised 05/12/2023) says a titre test of at least 0.5 IU/ml is required for dogs and cats going from the UK to Ecuador; that is recorded as a separate rule for Great Britain origins. USDA APHIS's dog certificate for Ecuador (https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/ecuador-dog_4.pdf, 17 June 2022) contains no titre test.
  • UK APHA guidance for export certificate 3010EHC (notes for guidance 3010NFG, revised 5 December 2023; exporting-government guidance) says dogs and cats going from the UK to Ecuador must have had a serum neutralisation test for rabies antibodies with a titre of at least 0.5 IU/ml. Ecuador's own 2026 requirements list does not include this test (see conflict_note), but the UK certificate must be completed as written, so plan for the test on UK exports. Applies to dogs and cats exported from Great Britain on UK certificate 3010EHC.
    3010NFG: notes for guidance, export of dogs and cats to Ecuador (issued 20/10/2017, revised 05/12/2023), checked 5 October 2026
    Official sources differAgrocalidad's import requirements document (https://www.agrocalidad.gob.ec/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/REquisitos-Zoosanitarios.pdf, 2026) and Res. 0150 Article 4 (https://www.agrocalidad.gob.ec/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/DAJ-2021325-0201.0150-MASCOTAS.pdf) list no rabies antibody test for dogs and cats entering Ecuador. The importing authority's own list prevails for other origins; this UK rule rests on the UK certificate wording.

Health certificate

Other vaccines and tests

Parasite treatment

Quarantine

  • Agrocalidad's entry page and 2026 requirements document do not mention quarantine for pets with the required documents (they are silent; there is no explicit exemption). Where the owner lacks any of the required documents, Agrocalidad's animal quarantine manual (Resolución 0257, edition 2 approved 8 March 2022, section 3.5) applies 15 calendar days of post-entry home quarantine under official supervision, with at least one official visit. Applies to dogs and cats arriving without the required documents.
    Manual General de Cuarentena Animal (Resolución 0257, edition 2, 8 March 2022), checked 1 October 2026
  • Section 3.5 of Agrocalidad's animal quarantine manual (Resolución 0257) sets out the livestock inspector's actions where the user lacks any of the required documents; for pets this is the 15-day post-entry home quarantine under official supervision. Applies to dogs and cats arriving without the required documents.
    Manual General de Cuarentena Animal (Resolución 0257, edition 2, 8 March 2022), checked 1 October 2026

Arrival points and notice

  • For cargo arrivals the owner must email the Agrocalidad office at the arrival airport 72 hours before arrival with the air waybill, owner's passport, phone and email, origin export certificate, vaccination card and customs agent name. Addresses: aeropuerto.quito@agrocalidad.gob.ec (Mariscal Sucre, Quito) and aeropuerto.guayaquil@agrocalidad.gob.ec (José Joaquín de Olmedo, Guayaquil). Applies to dogs and cats arriving as air cargo.
    Ingreso al Ecuador de animales de compañía (perros y gatos), checked 1 October 2026

Minimum age

How many pets

  • Customs (SENAE) counts at most 2 live domestic animals per traveller as personal effects (exempt from duties when not for commercial purposes), subject to the sanitary requirements; animals shipped on the same trip, even as cargo, are cleared at the international border hall (sala internacional fronteriza). Stated on SENAE's land-traveller page; SENAE's air-traveller page refers to a full personal-effects list (PDF, May 2026) that could not be read. More than 2 animals may be treated as a non-personal import; confirm with SENAE. Agrocalidad sets no number limit of its own on the pages read. Applies to travellers entering Ecuador with pets.
    Viajeros por vía terrestre, checked 1 October 2026

Banned and restricted breeds

  • No import ban on any breed appears on Agrocalidad's pages. Under the national dog-keeping regulation (Acuerdo Ministerial 116, Registro Oficial 532, 19 February 2009), pit bulls, rottweilers and their crosses are listed among dogs that may not be kept as pets, and anyone keeping one needs an identification certificate, an owner's licence, a sterilisation certificate (unless for authorised breeding), a behaviour assessment and annual vaccination and health certificates. Later amendments were not checked. Applies to pit bulls, rottweilers and their crosses.
    Reglamento de Tenencia y Manejo Responsable de Perros (2009), checked 1 October 2026
  • Article 7 of Acuerdo Ministerial 116 (2009) lists pit bulls and rottweilers, including their crosses, among dogs that may not be kept as pets, because of the harm an attack can cause. Applies to pit bulls, rottweilers and their crosses.
    Reglamento de Tenencia y Manejo Responsable de Perros (2009), checked 1 October 2026

How your pet may travel

Official fees

  • The import permit fee follows Agrocalidad's current tariff; an Agrocalidad officer raises a payment order in the GUIA system, payable via Banco Guayaquil, Banco Pichincha or Banco Bolivariano. Applies to dogs and cats arriving as air cargo.
    Ingreso al Ecuador de animales de compañía (perros y gatos), checked 1 October 2026
  • No cash payments are accepted for issuing the import permit. Applies to dogs and cats arriving as air cargo.
    Ingreso al Ecuador de animales de compañía (perros y gatos), checked 1 October 2026
  • Agrocalidad's 2025 tariff (updated 1 April 2025) lists USD 28.1803 per unit for zoosanitary verification of pets and other non-conventional companion animals ("incluye salida"). The tariff does not label this line as the import permit fee, so confirm the amount on the GUIA payment order. Applies to dogs and cats arriving as air cargo.
    Tarifario 2025 (updated 1 April 2025), checked 1 October 2026
    Official sources differEcuador's Foreign Ministry page for Spain (20 September 2021, https://www.cancilleria.gob.ec/espana/2021/09/20/requisitos-de-ingreso-de-mascotas-de-compania-perros-y-gatos-a-ecuador/) gives USD 26.21 for the inspection of pets arriving in cargo holds. The newer Agrocalidad tariff is recorded.

Other conditions

  • Dogs and cats that left Ecuador temporarily can return on the same Agrocalidad export certificate if no more than 30 calendar days have passed since it was issued; otherwise the standard procedure applies. Applies to dogs and cats returning to Ecuador after a temporary trip abroad.
    Ingreso al Ecuador de animales de compañía (perros y gatos), checked 1 October 2026
  • Galápagos: mainland rules do not apply. The Organic Law on the Special Regime of Galápagos (LOREG, Registro Oficial 520, 11 June 2015), Article 83 (Prohibiciones), numeral 6, expressly prohibits transporting animals, including domestic animals, from the mainland to the islands. Pet dogs and cats therefore cannot be taken to Galápagos; any exception (for example an assistance dog) needs the Galápagos biosecurity agency (ABG), which must be asked directly. Applies to dogs and cats going to the Galápagos Islands.
    Ley Orgánica de Régimen Especial de la Provincia de Galápagos (Registro Oficial 520, 11 June 2015), checked 1 October 2026

Ready to plan your move to Ecuador? Get a free quote

Frequently Asked Questions

Rabies vaccination is listed for dogs and cats; where it is the animal’s first rabies vaccination, at least 14 days must have passed since it was given. All listed vaccinations, rabies included, must be current when the animals arrive. Dogs must have current vaccinations against distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirosis and rabies on arrival. Cats must have current vaccinations against feline panleucopenia, feline viral rhinotracheitis, feline calicivirus and rabies on arrival. If a listed vaccine is not approved for use in the origin country, this must be stated on the export certificate and the owner must give that vaccine during the stay in Ecuador. Agrocalidad does not require a microchip, but animals must be identified by name, tattoo or microchip.

Agrocalidad’s pages do not mention quarantine for pets that arrive with the required documents. Where the owner lacks any of the required documents, Agrocalidad’s animal quarantine manual applies 15 calendar days of post-entry home quarantine under official supervision.

Agrocalidad’s import requirements for dogs and cats list no rabies antibody titre test. The exception is a pet exported from Great Britain: UK APHA certificate 3010EHC requires a serum neutralisation test for rabies antibodies with a titre of at least 0.5 IU/ml, so plan for the test on UK exports.

No import ban on any breed appears on Agrocalidad’s pages. Under the national dog-keeping regulation (Acuerdo Ministerial 116, Registro Oficial 532, 19 February 2009), pit bulls, rottweilers and their crosses are listed among dogs that may not be kept as pets. Anyone keeping one needs an identification certificate, an owner’s licence, a sterilisation certificate (unless for authorised breeding), a behaviour assessment and annual vaccination and health certificates. Later amendments to that regulation were not checked, so confirm the current position with Agrocalidad before you plan a move with one of these breeds.

Several steps have fixed windows. The export certificate must be issued no more than 10 calendar days before the animals enter Ecuador. Parasite treatment is required within the 21 days before shipment. Where it is the animal’s first rabies vaccination, at least 14 days must have passed since it was given. Book your vet early so those windows fit around each other.

Start your journey

Get Your Free Quote

Enter your pet's details and route

Quotes are tailored to your specific journey.

No obligation. Your details are kept private and only used to arrange your pet's move.

Moving your pet abroad?

We coordinate the paperwork, the airline booking, and the quarantine so you don't have to.

Get a free quote

On this page

Ecuador

    Get a free pet transport quote

    Tell us your route and pet details. We will send you a step-by-step plan and tailored quote.

    Request a Quote