KE
Importing Your Pet to Kenya
Moderate to importVerification date not recorded. Confirm current requirements with the destination authority.
Prepared by Dr. Sarah Okafor, International Animal Health Consultant
Every dog or cat entering Kenya needs an import permit (VS01) from the Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS). You apply online through the Trade Facilitation Platform, the permit is issued per consignment, and it is valid for 90 days. The conditions printed on your permit apply on top of the Animal Diseases Rules, so read it closely.
Kenya’s law asks for a health certificate and a rabies vaccination certificate, presented to the inspecting officer at the port of entry. Under DVS permit terms quoted by Australia’s DAFF, animals not kept since birth or for 6 months in a rabies-free country also need a rabies antibody test of at least 0.5 IU/mL.
By air, animals may enter only through Mombasa, Nairobi or Kisumu airports; by sea, only through Mombasa or Lamu.
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 2 October 2026. They can change, so check the linked page again before you book.
Who is in charge
- Per the Kenya Trade Information Portal (KenTrade, government): imports of dogs and cats are regulated by the Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS), which issues the import permit.
Applies to all dogs and cats.
Import permit for dogs & cats (VS01), checked 2 October 2026
Where your pet travels from
| Group | What applies | Origins |
|---|---|---|
| Second Schedule countries (rabies certificate may be waived) | Animal Diseases Rules rule 5(d) and Second Schedule: the Director may waive or modify the rabies vaccination certificate condition; permit and health certificate still apply. Source | Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom |
| All other countries | Import permit (VS01), health certificate dated within 10 days of embarkation (permit terms: 48 hours), rabies vaccination certificate dated 6 months to 3 years before import (permit terms: 6 to 12 months, plus titre test per DAFF). Source | all other countries |
- Under rule 5(d) of the Animal Diseases Rules (Legal Notice 244 of 1968, Kenya Law version of 31 December 2022) the Director of Veterinary Services may waive or modify the rabies vaccination certificate condition for the countries in the Second Schedule: United Kingdom, Eire (Ireland), Sweden, Norway, Australia and New Zealand. The waiver is at the Director's discretion, so check the permit.
Applies to dogs and cats.
The Animal Diseases Rules, Legal Notice 244 of 1968 (version 31 December 2022), checked 2 October 2026
Import permit
- An import permit (VS01) is required, applied for online through the Trade Facilitation Platform (TFP) and issued per consignment.
Applies to all dogs and cats.
Import permit for dogs & cats (VS01), checked 2 October 2026 - The import permit is valid for 90 days.
Applies to all dogs and cats.
Import permit for dogs & cats (VS01), checked 2 October 2026 - Permit application needs a Unique Consignment Reference (UCR) number and a copy of the vaccination certificate from the country of origin.
Applies to all dogs and cats.
VS01 step 1: apply, generate an e-slip and pay for permit, checked 2 October 2026 - Per Australia DAFF guidance for exports from Australia: an import permit is required, obtainable from the Kenyan Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives.
Applies to dogs and cats exported from Australia.
Live animals: Kenya, dogs, checked 2 October 2026 - Per Australia DAFF guidance (Kenyan permit terms of October 2020): the permit is valid for at most 90 days, for one consignment only.
Applies to dogs exported from Australia.
Live animals: Kenya, dogs, checked 2 October 2026 - Per UK APHA guidance (2913NFG revised 10/11/2023): an import permit must be obtained before import from the Director of Veterinary Services in Nairobi or the Kenya High Commission in London.
Applies to dogs and cats exported from the UK.
2913 notes for guidance, checked 2 October 2026
Microchip
- Per Australia DAFF guidance (MICoR, quoting Kenyan DVS permit terms of October 2020, entry last reviewed 19 May 2021): animals not kept in a rabies-free country must be identified by a permanent mark such as a microchip, with the number stated on the certificate, or by any other adequate identification. Kenya Law's Animal Diseases Rules and KenTrade are silent on identification.
Applies to dogs exported from Australia.
Live animals: Kenya, dogs, checked 2 October 2026 - Per UK APHA guidance: the microchip number must be recorded on the certificate.
Applies to dogs and cats exported from the UK.
2913 notes for guidance, checked 2 October 2026
Rabies vaccination
- Per Australia DAFF guidance (MICoR, Kenyan DVS permit terms of October 2020): animals not kept in a rabies-free country must be vaccinated with an inactivated or recombinant vaccine; primary vaccination (given at 3 months or older) not less than 6 months and not more than one year before shipment, boosters not more than one year before shipment. Stricter than the Animal Diseases Rules, which the Director may supplement by permit conditions (rule 8).
Applies to dogs exported from Australia.
Live animals: Kenya, dogs, checked 2 October 2026 - Per UK APHA guidance (2913NFG revised 10/11/2023): if the animal lands at an intermediate country other than Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and Ireland, six months quarantine may be imposed on arrival in Kenya at the owner's expense unless it was vaccinated against rabies within the six months before arrival. Direct travel from Great Britain in transit under 48 hours can be certified without rabies vaccination.
Applies to dogs and cats exported from the UK that land in an intermediate country.
2913 notes for guidance, checked 2 October 2026 - Per USDA APHIS guidance: the US to Kenya certificate requires rabies vaccination within 12 months before export.
Applies to dogs and cats exported from the US.
Veterinary Health Certificate for Export of Dog(s) and Cat(s) from the United States of America to Kenya, checked 2 October 2026 - Animal Diseases Rules, rule 5(d): dogs and cats need a certificate signed by a veterinary surgeon that they have been vaccinated against rabies, dated not earlier than three years and not later than six months before the date of importation (so vaccination at least 6 months and at most 3 years before arrival). The Director may waive or modify this for Second Schedule countries.
Applies to dogs and cats.
The Animal Diseases Rules, Legal Notice 244 of 1968 (version 31 December 2022), checked 2 October 2026Official sources differ
Australia DAFF MICoR (https://micor.agriculture.gov.au/live-animals/kenya/dogs, Kenyan DVS permit terms October 2020) requires primary vaccination 6 to 12 months and boosters within 12 months before shipment plus a titre test; USDA APHIS certificate (https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/kenya-dog-cat.pdf) says within 12 months before export. Rule 8 lets the Director add conditions, so meet both the rule and the permit: vaccinate at least 6 months and not more than 12 months before travel.
Rabies titre test
- Per Australia DAFF guidance (MICoR, quoting the terms of an import permit issued by Kenya's Directorate of Veterinary Services in October 2020, which apply to animals 'from any country'): animals not kept since birth or for 6 months in a rabies-free country need a rabies antibody test of at least 0.5 IU/mL, taken not less than 3 months and not more than 24 months before shipment. Kenya's own published sources (Animal Diseases Rules on Kenya Law, KenTrade VS01 procedure) are silent on titre tests, so this exporting-government guidance settles the topic; the USDA APHIS and UK 2913 certificates do not include a test. The conditions printed on the permit issued for the move govern.
Applies to dogs exported from Australia.
Live animals: Kenya, dogs, checked 2 October 2026 - Per Australia DAFF guidance (Kenyan permit of September 2017 shown on the cats page): the antibody test must follow the OIE Terrestrial Manual with a result of at least 0.5 IU/mL.
Applies to cats exported from Australia.
Live animals: Kenya, cats, checked 2 October 2026
Health certificate
- Per Australia DAFF guidance (MICoR, Kenyan DVS permit terms of October 2020): the certificate attesting clinical freedom from contagious disease and parasites must be dated not more than 48 hours before embarkation. Stricter than the 10 days in the Animal Diseases Rules; meet the 48 hours when the permit says so.
Applies to dogs exported from Australia.
Live animals: Kenya, dogs, checked 2 October 2026 - Per USDA APHIS guidance: the US to Kenya certificate is valid for 30 days after issuance and also requires 6 months' US residence or residence since birth.
Applies to dogs and cats exported from the US.
Veterinary Health Certificate for Export of Dog(s) and Cat(s) from the United States of America to Kenya, checked 2 October 2026 - Animal Diseases Rules, rule 5(a): all imported animals need certificates from the origin veterinary authority that they come from an area free from contagious and infectious diseases and, from a veterinary surgeon, that they are in good health, dated not more than ten days before embarkation. Certificates are presented to the inspecting officer at the port of entry.
Applies to all animals including dogs and cats.
The Animal Diseases Rules, Legal Notice 244 of 1968 (version 31 December 2022), checked 2 October 2026Official sources differ
Australia DAFF MICoR (https://micor.agriculture.gov.au/live-animals/kenya/dogs, Kenyan DVS permit terms October 2020) says the certificate must be dated not more than 48 hours before embarkation; USDA APHIS certificate (https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/kenya-dog-cat.pdf) states validity of 30 days after issuance. The rule is the legal maximum; the permit conditions can be stricter (rule 8), so date the certificate within 48 hours of embarkation.
Other vaccines and tests
- Not required: per Australia DAFF guidance (Kenyan DVS permit terms of October 2020), the permit's full list of veterinary attestations covers rabies (signs, rabies-free residence or ID, vaccination and titre test) and clinical freedom from disease and parasites only; no other vaccines or tests. Kenya Law rule 5 likewise lists only general health and rabies certificates for dogs and cats, but rule 8 allows the Director to add conditions on the permit.
Applies to dogs and cats.
Live animals: Kenya, dogs, checked 2 October 2026
Parasite treatment
- Per Australia DAFF guidance: animals must be clinically free of internal and external parasites (no specific treatment named).
Applies to dogs exported from Australia.
Live animals: Kenya, dogs, checked 2 October 2026
Quarantine
- Per Australia DAFF guidance: animals not vaccinated or not meeting the conditions may be placed in quarantine in Kenya for up to six months at the owner's cost.
Applies to dogs and cats exported from Australia.
Live animals: Kenya, cats, checked 2 October 2026 - Animal Diseases Rules, rule 7: if the Director is satisfied that an imported dog or cat has not been suitably vaccinated against rabies, it is detained and isolated at the owner's expense in an approved place for up to six months.
Applies to dogs and cats.
The Animal Diseases Rules, Legal Notice 244 of 1968 (version 31 December 2022), checked 2 October 2026 - Animal Diseases Rules, rule 4(1): all imported animals are moved by the inspecting officer to a place of quarantine for examination and are subject to any directions the Director issues. For compliant pets this is the arrival examination, not a fixed quarantine period.
Applies to all imported animals including dogs and cats.
The Animal Diseases Rules, Legal Notice 244 of 1968 (version 31 December 2022), checked 2 October 2026
Arrival points and notice
- Animal Diseases Rules, rule 3(2): animals may enter by sea only through Mombasa or Lamu ports, and by air only through Mombasa, Nairobi or Kisumu airports. No advance-notice rule appears in the Rules or on KenTrade.
Applies to all animals including dogs and cats.
The Animal Diseases Rules, Legal Notice 244 of 1968 (version 31 December 2022), checked 2 October 2026
Minimum age
- Per Australia DAFF guidance (MICoR, Kenyan DVS permit terms of October 2020): for animals not from a rabies-free country, primary rabies vaccination must be given at 3 months or older and at least 6 months before shipment, so such animals are at least 9 months old at travel. Kenya Law's Animal Diseases Rules and KenTrade state no minimum age.
Applies to dogs and cats not kept in a rabies-free country.
Live animals: Kenya, dogs, checked 2 October 2026 - Per Australia DAFF guidance (dogs page, Kenyan DVS permit terms of October 2020): puppies and kittens aged 3 months and below are allowed to travel with their mother. The sentence is cut off on the MICoR page after the word "mother's"; confirm the full condition on the permit.
Applies to puppies and kittens aged 3 months and below.
Live animals: Kenya, dogs, checked 2 October 2026
How many pets
- No official page states a rule on this. We confirm it with you for each move.
Banned and restricted breeds
- No official page states a rule on this. We confirm it with you for each move.
How your pet may travel
- Per Australia DAFF guidance (Kenyan permit terms, September 2017): animals entering Kenya should travel as manifest cargo in the aircraft freight compartment; cabin travel is at the airline's discretion provided the animal passes through the animal holding station for inspection.
Applies to dogs and cats exported from Australia.
Live animals: Kenya, cats, checked 2 October 2026 - Animal Diseases Rules, rule 9: dogs and cats must have a certificate signed by the officer in charge of the aircraft, vessel or other carriage that they were not in contact with animals likely to spread disease or otherwise exposed to infection during the journey.
Applies to dogs and cats.
The Animal Diseases Rules, Legal Notice 244 of 1968 (version 31 December 2022), checked 2 October 2026
Official fees
- Per the Kenya Trade Information Portal: the DVS permit processing fee is estimated at KES 0 to 500 per animal, payable by mobile money (M-Pesa) or bank.
Applies to permits applied for through TFP.
VS01 step 1: apply, generate an e-slip and pay for permit, checked 2 October 2026
Other conditions
- Per USDA APHIS guidance: the animal must have lived in the US since birth or for the six months before the certificate date.
Applies to dogs and cats exported from the US.
Veterinary Health Certificate for Export of Dog(s) and Cat(s) from the United States of America to Kenya, checked 2 October 2026 - Legal basis: the import conditions are in the Animal Diseases Rules (Legal Notice 244 of 1968) under the Animal Diseases Act Cap 364, current Kenya Law version revised to 31 December 2022. Rule 8 lets the Director require any further certificates, so the conditions on the issued import permit apply in addition.
Applies to all dogs and cats.
The Animal Diseases Rules, Legal Notice 244 of 1968 (version 31 December 2022), checked 2 October 2026
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Import permit and quarantine for Kenya
Apply for the VS01 permit before you book flights. The application needs a Unique Consignment Reference (UCR) number and a copy of the vaccination certificate from the country of origin. According to the Kenya Trade Information Portal, the DVS permit processing fee is estimated at KES 0 to 500 per animal, payable by M-Pesa or bank.
On arrival, the inspecting officer moves imported animals to a place of quarantine for examination. For a compliant pet this is the arrival examination, not a fixed quarantine period. If the Director is satisfied that a dog or cat has not been suitably vaccinated against rabies, it is detained and isolated at the owner’s expense in an approved place for up to six months.
Vaccinations required to enter Kenya
Rabies is the only vaccination Kenya’s conditions name. The Animal Diseases Rules ask for a vet’s certificate showing vaccination not earlier than three years and not later than six months before the date of importation. DVS permit terms quoted by DAFF are stricter for animals not kept in a rabies-free country: the primary vaccination, given at 3 months or older, must be not less than 6 months and not more than one year before shipment, and boosters not more than one year before shipment.
The Director may waive or modify the rabies certificate condition for pets from the United Kingdom, Ireland, Sweden, Norway, Australia and New Zealand. That is at the Director’s discretion, so check what your permit says.
Routes to Kenya
Frequently Asked Questions
Not as a fixed stay for a compliant pet: imported animals are examined on arrival. A dog or cat that has not been suitably vaccinated against rabies is detained and isolated at the owner’s expense for up to six months.
It can be. Kenya’s own published sources are silent on titre tests, but DVS permit terms quoted by Australia’s DAFF say animals not kept since birth or for 6 months in a rabies-free country need a rabies antibody test of at least 0.5 IU/mL.
Under those terms, the blood sample is taken not less than 3 months and not more than 24 months before shipment.
The conditions printed on the permit issued for your move are the ones that count, so read them before booking any vet appointments.
Yes. Apply to DVS for an import permit (VS01) through the Trade Facilitation Platform before you travel. It is issued per consignment and valid for 90 days.
Yes. Cats need the same import permit, health certificate and rabies vaccination certificate as dogs under Kenya’s Animal Diseases Rules.
Kenya’s Animal Diseases Rules ask for certificates from the origin veterinary authority that the pet comes from an area free from contagious and infectious diseases and, from a vet, that it is in good health, dated not more than ten days before embarkation. DVS permit terms quoted by DAFF are stricter: the certificate must be dated not more than 48 hours before embarkation, so meet that when your permit says so. UK APHA guidance adds that the microchip number must be recorded on the certificate.
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Kenya
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Code: KE