Pet Transport from United Kingdom to Ivory Coast
Getting a pet from United Kingdom to Ivory Coast is a step by step process, and each stage has its own timing. Allow about 10-14 weeks; the requirements are detailed but predictable once mapped out. …
Get your free quote →The United Kingdom to Ivory Coast import process
Responsible: UK vet
Responsible: UK vet
Responsible: Owner or a Cote d'Ivoire-based agent
Responsible: Owner, with the nominated OV
Responsible: APHA-authorised OV, then a certified translator
Responsible: Owner or agent
Responsible: Owner and the airline's cargo or check-in staff
Responsible: Ivorian veterinary officials
Ivory Coast entry requirements
Every item below must be in place before your pet can enter. We verify and track each one.
Export requirements
What this route typically costs
Critical points
The import permit runs through two DSV email addresses, not a portal or an online form. Send the application and rabies certificate copy well ahead of travel and follow up directly if there's no reply within a couple of weeks.
No titre test is required to enter Cote d'Ivoire, unlike the reverse route into the UK, which demands one and a 90-day wait. Don't plan around a blood test this direction; plan around the vaccination timing and the permit email instead.
The health certificate has to be in French or carry a certified French translation. An English-only certificate, however well endorsed by APHA, risks being rejected on arrival.
Brussels Airlines flies Abidjan only once a week, on Saturdays, and needs a London to Brussels connection first. Treat it as a backup, not a primary booking, unless the travel date happens to land on that slot.
Approved carriers on this route
| Airline | Notes | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Air Maroc | Routes London Heathrow to Casablanca, then on to Abidjan on Royal Air Maroc's own network, a genuine single-carrier one-stop. Cabin pets are capped at 8kg including the carrier, and a long list of brachycephalic breeds is excluded from both cabin and hold. | Cabin and Cargo |
| Ethiopian Airlines | Connects Heathrow to Addis Ababa, then Addis to Abidjan on Ethiopian's own daily service. Cabin limit is 8kg including the box; larger pets travel via Ethiopian Cargo, which doesn't accept snub-nosed breeds in the hold. | Cabin and Cargo |
| Air France | London connects to Paris-Charles de Gaulle, which runs up to two flights a day onward to Abidjan. Small pets under 8kg travel in the cabin; larger animals go via Air France Cargo, which excludes snub-nosed breeds from the hold. | Cabin and Cargo |
| Brussels Airlines | Flies Brussels to Abidjan only once a week, on Saturdays, with a London to Brussels connection needed first. Dogs and cats travel in the hold under IATA Live Animal Regulations, so this route needs booking well ahead of a tight deadline. | Cargo Only |
How Ivory Coast handles incoming pets
What experienced owners do
Confirm live animal acceptance on every flight segment before booking. Not all aircraft or connections take pets, and cargo terms can differ leg to leg.
Keep every original document together and take copies. Border officials want originals, and a missing signature or date can hold up clearance.
Work backwards from your travel date and add a buffer. Fixed waiting periods mean a single slipped appointment can push the whole move back by weeks.
Check the airline’s crate size and labelling rules early. An undersized or wrongly labelled crate is a frequent reason pets are refused at check-in.
Common questions about this route
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