Planning a pet relocation from United States to Dominican Republic is easier when you work backwards from your travel date. Give yourself roughly 3-5 weeks, though this route carries fewer hurdles than most. Pets with correct documentation …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from United States to Dominican Republic
typically takes around 3-5 weeks.
There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets.
A rabies titre test is not required.
Regulations checked
Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
Step by step
The United States to Dominican Republic pet import process
Each step must be completed in a precise sequence. Start early. We manage every stage and deadline.
1
Confirm rabies vaccination is current and within the 30-day-to-12-month window.
Responsible: Pet owner.
Before booking the vet appointment for the health certificate.
2
Examination by a USDA-accredited vet and issue of the health certificate.
Responsible: USDA-accredited veterinarian.
Within 15 days of travel.
3
USDA APHIS endorsement of the certificate.
Responsible: USDA APHIS.
2-10 business days after the vet visit.
4
Book cargo space with American, JetBlue, or Delta.
Responsible: Owner or agent.
2-4 weeks before departure.
5
Travel and present documents on arrival at SDQ or PUJ.
Responsible: DGAG officials on arrival.
Day of travel.
Requirements
What your pet needs to enter Dominican Republic
Every item below must be in place before your pet can travel. We manage and verify each one.
Microchip
ISO 11784/11785 required. Must be in place before travel and match all documents exactly.
Rabies vaccination
Required. Administered between 30 days and 12 months before entry.
Rabies titre test
Not required from the US. The Dominican Republic reserves the titre test for arrivals from countries it classifies as high-rabies-risk, and the US is not one of them.
Quarantine
No quarantine. Veterinary inspection on arrival at Las Americas International Airport (SDQ), Santo Domingo, or Punta Cana International (PUJ) for resort-area travel.
Import permit
Not required for up to 5 personal pets.
Health certificate
Required. Issued within 15 days of travel and endorsed by USDA APHIS.
Export permit (United States)
No formal export permit. A USDA APHIS-endorsed health certificate covers the documentation requirement.
Costs
What this route typically costs
USDA-accredited vet exam and health certificate: USD 150-300.
Cargo fee, Miami, New York or Atlanta to Santo Domingo or Punta Cana: USD 300-700 depending on crate size and carrier.
IATA-approved travel crate: USD 100-300.
Critical points to read before you book
No import permit is needed for up to 5 personal pets, but the health certificate still has a hard 15-day validity window. Don't get it signed too early.
This is one of the shortest, most direct routes in this build, a genuine advantage over corridors that require one or two connections.
Match your arrival airport (SDQ or PUJ) to your actual destination in the country; both handle live animal arrivals but serve different regions.
Airlines
Carriers approved for this route
Not all airlines accept live animals on this route. We know which carriers to use and how to book.
AMERICAN
American Airlines Cargo
Direct MIA-SDQ and MIA-PUJ services, part of American's dense Caribbean network out of its Miami hub.
Cargo Only
JETBLUE
JetBlue
Direct JFK-SDQ and MIA-SDQ options, with JetBlue's strong Dominican Republic route presence.
Cargo Only
DELTA AIR
Delta Air Lines
Direct ATL-SDQ and JFK-PUJ services via Delta Cargo, useful for owners not departing from Florida.
Cargo Only
Dominican Republic import rules, explained
Dominican Republic keeps its import requirements relatively light, which makes preparing easier. Even so, the basics still need to be right and in the correct order.
Practical tips for this move
Microchip before you vaccinate. The microchip must be in place before the rabies shot for the vaccination to count, and getting this order wrong is the most common and costly mistake.
Use an official, government-authorised vet for the health certificate, not just your usual clinic. Many destinations only accept certificates signed by an approved vet.
If this is your first international move, consider an IPATA-registered pet transport agent. They handle the documents, airline booking and crate sizing, and can troubleshoot problems.
Get your pet used to the travel crate weeks in advance. A calm, crate-familiar animal travels far better than one meeting the crate for the first time at the airport.
FAQ
Common questions about United States to Dominican Republic pet transport
Not for up to 5 personal pets. The Dominican Republic doesn’t require one at that scale, only the standard microchip, vaccination, and health certificate paperwork.
No. The Dominican Republic only requires a titre test from countries it classifies as high-rabies-risk, and the US isn’t one of them.
Yes. American Airlines, JetBlue, and Delta all operate non-stop cargo services from Miami, New York, and Atlanta into SDQ and PUJ.
Within 15 days of travel. Book the vet appointment with your actual departure date in mind, allowing time for USDA APHIS endorsement afterwards.
Airline guides
American Airlines Cargo
JetBlue
Delta Air Lines
Breed guides
Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.
Get a free, fully itemised quote for your United States to Dominican Republic pet move. Our specialists will map out the entire timeline and costs. No surprises.