Pet import requirements for British Indian Ocean Territory

British Indian Ocean Territory at a glance

The detail

The British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) lies about 1,770km east of Mahe (the main island of the Seychelles). Because British Indian Ocean Territory is in Africa And Middle East, transit countries on the way can impose extra live-animal rules even when the destination file looks straightforward. No pet may enter the territory and must remain on yacht.

Import requirements

No pet may enter the territory and must remain on yacht.

Permits are required in advance of travel. They can take 6 weeks to process, please apply for a permit well in advance of your in tended arrival dates.

All pets must always remain on the vessel, without exception.

The permit system is only in place to allow vessels to rest at Specific Anchorages in order to provide safe passage through the Indian Ocean. In keeping with this, mooring permits will have a maximum validity of 28 days and are valid for the Outer Islands only. You can apply for one, two, three or four weeks.

The charges for a permit are £100 per week from 27 November 2020 (set rate).

Please note, if you are paying from an in ternational (non-UK) bank account, you will need to add £1 for transfers of £100 and under, or £7 for transfers over £100. This is to cover bank charges.

To note:

• Permits cannot be extended once your in itial application has been approved (neither before your arrival nor in the Territory) so please think carefully about how much time you will need to stop in BIOT, bearing in mind weather conditions and other factors

• Changes will not be considered for those arriving within the window of their permit.

• Changes to crew members will also not be considered after the permit has been issued.

• Applications will not be considered from charter vessels, cruise ships, or vessels with fee-paying crews.

• If you decide not to use your permit, please notify the Administration as soon as possible. Unfortunately, they are unable to provide refunds.

• If you encounter exceptional circumstances (e.g. severe vessel malfunctions, medical emergencies or dangerous weather conditions) and cannot enter BIOT during the period outlined in your permit please contact the BIOT Administration as soon as possible. Any changes to the terms of your permit are solely at the discretion of the Administration.

You should be aware that any person who enters BIOT without permission may be liable to imprisonment for 3 years and/or a fine of £10,000 and the vessel used to enter BIOT waters may be seized and forfeited.Application Process

The application process is as follows:

You must read the BIOT Guidance For Yachts document before applying. Please also take a moment to read our in formation leaflet on Invasive Species and Vessels in Transit.

Once you have read the guidance please complete the BIOT Outer Islands Permit Request.

You will also need to complete a COVID 19 Declaration for Visiting Vessels

Send the following to BIOTAdmin@fco.gov.uk:

• The completed permit request form

• A signed COVID-19 declaration

• A copy of your in surance documents covering medical evacuation (minimum US$100,000 per person) and wreck recovery, clean up and removal in BIOT. Please highlight the sections in your documentation that cover this. These documents must be in English and it is your responsibility to request translations from your in surance company in advance of your application if needed.

• Copies of the passports for all persons aboard the vessel, which must be valid for at least six months from the planned date of entry to BIOT

Please ensure your emails are no larger than 5MB (otherwise they will not receive them nor will we receive notification of them) and that your emails have the name of your yacht in the subject field.

No pets allowed in Diego Garcia even military.

All pets must always remain on the vessel, without exception.

An Import Permit must be obtained from the Department of Agriculture for all cats, dogs and other animals entering the British Virgin Islands from countries other than rabies-controlled countries.

Dog(s)/Cat(s) must be found clinically healthy on arrival.

Restrictions

Visits to the islands are tightly controlled and certain restrictions put in place; some of the islands have been designated as Strict Nature Reserves and it is illegal to enter them. If you are granted permission to visit, you must moor your vessel at BIOT approved sites only, to help conserve BIOT’s fragile coral environment. Diving, spearfishing, removal of flora or fauna and commercial activity (in cluding charter trips and fishing other than for subsistence purposes) are strictly prohibited and any of fences will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

There is no fishing in the entire BIOT Marine Protected Area. The only exception to this is to allow visiting yachts to fish for their own consumption (no more than three days’ worth, without freezing) and only with a hand line. A fishing log must be kept up to date whilst in BIOT waters, as a Fisheries Protection Officer may wish to see it.

Identification and microchip

To enter the British Virgin Islands, your pet must first be microchipped with an ISO 11784/11785 compliant pet microchip that is a 15 digit and non-encrypted.

Rabies and vaccinations

It is a good idea when traveling by sea to have a current rabies vaccination.

The first rabies vaccination must occur after 3 months of age and the second vaccination must occur at least 6 months after the first one. Pets must enter the British Virgin Islands within 12 months of the second shot.

Follow the protocol of your veterinarian and your export country requirements due to regional disease.

Dogs entering from any country must be vaccinated for been vaccinated against Canine Parvovirus, Distemper, Hepatitis/Adenovirus, Parainfluenza, Leptospirosis and Lyme disease.

Cats entering from any country must be vaccinated against Feline Calicivirus, Panleukopenia, Feline Rhinotracheitis, and Feline Leukemia.

Tests and treatments

When traveling by sea it is a good idea to have a current FAVN test as many islands require this and especially if you run into mechanical problems that require a stop off with your yacht.

Your pet will need a rabies titer test no sooner than 30 days after the second rabies vaccination. Samples must be processed at approved laboratories.

Follow the protocol of your veterinarian and export country.

A treatment for in ternal and external parasite is required for cats and dogs shortly prior to entering the British Virgin Islands from all countries.

Health certificate and permits

When traveling by sea it is advised to have an updated health certificate from the last port. It should in clude vaccination in formation, any treatments administered, and state the pet is clinically healthy and shows no signs of disease.

After the vaccinations are completed and within 7 days of travel, a licensed veterinarian must then complete the health certificate for the British Virgin Islands.

The governmental agency responsible for the import and export of animals must endorse the forms.

Before travelling to the British Indian Ocean Territory, you will need a valid permit, which you must obtain from the British Indian Ocean Territory Administration.

Please apply for a permit at least six weeks prior to your in tended arrival date, as the application process can take several weeks, and space is limited. There is no right to receive a permit, and they are granted solely at the discretion of the Administration.

Click here for more in formation: to learn how to apply for a permit. Permits are required in advance of travel. They can take 6 weeks to process, please apply for a permit well in advance of your in tended arrival dates.

The permit system is only in place to allow vessels to rest at Specific Anchorages in order to provide safe passage through the Indian Ocean. In keeping with this, mooring permits will have a maximum validity of 28 days and are valid for the Outer Islands only. You can apply for one, two, three or four weeks.

http://www.bvi.gov.vg/content/animal-import-permits

https://www.biot.gov.io/wp-content/uploads/BIOT-Guidance-For-Yachts-Issued-Nov-2020.pdf

State Veterinarian Endorsed Health Certificate

Original Veterinarian documents in cluding Rabies Titre Test Certificate

Import Permit

Quarantine

All pets must always remain on the vessel, without exception.

Only applicable if necessary documentation in correct or absent.

Restrictions and banned breeds

No pet may enter the island and must always remain on the yacht.

No published list of banned breeds.

Customs, agents, and airports

BIOT Customs and Immigration of ficials patrol the Territory to check permits and passports. The passports of all passengers/crew will be checked against the details provided on the Outer Islands Permit Request form. You will be asked to explain any discrepancies. Diego Garcia is subject to British Customs and Immigration Controls.

BIOT Customs and Immigration of ficials patrol the Territory to check permits passports. The passports of all passengers/crew will be checked against the details provided on the Outer Islands Permit Request form. You will be asked to explain any discrepancies

The airport is private use only and mostly military based. The British Indian Ocean Territory is not a to urist destination. Access is restricted and a permit is required in advance of travel. There are no commercial flights and permits are only issued to yachts for safe passage. Access to Diego Garcia is only for those on pre-authorized of ficial duty.

[Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Travel Advice page.](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/british-in dian-ocean-territory)

Diego Garcia NSF Airport – Private Only

Camp Justice, British Indian Ocean

To find suitable mooring site plots please Visit Website.

For military PCS air arrival - Diego Garcia is subject to British Customs and Immigration Controls.

Upon arrival in the Territory, follow the arrival reporting procedures as outlined in the guidance document; Once you have left the Territory, please send your fishing log back to the Senior Fisheries Protection Officer within 28 days, in cluding nil returns.

Download a map of the islands

How to apply for a mooring permit

ARRIVAL / DEPARTURE REPORTING

All vessels are requested to report the following to the Visiting Vessels Control Officer

(VVCO) / BIOT Patrol Vessel (BPV):

Vessels can use email or satellite enabled phones for text or voice messages to send the position reports.

Please refer to reporting format.

BIOT Customs and Immigration of ficials patrol the Territory to check permits and passports. The passports of all passengers/crew will be checked against the details

provided on the Outer Islands Permit Request form. You will be asked to explain any discrepancies.

The Veterinary Division must be given at least 24 hours notice of confirmed arrival date, time, airline/vessel and port of entry. This will facilitate unnecessary delays, and avoid detention of animal(s) for Veterinary clearance at port of entry.

All domestic dogs and cats must be free of evidence of disease communicable to humans when examined at the entry airport. If your dog or cat is not in apparent good health, further examination by a licensed veterinarian may be required at your expense.

The Veterinary Division must be given at least 24 hrs notice of confirmed arrival date, time, airline/vessel and port of entry. This will facilitate unnecessary delays, and avoid detention of animal(s) for Veterinary clearance at port of entry.

There is a fee of ten (US$10.00) dollars for each animal on the permit.

Animal(s) must be kept in confinement (carrier) until granted entry into the country. Failure to do so can cause entry of animal(s) being denied.

Export notes

There are no accessible veterinarian resources. Must meet the next destination import requirements.

Other pets / CITES / extra rules

Yes, the territory is a member under the United Kingdom CITES.

Failure to provide a full application or necessary documentation will lead to your application being rejected. If you are unsure, please submit queries in advance of submitting your application, and take care to read all documentation carefully and in full.

If your application is approved, you will then be sent payment in structions (bank transfer only). Please make the payment and send the receipt to the BIOT Administration. Only when payment is received will your application be processed, and a permit issued.

You will then be sent the following documents:

• Your mooring permit
• BIOT Guidance For Yachts (PDF document) (PDF document)
• Visitors and Visiting Vessels Ordinance 2018 (PDF document) (PDF document)
• A blank Fishing Log (Word document) (Word document) for completion during your stay in BIOT (nil returns required)

All pets must remain on the vessel at all times, without exception.

Animal Welfare Regulations

The British Indian Ocean Territory is not a to urist destination. Access is restricted and a permit is required in advance of travel. There are no commercial flights and permits for yachts are only issued to allow safe passage through the Indian Ocean (Outer Islands only). Access to Diego Garcia is only permitted to those with connections either to the military facility or to the Territory’s Administration.

Sea Travel

Recent piracy attacks off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden highlight that the threat of piracy related activity and armed robbery in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean remains significant. Reports of attacks on local fishing dhows in the area around the Gulf of Aden and Horn of Africa continue. The combined threat assessment of the in ternational Naval Counter Piracy Forces remains that all sailing yachts under their own passage should remain out of the designated High Risk Area or face the risk of being hijacked and held hostage for ransom.

Birds, in vertebrates, tropical fish, reptiles, amphibia, mammals such as rodents and rabbits are not subject to requirements of rabies vaccination, but may have to meet other requirements and should have a health certificate and import permit to enter the British Virgin Islands. Pet owners are strongly advised to seek further in formation from the relevant authority of their country and/or that of the country of destination.

There are no accessible veterinarian resources. Must meet the next destination import requirements.

The Rabies Endemic conditions are applicable to South Africa

For pets entering from rabies-controlled countries, health certificates must contain a statement that your dog or cat has been in your country of origin for 6 months prior to export and that there has been no in cidents of rabies among un-quarantined animals in your country for the past 24 months.

No cat or dog will be permitted entry to the British Virgin Islands from countries or areas under quarantine restrictions without prior permission from the Chief Agricultural Officer.

Official contacts

BIOTAdmin@fco.gov.uk

CONTACTS

Contact Location Details

BIOT Administration London Email: BIOTAdmin@fco.gov.uk

Senior Fisheries Protection Officer In Territory Email: sfpo@mrag.co.uk

Visiting Vessels Control Officer In Territory Email: sfpo@mrag.co.uk

BIOT Patrol Vessel (Grampian

Frontier) In Territory Tel: +44 1224 539348

Satellite phone number: 00 88 167 772 69 31

Email: Grampian.frontier@northstarshipping.co.uk

Emergency only Radio HF: 2182 KHz

(24hr listening watch)

BIOT Police Station Diego Garcia Tel: +246 370293

Government of the British Virgin IslandsVeterinary Division

Department of Agriculture

Paraquita Bay

Tortola

Tel: +1 284 468-6123

Fax: +1 284 468-6102

Email: bvigov_vet@gov.vg

Email Address: agriculturebvi@gov.vg

Contact Form

Mr. Deveaux at Dept of Agriculture

Cell: +1 284 468-9247

General Office (Paraquita Bay):

Tel: +1 284 468-6123/6124

Fax: +1 284 468-6102

Virgin Gorda Office: +1 284 468-6506 / 6507

Anegada Office: +1 284 468-4356

Airport Office: +1 284 468-6449

Current as of May-2019

Disclaimer

Import rules change without much warning. Confirm every vaccine date, test, permit, and crate routing with the destination veterinary authority before you travel. This page is a planning brief for Furry Freight customers, last checked against the IPATA country profile dated 2025-06-03.

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