Pet import requirements for Ghana

Ghana at a glance

The detail

Ghana is a West African country located along the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean. Kotoka International Airport (IATA: ACC, ICAO: DGAA). 16 weeks (4 months) of age.

Import requirements

16 weeks (4 months) of age.

Required Documents for Dogs and Cats:

• Parasite treatment Certificate
• Import Permit
• Issued by the Veterinary Services Directorate (VSD), Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Ghana.
• Valid for 4 weeks from date of issue.
• Must be endorsed at the port of entry by a Ghanaian veterinary of ficer.
• International Health Certificate

• Issued within 10 days of travel.
• Completed and signed by a licensed veterinarian in the exporting country.
• Must be endorsed by the of ficial government veterinary authority of that country.
• Certifies the pet is:
• In good health and free of in fectious diseases
• Vaccinated against rabies and other diseases (see list below)
• From a rabies-free area
• Vaccination Record (Dogs and Cats)

• Required vaccines in clude:
• Rabies
• Canine distemper
• Hepatitis
• Parvovirus
• Leptospira canicola & Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae
• Parainfluenza
• Disease Test Results (Dogs Only)

• Test results must be original and negative for the following diseases:

Disease

Test Required

*Brucella canis*

Serum Agglutination or Giemsa smear

*Trypanosoma evansi*

Card Agglutination or Giemsa smear

*Babesia gibsoni*

Giemsa smear

*Dirofilaria immitis*

Microfilaria filtration test

*Leishmania spp.*

ELISA or Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Test

All pets entering Ghana are considered commercial move.

The conditions of the International Veterinary Certificate must conform to those laid down in the Ghanaian import permit... The ministry reserves the right to keep the animal under observation or deny entry if required tests or endorsements are missing or non-compliant.

NA

Identification and microchip

Type: The animal must be identified with a microchip or a permanent tattoo.

Standards: The microchip should conform to the International Standards Organisation (ISO) standard 11784 or 11785.

Documentation: The identification details must be shown on the accompanying veterinary certification.

Original Vaccination is required.

Rabies and vaccinations

Rabies vaccination is mandatory for all pets entering Ghana and must be documented in the of ficial health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian in the exporting country. The vaccine must be administered no more than six (6) months and not less than 30 days before travel to ensure adequate immunity at the time of entry. Ghana has not published the specific Rabies vaccine type, it must be a recognized and approved rabies vaccine as per the exporting country’s standards. Only original vaccination certificates and health documents are accepted, and they must clearly link the vaccination to the in dividual pet by in cluding identifying details such as breed, age, sex, and colour.

Dogs and cats must receive a rabies vaccine no earlier than 12 months and no later than 30 days before entry into Mauritius. In addition, dogs must be current on core vaccinations in cluding canine distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, leptospirosis (both canicola and icterohaemorrhagiae), parainfluenza, and rabies.while cats should be vaccinated against feline panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis, and calicivirus. All vaccinations and health treatments must be clearly recorded in the of ficial International Veterinary Certificate, issued and endorsed by the veterinary authority of the exporting country, and must accompany the pet upon arrival. Dogs must be current on core vaccinations in cluding distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, and parvovirus, while cats should be vaccinated against feline panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis, and calicivirus. All vaccinations and health treatments must be clearly recorded in the of ficial International Veterinary Certificate, issued and endorsed by the veterinary authority of the exporting country, and must accompany the pet upon arrival.

Tests and treatments

Test results for five specific diseases (*Brucella canis*, *Trypanosoma evansi*, *Babesia gibsoni*, *Dirofilaria immitis*, and *Leishmania spp.*), with only original copies of lab reports accepted and all results required to be negative.

These treatments must be administered by a licensed veterinarian in the exporting country and should be conducted within 7 to 10 days prior to departure. The treatments should in clude a broad-spectrum dewormer (effective against nematodes and cestodes) and an approved in secticide against fleas, ticks, and other ectoparasites. All administered treatments—along with the active in gredients, dates of administration, and product names—must be clearly recorded on the International Veterinary Health Certificate, which must be signed and stamped by the of ficial veterinarian.

Health certificate and permits

A valid International Veterinary Health Certificate is required for all pets entering Ghana. This certificate must verify the pet’s health status, vaccinations, and compliance with all disease testing requirements.

While Ghana does not provide a downloadable universal template for the certificate, the format must in clude all mandatory elements as outlined in the permit. The certificate must:

• Be issued within ten (10) days of the pet’s departure.
• Certify that the pet is in good health and free from in fectious and contagious diseases.
• Confirm the duration and validity of the rabies vaccination (administered within 6 months or less depending on age).
• Include evidence that the pet was vaccinated against canine distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, leptospirosis (both canicola and icterohaemorrhagiae), parainfluenza, and rabies.
• Document that the pet has tested negative for the following diseases:
• *Brucella canis*
• *Trypanosoma evansi*
• *Babesia gibsoni*
• *Dirofilaria immitis*
• *Leishmania spp.*

The certificate must be issued by a licensed and registered veterinarian in the exporting country and must be endorsed by the of ficial veterinary authority (typically the government’s veterinary department).

Issued by the Veterinary Services Directorate (VSD), Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Ghana. Valid for 4 weeks from date of issue. Must be endorsed at the port of entry by a Ghanaian veterinary of ficer.

No form As at now, Application letter for import permit in dicating the type of pet, COO and number of pet.

Dr Geoffrey Akabua/Dep. Director. Ghana Vet Directorate

Quarantine

Ghana has no mention of a mandatory quarantine requirement for pets upon entry into Ghana, provided all health, vaccination, and testing requirements are fully met.

The permit clearly states that:

• The pet must be in good health and free from in fectious disease
• Must be vaccinated (in cluding rabies)
• Must have negative test results for specific diseases

If all these conditions are satisfied, and the documentation is properly endorsed, pets are generally not quarantined upon arrival.

However, Ghana’s Veterinary Officer at the port of entry retains the authority to:

• Inspect the animal on arrival
• Review all documentation
• Decide to quarantine if there are concerns about the pet’s health or if paperwork is in complete or non-compliant

So, while quarantine is not automatically applied, it is possible at the discretion of the port veterinary authority.

Restrictions and banned breeds

Ghana has not published specific breed restrictions. Ghana currently allows the importation of all breeds, provided the health, vaccination, and testing requirements are met. There is no in dication of climate-related travel restrictions published by Ghana and does not appear to restrict pet entry based on weather conditions such as high or low temperatures.

Customs, agents, and airports

A customs broker is required for Ghana.

A destination agent is required for Ghana.

Kotoka International Airport (IATA: ACC, ICAO: DGAA)

Airports listed on this destination file: ACC.

Check for:

Origin and destination address

Import/Export permit to/out of Ghana respectively

Current vaccination records and Health Certificates

Size of kennel

CITES

NOTE: The Veterinary Services Directorate would like to bring to the notice of all AIRLINES that pets (Dogs and Cats) can only be imported into the country on a signed Veterinary Import Permit from the Veterinary Services Directorate.

ALL AIRLINES should the refore ensure that pets they carry are covered by Veterinary Import Permits from the Veterinary Services Directorate to avoid any in convenience to their clients.

Export notes

Export

An Export Permit from Veterinary Service Division of MOFA is required when importing pets to Ghana.

Depending on the destination requirement (Importers requirement) and the type of pet Export permit.

Other pets / CITES / extra rules

Permits: All in ternational trade in volving CITES-listed species requires appropriate permits:

• Appendix I: Both export and import permits are mandatory.
• Appendix II: An export permit is required; import permits may be needed depending on the importing country's regulations.
• Appendix III: An export permit or certificate of origin is necessary.

Non-Detriment Findings (NDFs): Before issuing export permits, the Scientific Authority must conduct NDFs to ensure that the trade does not harm the survival of the species in the wild.

Legal Acquisition Findings (LAFs): Verification that the specimens were legally acquired in accordance with national and in ternational laws.

Trade Suspensions: Ghana has imposed trade suspensions on certain species due to concerns over unsustainable trade practices. Notably:

• Pandinus imperator (Emperor scorpion)
• Chamaeleo gracilis (Graceful chameleon)
• Chamaeleo senegalensis (Senegal chameleon)

Organization: Forestry Commission – Wildlife Division

Contact Person: Dr. Joseph Boakye (Esq), Executive Director

Telephone: +233 (24) 485 8604

Email:info.wd@fcghana.org

Mailing Address: P.O. Box MB 239, Ministries Post Office, Accra, Ghana

Organization: Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, KNUST

Telephone: +233 (322) 060 375

Email:info@knust.edu.gh

Mailing Address: P.M.B., Kumasi, Ghana

See CITES

April-7-2017 - Health Requirements

Links to the health requirements for many types of animals - MOFA website

Provided by Helen Jones, Worldwide Movers Africa - Ghana

Veterinary in spection prior to certification of import. for Examination to declare mandatory text requirement and medically fit to travel.

Official contacts

MINISTRY OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

VETERINARY SERVICES DIRECTORATETelephone: 00-233-(0)-302-775777

Tel.-Fax: 00-233-(0)-302-776021

E-mail: vsd@mofa.gov.gh

MOFA/ Veterinary Service Directory, Ghana.

(+233) 302 975867/vsdghana21@vetservices.gh.org

MOFA

VSD, Accra

Email: rvogar100@gmail.com

Phone: +233 302 775-777

Ministry of Food and AgricultureRepublic of Ghana

Kinbu Rd, Accra,

Ghana

P CO Box M37, Accra Ministry Accra ghanacares

Tel: +233 21 662-961, 663-036, 662-810 + 233 030 394 2271, +233 (0) 50 916 3727

Fax: +233 21 668-245

Email: info@mofa.gov.gh

Website

Veterinary Services Department*Contact for Health Certificate*

PO Box M 161

Accra, Ghana

Tel: +233 21 776-015; 776-021, + 0302775777/ 0302776021

Tel: +233 50 437-3034 / +233 24 264-9497

Fax: +233 21 776-021; 668-245

Dr. Kikimoto: +233 21 775-377

Directors of VSD

DR. KENNETH M.K GBEDDY: +0544662535/+0302776021

DR. MICKEY KINGSLEY ARYEE: +0200268003

DR. MARK KOFI TETTEY: +0208420070

Dr. S.A. Ofosu, Deputy Directory of Veterinary Services

E-mail: pace@africaonline.com.gh

Contact: Dr. Mensah Agyen-Frempong, Director of Veterinary Services

Email: vetsdept@africaonline.com.gh

Current as of July 2025

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 2026-05-01.

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