Pet import requirements for Kiribati

Kiribati at a glance

The detail

Highly Recommended. Highly Recommended. Republic of Kiribati is an island country in the Micronesia sub-region of Oceania in the central Pacific Ocean. Build extra buffer for Oceania connections; live-animal acceptance windows are shorter than passenger connections.

Import requirements

Age varies. You must import your cat or dog directly from an approved country. The conditions your cat or dog must meet can vary depending on the approved country.

Cats and dogs can only be imported from Australia, Fiji and New Zealand. Pet must first qualify for import to one of these countries and meet guidelines.

You must follow the guidelines put forth in the Importation of Animals Regulations from 1965. Please note the 1998 amendment. Regulation 12(a) is hereby amended by deleting the words "Australia, Fiji or New Zealand or the United States of America."

Dated this 10th day of November, 1998.

Import Permit is required to obtain in advance.

Free from all disease and have not contact with any diseased animal within 6 months preceding the date of shipment.

Advance notification must be given.

Follow all requirements for import.

Cats and dogs can only be imported from Australia, Fiji and New Zealand. Pet must first qualify for import to one of these countries and meet guidelines.

All animals must stay on vessel or in crate until in spected and granted authorization to land. Import Permit should be obtained at least one month in advance. Advance notification must be given of expected arrival.

Cats and dogs can only be imported from Australia, Fiji and New Zealand. Pet must first qualify for import to one of these countries and meet guidelines.

ADVANCE NOTIFICATION:

Biosecurity arrival declaration

The master or captain of every vessel or aircraft destined for Kiribati must make to the Director a biosecurity arrival declaration stating:

(a) the destination seaport or airport in Kiribati and the estimated time of arrival of the vessel or aircraft;

(b) its immediately preceding port or place of call;

(c) the proposed itinerary of the vessel or aircraft until it leaves Kiribati;

(d) the nature and country of origin of its cargo;

(e) the number of passengers and crew;

(f) the presence of any live animal or live plant on the vessel or aircraft;

(g) the nature of any illness or malady affecting any live animal, plant, crew member, passenger or other in dividual on board the vessel or aircraft; and

(h) any other matter relevant to facilitating biosecurity landing

clearance of the vessel or aircraft that is specified by the Director.

(2) The declaration required by subsection (1) -

(a) must be made not less than 24 hours in the case of a vessel, or 60 minutes in the case of an aircraft, before the estimated time of arrival;

(b) may be made by electronic means, in accordance with directions of the Director issued

Identification and microchip

Yes, it is required and should be implanted before primary rabies vaccination.

Rabies and vaccinations

Pet must be current with vaccination. 1 – 3 year vaccination accepted.

Pet must be vaccinated with an in activated rabies vaccine that:

• was given in an approved country when the pet was at least 84 days old
• is continuously valid, in accordance with the manufacturer’s directions, from the date of vaccination prior to blood collection for the Rabies neutralising antibody titre (RNAT) test up to and in cluding the time of export
• is approved for use in pets by the competent authority of the country of export

Rabies vaccinations with a three (3) year validity are acceptable if given in accordance with manufacturer’s in structions.

Core vaccines and additional ones in accordance with where pet is originating from and regional diseases.

Tests and treatments

RNATT between 180 days – 12 months prior to export. Other tests required depending on selected country of import as one of the approved countries in which to export to Kiribati from

Internal and external parasite treatment within guidelines. External parasite treatments must be to pical (not oral) and must kill ticks and fleas on contact.

Products that kill following a blood feed by the tick or flea and in gestion of the active in gredient such as Bravecto® (fluralaner), NexGard® (afoxolaner), Advantage Multi®

(moxidectin) and Revolution® (selamectin) are not compliant external parasite treatments.

The active in gredient(s) and dose rates of the external (and in ternal) parasite treatments must be in cluded on the of ficial health certificate.

Internal parasite treatments must be effective against both nematodes and cestodes.

Health certificate and permits

Issued within 7 days and endorsed by Official Veterinarian.

https://www.melad.gov.ki/images/ald/applications/application_1.pdf

Permit should be obtained not less than one month in advance. Form is available under Government forms.

Application to Import

Quarantine

All animals must undergo in spection. Quarantine is at the discretion of the of ficer if it is felt the animal poses a threat or is ill. There is a biosecurity holding area upon arrival. No animal is allowed to be free until cleared through by the biosecurity agents and granted permission to enter.

Restrictions and banned breeds

Cats and dogs can only be imported from Australia, Fiji and New Zealand.

Customs, agents, and airports

Highly Recommended.

Airports:

• Bonriki International Airport (TRW), South Tarawa. (IATA: TRW, ICAO: XXXX)
• Cassidy International Airport, Kiritimati (IATA: CXI, ICAO: PLCH)
• Canton Island Airport, Canton Island, Kiribati (IATA: CIS, ICAO: PCIS)

Water Port:

• The main water port of Kiribati is Betio Port, located on Betio Islet in South Tarawa. (Kiribati Ports Authority)

Kiribati has 3 International gateways. These are located on Tarawa, Kiritimati and Kanton Islands. Bonriki International Airport is an in ternational airport in Kiribati, serving as the main gateway to the country in the capital, South Tarawa. Air Kiribati is the national airline connecting the islands. Airport code is TRW Hub for: Air Kiribati, Coral Sun Airways and Air Tungaru. The region is also accessible by sea. There is also a ferry service and water taxi that runs between a few of the islands.

Kiribati Customs Administration and Enforcement - (Ministry of Justice)

Betio, Tarawa P O Box 503

Tel: +68675126531 / 75126750

Email: info@kiribaticustoms.gov.ki

It may prove helpful to reach out to customs companies that service this island - https://expressfreight.com/solutions/customs-brokerage/

Anee Naunta

Principal Customs Officer

Tel 75126531

Email anee@kiribaticustoms.gov.ki

Mr. Tabuaka Naititi

Senior Customs Officer

Tel 75126531

Email tabuaka@kiribaticustoms.gov.ki

Mr. Etekia Betero

Principal Compliance Officer

Tel 75126351

Export notes

Export permit required for certain species. Health in spection and health certificate depending on destination country.

Other pets / CITES / extra rules

Non-member

Live animals must enter through a Port of Entry

Cats and dogs can only be imported from Australia, Fiji and New Zealand. Pet must first qualify for import to one of these countries and meet guidelines.

Very limited veterinarian resources on the island. It may be helpful to source recommendations from Australian vet clinics of those who have traveled to Kirbati to lend services.

There are no actual taxis in Kiribati, with private minibuses being the main form of public transportation on South Tarawa and Christmas Island.

Export permit required for certain species. Health in spection and health certificate depending on destination country.

Official contacts

Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agricultural Development

Enwarementa Building, Country of the World

P.O. Box 234

Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agricultural Development

Bikenibeu, Tarawa

Republic of Kiribati

Phone #: 75228211, 75228212, 63030030

Email: info@melad.gov.ki

Website

Kiribati Customs Administration and Enforcement - (Ministry of Justice)

Betio, Tarawa P O Box 503

Tel: +68675126531 / 75126750

Email: info@kiribaticustoms.gov.ki

It may prove helpful to reach out to customs companies that service this island - https://expressfreight.com/solutions/customs-brokerage/

Anee Naunta

Principal Customs Officer

Tel 75126531

Email anee@kiribaticustoms.gov.ki

Mr. Tabuaka Naititi

Senior Customs Officer

Tel 75126531

Email tabuaka@kiribaticustoms.gov.ki

Mr. Etekia Betero

Principal Compliance Officer

Tel 75126351

Current as of March 2026

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 2026-03-30.

Next: measure your dog, find the kennel size, then get a free travel quote. Moving on military orders? PCS moves. Going to Hawaiʻi instead? Hawaiʻi has its own regime.

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