Pet import requirements for the Turks and Caicos Islands

The Turks and Caicos Islands at a glance

The detail

The Turks and Caicos Islands are a British Overseas Territory consisting of the larger Caicos Islands and smaller Turks Islands, two groups of tropical islands in the Lucayan Archipelago of the Atlantic Ocean and northern West Indies. Because Turks and Caicos Islands is in Latin America And Caribbean, transit countries on the way can impose extra live-animal rules even when the destination file looks straightforward. Import Permitrequired.

Import requirements

Dependent upon whether the animal is coming from a rabies free country or not.

Required to be spayed/neutered (unless granted a Breeder’s License from the Department of Agriculture – Turks and Caicos.)

Rabies titer test required unless traveling from a listed rabies free country.

RequirementsEntering Turks and Caicos Islands by Air:

All pets must enter Turks and Caicos Islands at the Providenciales International Airport or one of the of ficial Marinas. There are no quarantine facilities in Turks and Caicos. Pets that do not clear in spection will be held for no more than 48 hours pending deportation or will be euthanized.

All pets must be spayed or neutered to enter the country. Only in tact pets/service dogs will be allowed entry if a breeders license has been issued by Turks and Caicos government prior to health certificate being endorsed by country of origin.

No more than 24 hours is allowed as a layover (in transit) or a new health certificate must be obtained from country in transit. This health certificate must be endorsed by the of ficial Government Veterinary Authority.

Requirements are dependent upon which country pet is coming from…..The animal must have a Turks and Caicos Health Certificate and an import permit.

SEE IMPORT REQUIREMENTS

Must acquireTurks and Caicos business license prior to moving live animals on a commercial basis.

Health Certificate and Import Permit are required.

DEPENDENT UPON COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: MUST REVIEW HEALTH CERTIFICATE SPECIFIC TO COUNTRY. COUNTIRES NOT LISTED AS RABIES FREE ARE CATEGORIZED AS RABIES ENDEMIC. USA, CANADA, BAHAMAS, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC HAVE SPECIFIC HEALTH CERTIFICS ISSUED BY THE TURKS AND CAICOS GOVERNMENT.

In addition to standard pet importation requirements, the Turks and Caicos Islands have specific restrictions and needs for certain animal species and health conditions, in cluding a ban on certain dog breeds and the requirement for a Rabies Titer test for pets entering from specific countries.

Identification and microchip

MUST HAVE MICROCHIPED

Rabies and vaccinations

MUST HAVE RABIES IF COMING FROM ANY COUNTRY NOT LISTED AS RABIES FREE ON THE TURKS AND CAICOS APPLICATION TO IMPORT DOGS AND CATS.

Accepts both 1- and 3-year rabies. Unless coming from a rabies free country pet must be vaccinated for rabies, wait thirty days then have a titer test.

DOGS:

• DHPP
• LEPTO AND LYME (A LYME TEST CAN BE ADMINISTERED INSTEAD OF THE LYME VACCINE HOWEVER MUST BE ADMINSITERED WITHIN 10 DAYS OF DEPARTURE.

CATS:

• FVRCP
• FeLV

Tests and treatments

RABIES ENDEMIC COUNTRIES:

• ANNUAL FAVN Rabies Titer Test
• Leishmaniasis, Lyme

USA AND CANADA: FAVN and LYME (if not vaccinated for Lyme)

IF NO LYME VACCINE…. A LYME TEST IS REQUIRED WITHIN 10 DAYS OF DEPARTURE (DOGS ONLY) Every Entry

DOGS AND CATS:

(Must be Administered by Veterinarian)

• FLEA AND TICK
• TAPEWORM

Documented on Turks and Caicos Health CertificateWhen (DATE) administered is determined by what country pet is coming from.

Health certificate and permits

Health Certificate issued by Turks and Caicos unless coming from the UK.The Turks and Caicos Islands Department of Agriculture requires a minimum of two business days to process the application, and you are advised to complete this process well in advance of travel. Be sure to bring physical copies of any supporting documents, such as vaccination records, Rabies titer tests, blood tests, microchip records, and proof of spay or neuter.

Defra issues Health Certificates specific to Turks and Caicos.

US/CANADA HEALTH CERTIFCATE FORM

Import Permitrequired. No exceptions

HEALTH CERTIFICATES

APPLICATION FOR IMPORT PERMITS

APPLICATION FOR BREEDER’S LICENSE

BREEDER’S LICENSE

IMPORT PERMITS

INTERISLAND TRANSIT PERMIT

SEE: https://www.visittci.com/downloads/animal-import-application-for-dogs-and-cats.pdf

Quarantine

Pets are generally not required to be quarantined upon arrival. However, a 14-day home confinement period is required for new entrants.

Restrictions and banned breeds

Following breeds Prohibited(in cluding crosses): Dogo Argentino; American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Bull Dog, Japanese Tosa, Perro de Presa Canario, (Canary Dog) and the Fila Brasiliero

Following Breeds Restricted: Must contact Department of Agriculture if attempting to import: Appenzeller; Aryan Molossus; Bandog; Beauceron; Belgian Mastiff; Bull Mastiff; Danish Broholmer; Dogue de Bordeaux; Great Swiss Mountain Dog; Korean Jindo; Kuvasz; Leonberger; Moscow Watchdog; Neapolitan Mastiff; Perro de Presa Mallorquin; Rottweiler’ Boerboel; Tibetan Mastiff

Customs, agents, and airports

Required for cargo shipments

Highly Recommended

AIR:

Providenciales International Airport (IATA: *PLS*, ICAO: MBPV)

Atlantic Aviation or Provo Air Center

SEA: Caicos Marina and Shipyard, Southside Marina, Turtle Cove Marina, Blue Haven Marina

Airports listed on this destination file: PLS, GDT.

ALL ANIMALS ARE INSPECTED BY THE LOCAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE UPON ARRIVAL AND PRIOR TO LEAVING THE AIRPORT OR PORT. A MINIMUM OF 48 HOURS NOTICE MUST BE GIVEN TO THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE PRIOR TO ARRIVAL. ALL ANIMALS MUST BE ISSUED AN IMPORT PERMIT PRIOR TO ENTERING TURKS AND CAICOS.

Animal products, by-products and other controlled commodities must also be accompanied by a valid in ternational veterinary certificate and found to be sanitary by the Inspection Unit at the port of entry before they are permitted clearance to enter in accordance with the requirements of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Animals which are not accompanied by an in ternational veterinary certificate conforming to the import requirements of the Turks and Caicos Islands may be refused clearance to enter. Under these circumstances the animal will be returned (at the owner´s expense) within 48 hours to the exporting country. The Turks and Caicos Islands does not have measures to quarantine at present. Therefore, animals that are found unhealthy at in spection will not be allowed to be re-exported, if they pose a sanitary risk to the country of export. In these in stances, the animal will be euthanized.

Entry Points: By Air: PLS, Atlantic Aviation, Provo Air Center

By Sea: Southside marina, Blue Haven Marina, Turtle Cove Marina Southdock Marina, Caicos Marina and Shipyard IATA container requirements

Pets may land on weekend

48 hours’ notice must be given to the Department of Agriculture

No transit station Pets must remain in crates/bags until in spected and cleared by the Department of Agriculture

Export notes

AN INTERNATIONAL SANITARY CERTIFICATE FOR EXPORT PURPOSES MUST BE OBTAINED FROM A LOCAL VETERINARIAN IN TURKS AND CAICOS PRIOR TO ANY PET LEAVING THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS. LOCAL VETERINARIANS ISSUE THE SANITARY EXPORT CERTIFICATE, M WHICH THEN MUST BE ENDORSED BY THE DEPARTMENT THE TURKLS AND CAICOS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

TAKEN FROM DOA WEBSITE:

To facilitate the export of animals, animal products and other controlled commodities, Animal Health Services provide the destination (importing) country with of ficial affirmations and declarations regarding the commodity being exported. We will:

• Only authorize the exportation from the Turks and Caicos Islands, animals, animal products control commodities which are correctly identified, and which meet the requirements of the importing country, in cluding all tests, vaccinations and disinfection procedures as required by the veterinary authority.
• Issue an International Sanitary Certificate attesting that the animals and animal products have been found to be clinically healthy and/or fit for human consumption and that they are of the health status agreed by the importing country and The Turks and Caicos Islands.
• Make sure that transportation procedures meet the appropriate standards for animal welfare (live animals) and sanitation standards (animal products) in accordance with OIE recommendations.

Other pets / CITES / extra rules

CITES required for certain birds

Importing birds, in vertebrates, tropical fish, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals like rodents and rabbits still requires an import permit and a health certificate.

Animal Welfare Regulations

Animals transporting from one island to the next within the Turks and Caicos must have a government endorsed transit permit

ALL PET OWNERS MUST OBTAIN A SANITARY EXPORT CERTIFICATE FOR THEIR PET PRIOR TO LEAVING TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS. THE SANITARY EXPORT PERMIT MUST BE SOUGHT WITHIN 7 DAYS OF DEPARTURE DATE (LEAVING TURKS AND CAICOS). IT CAN BE OBTAINED FROM ONE OF THE LOCAL VETERINARIANS.

Official contacts

The Department of Agriculture

Animal Health Services

16 Paradise Avenue, Butterfield Square

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands

Telephone: +649 946-5801

Fax: +649 941-7587

Email: agriculture@gov.tc

Website

DR. THOMAS CVO EMAIL: agriculture@gov.tc

TELEPHONE: 649-338-5269

FAX: 649-941-7587

Customs Department

Grand Turk Airport +649 946-2345

Provo Airport +649 946-4906

Harbour Master

GT +649 946-2325 South Dock 946-2993

Provo +649 946-4241 South Dock - 946-4476/4241

TCI Chief Customs Officer Customs Department

South Base, Grand Turk

Tel: +649 946-2993/4

Fax: +649 946-2887

Customs Collector

GT +649 946-2993/2994

Fax: +649 926-2887

Provo +649 946-4241

Fax: +649 946-4453

Providenciales

Email: tccustoms@tciway.tc

Grand Turk customs

Email: customs_gdt@gov.tc

Current as of JUNE 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 2025-06-10.

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