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Bringing a Dog from the USA to Colombia: Requirements & Timeline

An easy, vacation-friendly route in — about three weeks — with the trip home being the hard part for dogs.

Rules last verified against official sources: 2026-07-24

Planning for a cat instead? See the cat version of this route →

Pick your travel date to get a dated, backward-planned checklist. (This tool needs JavaScript; the full requirements are listed below either way.)

Colombia is easy to enter: no import permit for a personal pet and no quarantine. You need a rabies vaccination (for a first shot, at least 21 days before shipment; minimum entry age 15 weeks), an internal-and-external parasite treatment within 60 days, and a USDA-endorsed health certificate issued after an exam within the prior 10 days.

The harder leg, as across the region, is coming home: Colombia is on the CDC's high-rabies-risk list.

Minimum lead time: about 0.7 months (21 days). About three weeks from a standing start: a first rabies vaccination needs 21 days before shipment, and your pet must be at least 15 weeks old to enter. The real planning is the return to the US.

The requirements, in order

Order matters — several steps are only valid if the earlier ones were done first. This is the same sequence the planner above turns into dated deadlines.

  1. Rabies vaccination (21 days before shipment)
    Pets 15 weeks or older must be rabies-vaccinated to enter Colombia, and the vaccination certificate must travel with them. For a first (primary) dose it must be given at least 21 days before shipment. Animals under 15 weeks may enter unvaccinated only under a conditional home quarantine during which they're vaccinated after arrival.
    The 15-week minimum age is Colombia's floor: a rabies-vaccinated pet can't enter younger than that.
    Official source ↗
  2. Internal & external parasite treatment
    Mandatory deworming (internal) and external antiparasitic treatment for both dogs and cats, applied within 60 days before shipment, with product and date recorded on the certificate.
    Official source ↗
  3. Health certificate endorsed by USDA APHIS
    The health certificate (form NL 0326), issued by a USDA-accredited vet after an exam within the prior 10 days and endorsed by USDA APHIS. Non-rabies vaccines (distemper, parvovirus, etc. for dogs; panleukopenia for cats) are recorded but can be given after arrival if missing.
    Official source ↗

The return trip is the hard part (for dogs)

Because Colombia is CDC high-risk, a dog returning to the US needs a US-issued (endorsed) rabies vaccination, a microchip, to be 6+ months old, and a CDC Dog Import Form submitted before the US-bound flight. Set the rabies vaccination up in the US before you leave. Cats have none of these return requirements.

Timing the three steps

Rabies first (21+ days out, pet ≥15 weeks), parasite treatment within 60 days, and the vet exam plus APHIS-endorsed certificate within the final 10 days. Non-rabies vaccines are recorded but can be given after arrival if missing.

Official sources

These are the only authorities on this route. If anything here disagrees with them, they win — and please tell us.

Rather have a professional handle the whole move? Pet relocation companies manage the vet visits, paperwork, and bookings end-to-end. (Referral placement — link to relocation partner here.)
Traveling internationally with a pet? Vet visits abroad are out-of-network by definition. (Pet insurance affiliate placement here.)

FAQ

How long does it take to bring a dog from the US to Colombia?
About three weeks if your dog needs a first rabies shot (21-day wait), and it must be at least 15 weeks old to enter. Parasite treatment within 60 days, and the endorsed certificate within 10 days of travel.
Do I need an import permit for Colombia?
No — personal pet dogs and cats don't need an import permit, and there's no quarantine.
What about bringing my dog back to the US?
Colombia is CDC high-risk, so plan ahead: a US-issued rabies vaccination, a microchip, dog 6+ months old, and a CDC Dog Import Form before the return flight.
Is it different for cats?
The outbound rules match, but cats skip the CDC return process. Use the cat toggle in the planner.

Other dog routes

Disclaimer: Preflight Pet is a planning aid, not legal or veterinary advice. Import rules change; airlines add their own requirements. Always confirm every step with the official government sources linked on this page, and with your airline and accredited veterinarian, before booking travel.