Cape Verde is friendlier to pet travelers than its remoteness suggests, but the entry rules run on a clock. The import authorization has to be requested in advance, which means the calendar is the first thing to sort — long before the vaccines and the certificate. The science here is simpler than it sounds; the timing is where people slip. Start there, and the rest of the checklist falls into place.

Bringing a pet to Cape Verde requires three documents in the right order: a microchip, a rabies vaccine within the destination's wait window, and a government-endorsed health certificate. The table below lays out exactly what's required, what's not, and where each rule comes from.

How Cape Verde handles your pet

Each fact comes straight from the operator’s published policy. Tap the to read the exact wording; the opens the source page.

Health & documents

Quarantine · Required Noverified 2026-10-12
Rabies titer test (FAVN) · Required Yesverified 2026-10-12
Rabies titer test (FAVN) · Minimum level iu ml0.5verified 2026-10-12
Rabies titer test (FAVN) · Waiting period after test days90 daysverified 2026-10-12
Import permit · Required Noverified 2026-10-12
Health certificate · Required Yesverified 2026-10-12
Health certificate · Endorsed byOfficial veterinary authority of the country of originverified 2026-10-12
Health certificate · Government endorsed Yesverified 2026-10-12
Rabies vaccination · Required Yesverified 2026-10-12
Rabies vaccination · Booster required Noverified 2026-10-12

Other rules

Pets accepted Acceptedverified 2026-10-12
The import authorization must be requested before the animal travels, with a lead time of 15 days built into the timeline. File the zoo-sanitary import authorization request at least 15 days ahead of the intended arrival. Count 15 days backward from the travel date and submit the paperwork on or before that mark, since a late request delays clearance.
Pixel makes friends with every customs officer, but even she can't charm a missing authorization into existence. Handle Cape Verde in order: request the import authorization on time, then build the health paperwork around it. Once the sequence is clear, let Pawgo's plan-builder turn it into a personalized plan that counts your lead time and keeps the checklist honest.
Get YOUR personalized plan for Cape Verde →

Glossary

ISO chip
ISO 11784/11785 — the universal microchip standard.
FAVN
Fluorescent Antibody Virus Neutralization — a rabies serology test required by rabies-free destinations.
Brachycephalic
Snub-nosed breeds (French Bulldogs, Pugs, Persians, Himalayans) with restricted airline acceptance due to heat-stress risk.
AVIH
Animal Vehicle In Hold — IATA's term for cargo pet shipment, with fees that vary by carrier and route.