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. Hover the to read the exact wording; the opens the source page.
Health & documents
Import permit · Required Yes“Para animais vivos, produtos de origem animal e derivados e alimentos destinados ao consumo animal, antes de iniciar o processo de compra o importador deve solicitar a autorização de importação zoo-sanitária na Direção…”verified 2026-07-07
Frequently asked
- What if my flight is delayed past my health certificate validity?
- If the certificate window expires before you board, you'll need a re-issue. Build a 1-2 day buffer between the cert date and departure to absorb minor delays.
- What happens if I forget a document?
- At the destination airport: at best, an extended inspection while you produce backup; at worst, the pet is held in quarantine or returned to origin at your cost. Bring printed copies.
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.
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.