Senegal is calling and the trails there are unreal, but the entry rules are where the trip actually gets made or broken. Sam and I map these out the second we pick a destination, because the paperwork timeline runs longer than most people guess. Read the requirements first, work backward from your flight date, and you'll be free to focus on the good part: the adventure waiting on the other side.

Bringing a pet to Senegal 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 Senegal 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

Import permit · Required Yesverified 2026-07-16
Import permit · Issuing authorityMinistry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Livestockverified 2026-07-16
Import permit · Documents required to obtain
  • Country of origin
  • Type of pet (species & breed)
  • Pet owner's first and last name
  • Address of the premises of origin (i.e., the owner's home address)
verified 2026-07-16
Health certificate · Required Yesverified 2026-07-16
Health certificate · Government endorsed Yesverified 2026-06-19
Rabies vaccination · Required Yesverified 2026-07-16
Rabies vaccination · Waiting period after vaccination21 daysverified 2026-07-16

Timing chain

Day -21 rabies vaccine deadline · Day 0 arrive at customs

A first-time rabies vaccination must be administered no less than 21 days before travel to Senegal. Count back 21 full days from the departure date and book the shot before that cutoff. A booster on an already-valid vaccine does not trigger the wait, but a lapsed dose or a first-ever dose does. Confirm which category the vaccine falls into with the vet.
Get the vaccination timeline locked and the rest of Senegal opens right up. Sort your documents, confirm your dates, and give yourself margin far in advance so nothing gets rushed at the last minute. Nala has opinions about layovers, but she has zero patience for missing paperwork. Build a personalized plan with Pawgo's plan-builder, enter your route, and let it sequence every requirement for your actual trip.
Get YOUR personalized plan for Senegal →

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.