Bringing Your Pet to Togo: A Complete Import Guide

Moving to Togo with your companion—whether a rescue dog like my Tafoukt or a beloved cat—requires patience, paperwork, and planning. The good news: Togo welcomes both cats and dogs as personal pets. The reality: you'll need to navigate import permits, health certificates, vaccinations, and veterinary endorsements. This guide walks you through every step, with timelines and checklists to keep you on track.

I've relocated rescue dogs across the Mediterranean—from Moroccan shelters to French families—and the infrastructure for international pet travel, while demanding, exists for a reason: it protects both your animal and the communities they're entering. Togo's requirements reflect that same care. Let's get your pet there safely.

Can Your Pet Enter Togo?

Yes, both cats and dogs are allowed into Togo as personal pets, provided they meet all health and documentation requirements. There are no breed restrictions for either species. Service dogs (trained guide dogs, hearing dogs, mobility dogs) are recognized under international standards, though they must still comply with all standard import documentation—no exemptions apply.

Emotional support animals (ESAs) are not recognized for travel purposes by government authorities or airlines, so they will be treated as regular pets and must meet all requirements.

Your Preparation Timeline

6 Months Before Departure

Schedule a pre-travel vet consultation. Your veterinarian needs to assess your pet's health, discuss vaccination schedules, and confirm your pet is fit for international travel. This is also when you'll confirm your pet's microchip status and plan the microchipping if needed.

5 Months Before Departure

Apply for your import permit from Togo's government veterinary authority. Import permits are required and typically take 30 days to process. Contact Togo's Ministry of Agriculture or relevant veterinary authority to request the permit application. You'll need your pet's details (name, age, breed, microchip number if already chipped) and your own contact information.

4 Months Before Departure

Have your pet microchipped if not already done. The microchip must be ISO 11784/11785 standard (15-digit). This must be implanted before your pet receives their rabies vaccination—it's a regulatory requirement in most countries. If your pet already has a non-ISO chip, you'll need to provide your own compatible scanner at arrival.

3.5 Months Before Departure

Administer the primary rabies vaccination. Your pet must be at least 12 weeks (3 months) old at vaccination. After this first dose, you must wait 21 days before travel. The vaccine must be administered by a licensed veterinarian and recorded in your pet's health documentation.

3 Months Before Departure

Confirm booster vaccination status. Rabies boosters are required. If your pet's previous rabies vaccine is current, ensure the booster is scheduled within the appropriate interval. If this is your pet's first rabies vaccination, you're still in the 21-day waiting period—travel cannot happen before day 21 post-vaccination.

2 Weeks Before Departure

Schedule your health certificate exam with your veterinarian. The health certificate must be issued by a licensed vet and is valid for only 10 days. Timing is critical: schedule the exam for 10 days before your departure date, not earlier. The certificate must confirm your pet is healthy and fit to travel.

10 Days Before Departure

Obtain your health certificate and have it government-endorsed. After your vet issues the certificate, it must be endorsed by your country's government veterinary authority (e.g., USDA APHIS if departing from the United States, APHA if from the United Kingdom, CFIA if from Canada). This endorsement step takes additional time—allow 3-5 business days. The certificate is valid for 10 days from issuance, so it must be presented at arrival within that window.

5 Days Before Departure

Confirm your import permit has arrived and review all documents. Check that your permit, health certificate, vaccination records, and microchip documentation are complete and match your pet's details exactly. Verify your airline's pet travel policy and any specific requirements for your flight.

Day of Departure

Arrive early at the airport with all original documents. Bring your health certificate, import permit, vaccination records, and microchip documentation in a folder. Your pet will enter through Gnassingbe Eyadema International Airport (LFW) in Lomé—the primary approved port of entry for pet imports. Have your documents ready for inspection.

Required Documents Checklist

  • Import permit from Togo's government veterinary authority
  • Health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian (valid for 10 days)
  • Government endorsement of the health certificate
  • Proof of current rabies vaccination (with booster if applicable)
  • Microchip documentation (ISO 11784/11785 standard, 15-digit)
  • Vaccination records showing all dates and veterinarian details
  • Airline pet travel documentation and booking confirmation
  • Proof of pet ownership (adoption papers, registration, or purchase receipt)
  • Your passport and entry visa for Togo

Key Requirements Explained

Microchip (ISO 11784/11785)

Your pet must have an ISO 11784/11785 microchip implanted before rabies vaccination. This 15-digit chip is the international standard and allows authorities to identify and contact you if your pet is lost. If your pet has an older, non-ISO chip, you must provide your own compatible scanner at arrival.

Rabies Vaccination

Rabies vaccination is mandatory. Your pet must be at least 12 weeks old at the time of first vaccination. After the primary dose, you must wait 21 days before traveling. Boosters are required to keep immunity current. The vaccine must be administered by a licensed veterinarian and documented in your health certificate.

Health Certificate

An official health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian is required. It certifies your pet is healthy and fit to travel. The certificate is valid for only 10 days from issuance, so timing is critical. After your vet issues it, the certificate must be endorsed by your country's government veterinary authority—this is a separate step that takes additional time. Both the vet signature and government endorsement are mandatory.

Import Permit

Togo requires an import permit for all pets. Apply to Togo's government veterinary authority at least 30 days before travel. The permit confirms that your pet meets Togo's import standards and is approved for entry.

Quarantine

Good news: Togo does not require quarantine for pets that arrive with complete, valid documentation (microchip, current rabies vaccine, health certificate, and import permit). If all documents are in order, your pet can go directly to your home.

Ports of Entry

Pets must enter through Gnassingbe Eyadema International Airport (LFW) in Lomé. This is the approved port of entry for pet imports. Arrange your flight accordingly.

Breed Restrictions

There are no breed restrictions for cats or dogs entering Togo. All breeds are permitted, provided they meet health and documentation requirements.

Titer Tests, Tapeworm Treatment & Other Considerations

Rabies titer tests (blood tests confirming rabies immunity) are not required by Togo. They are only required by rabies-free countries like Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Singapore.

Tapeworm treatment is not required by Togo. It is only mandatory for the United Kingdom, Ireland, Finland, Malta, and Norway.

Flea, tick, heartworm, and internal parasite treatments are not specified as requirements for Togo. However, we're still verifying these details—check with Togo's government veterinary authority for the most current guidance.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Microchipping after rabies vaccination: The microchip must come first. Reverse the order and your documents won't be valid.
  • Traveling before the 21-day waiting period: After the primary rabies vaccine, you must wait 21 days. Day 1 is the vaccination day; day 21 is the earliest you can travel.
  • Issuing the health certificate too early: It's valid for only 10 days. Schedule your vet exam for exactly 10 days before departure, not earlier.
  • Forgetting government endorsement: The vet issues the certificate, but it must then be endorsed by your country's government veterinary authority. This is a separate step and takes 3-5 business days.
  • Applying for the permit too late: Allow 30 days for processing. Apply at least 5 months before departure to have a buffer.
  • Arriving at the wrong airport: Pets must enter through Gnassingbe Eyadema International Airport (LFW). Confirm your flight arrives there.
  • Missing document validity windows: Health certificates expire after 10 days. Vaccination records must be current. Permits have validity periods. Track all dates carefully.

A Note on Rescue Animals & Global Pet Travel Infrastructure

When I rescued Tafoukt from a Moroccan shelter, the same requirements applied as for any purebred dog. That's the beauty and the challenge of international pet travel standards: they're universal. They exist to protect animals and communities, regardless of where a pet comes from. If you're adopting a rescue from Togo or elsewhere in West Africa and bringing them home, these same steps apply. The infrastructure that seems bureaucratic is actually a lifeline—it's how we ensure that animals like Tafoukt can move safely across borders and find their forever homes.

Next Steps

Start with your veterinarian and Togo's government veterinary authority. Get your import permit application in the mail today. Microchip your pet if needed. Then follow the timeline above, checking off each milestone. The process takes time, but it's straightforward when you plan ahead.

Get your free personalized travel plan from Pawgo to track your pet's specific requirements and deadlines.

This guide is based on verified data from official government sources and international pet travel standards. Requirements are current as of 2024, but regulations can change. Always confirm directly with Togo's government veterinary authority and your airline before traveling.

Auto-generated from verified government data · Last updated: April 21, 2026