Bringing Pets to Ecuador

How do you bring pets to Ecuador? When moving to Ecuador many of us have animal friends that we don't want to leave behind.

The Expense

First to consider, the price charged by the airline to bring your pet. International fees for dogs and cats usually run from $100 to $200 (USD) per kennel. Pets over six months old must travel in separate kennels. Check with your airline for the most up-to-date info.

Also a full veterinary check is required to bring your pet to Ecuador. Pets must be up-to-date with their vaccinations. So depending on how long it's been since they've had a check-up, this could be costly.

The Paperwork

Your vet will fill out a health certificate for your pet and a form to be certified by the USDA (for travelers outside the US please contact the nearest Ecuadorian Embassy or Consulate for information).

The documents must be translated into Spanish and notarized.

Once you have these forms you must bring them to the Ecuadorian Embassy or Consulate nearest you to have them approved by them. This is a quick and simple process. At the Consulate in Minneapolis we were told that we could mail them the paperwork and they would send everything back to us to save a trip.

Websites like pettravelstore.com sell "Pet Passports" which include the paperwork you should need. Plus you can find more information on requirements.

NOTE: Some who have recently travel to Ecuador with their pets have mentioned that no one asked for any paperwork on arrival in Ecuador. This is something that CAN happen, but I received the requirements written above at the Ecuadorian Consulate in Minneapolis. It's your choice whether to risk bringing your pet without paperwork.

Shipping Your Pet

Most airlines offer a cargo service to ship your pet to Ecuador. I was told by a friend who has brought several dogs to Ecuador that getting your pet out of customs can be a problem. If you must ship your pet, make sure you have copies of all paperwork to make this transition smoother.

When you ship your pet to Ecuador you may have to wait 2 to 3 days to retrieve you pet and you may have to pay an import tax.

Other Technicalities

Airlines often have minimum and maximum temperature requirements as well. So if it's really hot or really cold the day you fly your pet may not be allowed to travel if they are to fly as checked baggage under the plane. And you must consider the temperature of all layovers and your final destination city in Ecuador.

Check with airlines for kennel requirements and other issues involving your pets safety and comfort.

In Ecuador

Ecuador has a variety of pet products...food, toys, medicine... The quality of such products continue to improve as the years go by.

There are many veterinarians in Ecuador of varying skill levels. In many places, only dogs are viewed as worth taking to the vet, so vets tend to specialize in dog care. But you should be able to find care for your cat as well.

Some sort of tracking device may be a worthwhile investment. Pets that are healthy and/or purebred are especially targeted by thieves.