United States
Philippines
Moving your dog or cat from the USA to the Philippines
Every dog and cat entering the Philippines needs an import clearance from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) before it travels. The rules change on January 1, 2027, when a rabies titer test becomes mandatory, so the date your clearance is approved decides which set applies.
At a glance
Rules on this page apply to: dogs and cats.
- Import clearance
- Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearance (SPSIC) from BAI, applied for online; up to 11 working days.
- Titer test
- Not required until December 31, 2026. From January 1, 2027: at least 0.5 IU/ml by FAVN or RFFIT.
- Rabies vaccine
- Given at 12 weeks of age or older by a licensed veterinarian in the U.S.
- Health certificate
- Endorsed by USDA APHIS. From 2027: issued within 10 days before entry, original copy.
- BAI fees
- PHP 100 clearance, PHP 55 lodgement, inspection PHP 250 per pet for the first two (MC 60).
- Quarantine
- Neither BAI page describes quarantine. We confirm arrival procedures with BAI.
Who this guide is for
Filipino families returning home, Americans retiring to Cebu, Davao or Dumaguete, employees posted to Manila, and military families moving with a dog or cat. The rules apply to personal pets imported through BAI's one-time importer process. If your dog may come back to the U.S. later, read the last section: one CDC step must happen before you leave.
BAI currently publishes two pages: an FAQ with the rules in force today, and the updated guidelines of Memorandum Circular No. 60 (dated October 26, 2026), which apply from January 1, 2027. This page follows both and says which applies when.
What we coordinate
- Choosing the rule set that fits your travel date, and the application date that goes with it.
- The SPSIC application through BAI's online system, and BAI Form 1 from 2027.
- Vaccine, parasite treatment and titer timing with your veterinarian. See veterinary documents.
- The health certificate and its USDA APHIS endorsement. See USDA export documents.
- The flight: carrier, aircraft and mode for your pet.
- Pickup and arrival help through local partners where available.
Moving to the Philippines with your pet?
Get My Free Quote (opens the enquiry form in a new tab)Dogs and cats
BAI applies the same clearance to dogs and cats. Under the current FAQ, dogs also need distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parainfluenza and parvovirus vaccines, and cats need panleukopenia. From January 1, 2027, BAI's guidelines say only a valid rabies vaccination is mandatory. Pregnant animals are not accepted at application under either set of rules.
Timeline: which rules apply to you
Clearance approved by December 31, 2026
The current FAQ applies. No titer test. The pet must be at least 4 months old when you apply, rabies and other vaccines must be at least 14 days old at application, and internal deworming at least 7 days before applying. Processing takes 11 working days. MC 60 confirms that a clearance approved on or before December 31, 2026 can still be used within its 60-day validity without a titer or Form 1.
Applications from January 1, 2027
MC 60 applies. Allow time for the titer test:
- Rabies vaccination at 12 weeks or older, after the microchip.
- Blood draw at least 30 days after the first vaccination (any time if the pet's vaccination is already current), sent to an accepted lab.
- With a passing result, apply for the SPSIC with Form 1 and a photo of each pet; processing takes up to 11 days.
- Health certificate issued within 10 days before entry, then endorsed by APHIS.
- Fly within the clearance's 60-day validity.
If you plan to travel in January or February 2027 without a titer, your clearance must be approved by December 31, 2026, not just submitted. We work back from that date.
Microchip
BAI's application asks for the microchip number, and from 2027 Form 1 includes microchip identification. BAI's pages do not name a chip standard. We use a 15-digit ISO chip implanted before the rabies vaccine, which is also what the CDC requires if your dog later returns to the U.S.
Rabies vaccination
Given by a licensed veterinarian in the U.S. when the pet is at least 12 weeks old.
- Until December 31, 2026: any rabies shot, first or booster, at least 14 days before the SPSIC application. A U.S. 3-year vaccine is accepted, but a pet staying in the Philippines for a year or more then needs a local booster and annual vaccination.
- From January 1, 2027: the vaccination must stay valid through arrival and the 3-year validity is accepted. Boosters must never lapse: even a one-day gap invalidates the titer, and the vaccination and test start over.
Titer test (from January 1, 2027)
Under MC 60, every dog and cat needs a rabies neutralizing antibody titer test (RNATT):
- Result of 0.5 IU/ml or higher, by FAVN or RFFIT. ELISA is not accepted.
- From a lab on the CDC or European Commission lists, or one accredited or recognized by the source country's government. In the U.S., CDC's list includes Kansas State, Auburn and the University of Missouri.
- Drawn at least 30 days after the first vaccination, or any time if vaccination is current.
- A result below 0.5 IU/ml means revaccination and a new test 14 days later.
- A passing result stays valid for life as long as boosters are always on time.
There is no waiting period after the blood draw. Until December 31, 2026, BAI does not require a titer.
BAI import clearance (SPSIC)
BAI requires an approved Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearance for every dog and cat. Personal pet owners apply online through BAI's registration site as a one-time importer.
- Until December 31, 2026: application with vaccination and parasite records, the microchip number and a photo; 11 working days; a maximum of 3 animals per importer per year (APHIS adds that one SPSIC can list up to three dogs or cats, matching the health certificate).
- From January 1, 2027: one SPSIC per consignment, no limit on the number of animals, valid 60 days, single use, no extensions. Form 1 for each animal, with Section VI endorsed by a government-accredited veterinarian, and the importer's name identical on the SPSIC, Form 1 and the certificate. Pets must be at least 18 weeks old at application.
Health certificate
A USDA-accredited veterinarian issues the health certificate, and the vet must check that the pet meets the conditions on the SPSIC. From January 1, 2027, BAI requires the international veterinary health certificate to be issued by the source country's government veterinary authority within 10 days before entry, in English, with the original traveling with the pet. Internal and external parasite treatment must be valid through arrival. Until then, BAI's FAQ does not state a certificate window, so we confirm it with BAI for your dates.
USDA APHIS endorsement
APHIS endorses the certificate, digitally through VEHCS, and the printed endorsed certificate travels with the pet. MC 60 accepts digital copies only if they can be verified through the national authority's platform; we confirm with BAI whether a VEHCS printout qualifies and otherwise plan for an original. APHIS charges USD 101 per certificate with no lab tests and more when tests are listed. More in our USDA pet health certificate guide.
Airlines
Each airline sets its own rules for pets on flights to Manila or Cebu, including breed and weight limits and whether pets can fly in the cabin on international sectors. MC 60 adds no requirements for layovers or airline changes if all rules are met; under the current FAQ, a layover under 24 hours on the same airline needs no new permit, but a change of airline does. Airline policies change; we confirm the carrier, aircraft and mode for your pet.
Cabin, checked baggage or cargo
From 2027 BAI lists the documents for each mode. A hand-carried or checked pet needs the printed SPSIC, the original certificate, the signed Form 1 and a copy of the titer report. A cargo pet also needs the air waybill stamped by the airline to show arrival. Cabin travel depends on the carrier and the pet's size, and is not always possible. See cabin, checked or cargo.
Arrival in the Philippines
BAI charges an inspection fee per pet on arrival, so expect the documents and the pet to be checked before release. Keep the originals together and within reach: the printed SPSIC, the endorsed certificate and, from 2027, Form 1 and the titer report. Check the clearance's ship-out date before any rebooking, because it cannot be extended.
Quarantine
Neither BAI's current FAQ nor the 2027 guidelines describe a quarantine period for pets that meet the requirements. They do not say what happens to a pet that arrives with missing or invalid documents either. We confirm the arrival procedure with BAI's National Veterinary Quarantine Services for your dates rather than promise a quarantine-free arrival.
What drives the cost
- BAI fees listed in MC 60 (cash, Philippine pesos): PHP 100 SPS import clearance, PHP 55 lodgement, and inspection at PHP 250 per head for the first two pets and PHP 300 for each additional pet.
- The titer test and lab shipping, from 2027.
- APHIS endorsement (USD 101 with no lab tests; higher tiers when tests are listed).
- Veterinary visits, vaccines and parasite treatments.
- Flight mode, crate size and routing.
- Ground transport and arrival help through local partners where available.
See pet relocation costs.
Mistakes we see on this route
- Submitting in late December and expecting the old rules. Only clearances approved by December 31, 2026 escape the titer.
- Letting a booster lapse after the titer. From 2027, one day late restarts the process.
- Mismatched names. The importer's name must be identical on the SPSIC, Form 1 and the certificate.
- Rebooking past the ship-out date. The SPSIC is valid 60 days and cannot be extended.
- Forgetting the way back. The Philippines is on the CDC's high-risk list for dog rabies. If your dog may return to the U.S., get the CDC Certification of U.S.-issued Rabies Vaccination completed and USDA-endorsed before you leave. See Philippines to the USA.
Questions about this route
Does my pet need a titer test for the Philippines?
Until December 31, 2026, no. For SPSIC applications from January 1, 2027, yes: at least 0.5 IU/ml by FAVN or RFFIT from an accepted lab. A clearance approved by December 31, 2026 can still be used within its 60 days without one.
How long does the BAI import clearance take?
BAI states 11 working days now, and up to 11 days for a complete application from 2027. From 2027 the clearance is valid 60 days for one shipment.
Is there quarantine on arrival in the Philippines?
BAI's pages do not describe quarantine for compliant pets. Each pet is inspected on arrival. We confirm the procedure with BAI for your dates.
How many pets can I bring?
Under the current FAQ, up to 3 animals per importer per year. From January 1, 2027, BAI's guidelines set no limit per consignment.
Is my dog's 3-year U.S. rabies vaccine accepted?
Yes. Under the current rules a pet staying a year or more needs a local booster and annual vaccination after that. From 2027 the vaccine must remain valid through arrival and boosters must never lapse.
Official sources
The requirements on this page come from these authorities.
- Bureau of Animal Industry — International movements (import): Pet (dog/cat) FAQ, rules in force until December 31, 2026
- Bureau of Animal Industry — Updated pet import guidelines, Memorandum Circular No. 60 (dated October 26, 2026; effective January 1, 2027)
- USDA APHIS — Pet travel from the United States to the Philippines (modified September 9, 2026)
- USDA APHIS — Cost to endorse your pet's health certificate (modified June 18, 2026)
- CDC — Approved rabies serology laboratories (July 13, 2026)
- CDC — Entry requirements for U.S.-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries (April 28, 2026)
Requirements last verified against these sources on .
Requirements change. Before anything is booked, we confirm each one again with the authorities, the airline and your veterinarian for your pet and your dates.
Going the other way?
Other destinations
Moving to the Philippines with your pet?
Tell us your travel date and about each pet. We tell you which BAI rules apply and plan the clearance, tests and flight.
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