Bringing a pet into Vietnam does not involve much paperwork. In practice, though, it is harder than it looks: facilities, staffing and clear written rules are all in short supply.
What to know before you plan to bring a pet to Vietnam.
Required · ISO 11784/11785, 15-digit
≥ 30 days · before the flight, ≤ 12 months old on entry
3 or more pets · counts as a commercial import, with more paperwork
With owner · at the airport, 1–3 hrs · Cargo · at the cargo terminal, 2–6 hrs
How your pet flies decides who files, where it clears and whether you can do it yourself.
In-cabin or checked baggage: owners can handle it themselves.
Cargo clearance has to go through an agent, even for a single pet.
What your pet needs before it flies, and the forms Vietnam uses on arrival under Circular 01/2026/TT-BNNMT.
An ISO 11784/11785 compliant 15-digit microchip is required. The officer scans it on arrival, and the number must match every document.
Required for dogs and cats over 3 months old. Vaccinate at least 30 days before your flight, and the shot must be no more than 12 months old on the day you enter Vietnam.
Issued or endorsed by the export country’s government vet, confirming your pet is healthy and vaccinated for rabies. The export country sets its timing, not Vietnam.
An advance approval from Cục Chăn nuôi và Thú y, needed only when importing 3 or more animals and granted before Form 3 is filed. Personal imports of 1–2 pets skip it.
The quarantine declaration filed at your arrival airport. It is not an import permit: it asks the officer to inspect your pet. Filing about 48 hours before landing is safest, so any error can still be fixed.
The Import Animal Quarantine Certificate, issued only after the officer checks your documents, scans the microchip and examines your pet. This is what clears your pet, and it is valid for 60 days.
Form 3 is the last step, not the first: your pet clears Vietnam only after the export country and the airline are sorted.
Microchip, rabies vaccine and an export health certificate, plus a permit where required. Each country sets its own rules.
Book your pet’s flight as in-cabin, checked baggage or cargo. Some countries decide for you: Australia ships pets as cargo only.
File Form 3 with airport quarantine, ideally 48 hours before landing. Cargo goes through an agent; 3+ pets need Form 19 first.
The officer checks documents, scans the chip and examines your pet, then issues Form 15a. Pay the fee and tax, then clear customs.
Here’s what to expect at arrival, port by port.
Regional Animal Health Office No. VI
24/7 — night arrivals are handled routinely.
Regional Animal Health Office No. I
24/7 — night arrivals are handled routinely.
Regional Animal Health Office No. IV
Confirm staffing with your airline or agent before a night arrival.
Even with correct paperwork, Vietnam’s import rules sit across several overlapping regulations, so delays can happen when nothing is wrong on your end.
Confirm your arrival airport and flight time with the quarantine office in advance, or work with a partner who already coordinates with them.
Behind every flag is a journey we’ve made together — from the world to Vietnam
Flying from somewhere else? The same 4 steps apply.
Choose a species guide for the exact checklist, costs and arrival process.
Every photo below comes from a relocation our own team handled — click through for the full story.
Cat, Istanbul to Ho Chi Minh City, checked baggage
senior Poodle, Seoul to Da Nang
English Setter, Istanbul to Hanoi, cargo
senior Chihuahua, Dubai to Hanoi, checked baggage
cat, Sydney to Vietnam, mandatory cargo
dog, Philippines to Da Nang, round trip
Weimaraner, Uganda to Poland via Vietnam
Dubai to Vietnam, evacuated mid-conflict
One dedicated contact coordinates your pet’s journey from planning to handover.
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Clear answers to the questions pet owners ask most before bringing a dog or cat into Vietnam.
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