Author
Veterinary Consultant
Preparing for a Trip with a Pet to Indonesia
When planning a trip to Indonesia with a pet, it is essential to thoroughly review the regulations regarding animal import into the country and ensure the necessary veterinary documents are in place.
One must be aware that certain restrictions apply and some states may not permit the entry of pets, requiring their return to their place of origin.
Planning a trip with a pet into Indonesia usually requires 2-3 months of preparation to obtain all the necessary documents. The pet must be at least 6 months of age and the breed must be approved for importation and air travel.
Additionally, it is officially prohibited to transport dogs, cats, monkeys and other animals to certain regions within Indonesia, including:
Madura, Bali, Nusa Tenggara Barat, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Maluku, Irian Jaya, Kalimantan Barat, and any islands within the Sumatra zone.
If you plan to transport an animal to an Indonesia island, it must be done through Jakarta first, in order to go through the mandatory quarantine.
The importation process is managed by the General Directorate of Animal Husbandry. The Import Permit or Import License takes between 4 - 5 weeks to be issued, and is valid for 90 days from the date of issuance.
To obtain an import permit for a pet to Indonesia, you need to submit certain documents and fulfill specific requirements. In particular, you need:
- A copy of owner’s passport;
- a photo of the pet;
- a description of the animal including name, gender, date of birth, color, and its breed;
- a copy of the veterinary report from the local clinic;
- a copy of the vaccination record;
- a copy of the rabies titer test result;
- potentially;
- a result of a PCR test for coronavirus in the animal (optional).
When importing a pet to Indonesia, you need to submit the necessary documents to your agent, who will be responsible for submitting them to the proper agencies. This process may take some time, so if your plan is to first purchase tickets and then obtain the import permit, it's important to make sure that the timeframes match up appropriately. If the permit has not been granted by the time you buy tickets, it's likely that your pet will not be allowed into the country.
It's important to keep in mind that, in Indonesia, it's possible to request an official package of documents for the import of an animal (import permit) through customs veterinary control.
General requirements
Regarding entry to Indonesia, pet owners should be aware of the general import regulations, as well as certain unique aspects.
Specifically, all incoming animals must be quarantined for 14 days upon arrival in the country. The relevant Animal Quarantine Department must be informed of its arrival two days prior. Additionally, an application for the quarantine inspection of the pet needs to be submitted beforehand.
The most trusted vaccine brands:
Nobivac, Zoetis (Defensor), Rabisin, Biocan, Purevax.
It is essential to stay up-to-date with the latest vaccinations, particularly the basic vaccine (also known as the core vaccine), which is designed to protect against 3 viruses in cats and 4 viruses in dogs that can be fatal for them. In this regard, the vaccines have been designed to ensure that the animals have antibodies to fight these viruses and remain healthy during their trip.
For dogs:
- Distemper;
- Hepatitis;
- Leptospirosis;
- Parvovirus
- Parainfluenza;
- Bortedella.
Although a Bordetella vaccine (Kennel Cough) is not considered a fundamental immunization, it is still necessary under certain conditions. Specifically, the vaccine is warranted for pet quarantine facilities and pet hotels where there are other animals present, such as dogs. This is due to the fact that the bacterium Bordetella bronchiseptica, which causes a respiratory infection commonly known as kennel cough, is most likely to be transmitted in such environments.
For Cats:
- Rhinotracheitis;
- Calicivirus;
- Panleukopenia;
- Chlamydia.
The timing of vaccinations for a pet traveling to Indonesia is a strict requirement, which should be planned accordingly. In particular, pets must be vaccinated at least 21 days but no later than 1 year before departure. If your pet's vaccines are due for an update before applying for permission to import the animal, it's recommended to administer the updated vaccines in advance, with an agent or agency submitting the request on your behalf.
Veterinary Passport. In order to import a pet to Indonesia, an international veterinary passport is required, in which a veterinarian's examination and vaccinations are noted. It's also necessary for the rabies vaccination to be up-to-date, made at least a month before departure. In addition to the veterinary passport, a Veterinary Certificate Form 1, issued by state veterinary services following a veterinary examination of the animal, is demanded. When presenting the animal at customs, the certificate is exchanged for an International Health Certificate (Veterinary Certificate Form 5a).
Microchip. A subcutaneous identification chip, complying with the ISO standard 11784/11785, is essential. Moreover, the information about microchip must be stored in an international database.
Vaccination. A rabies vaccination must be administered no fewer than 30 days prior to the trip, while also ensuring that it doesn't exceed a timeframe of one year before departure.
A certificate confirming the presence of antibodies to the rabies virus. A determination of titer of rabies virus antibodies must be conducted no less than 3 months and no more than 1 year before transporting the animal to ensure accurate results. The study must be conducted in an accredited laboratory, and the content of neutralizing antibodies must meet the required threshold of 0.5 IU / ml.
Customs and Flight
When transporting an animal by air, it's important to plan ahead and prepare thoroughly. This includes buying both airline tickets and a suitable kennel in advance. Pets weighing up to 10 kg are allowed on-board with their owners in the cabin, provided the kennel is placed under the seat of the adjacent seat. Larger animals must be placed in an appropriate kennel in the cargo section.
Note, that it is crucial to inform the airline staff of the presence of a pet onboard, especially due to limitations on the number of animals permitted in both the cabin and cargo area.
Check in and Flight
When travelling via air transport, make sure to arrive at the airport in advance and check in promptly. If you haven't exchanged the Veterinary Certificate Form 1 for the Veterinary Certificate Form 5a (International Health Certificate) at Rosselkhoznadzor, you must do so at the actual airport during the check-in process. The veterinary control may take some time, so it is advisable to arrive at least a few hours in advance. Remember that the newly-issued Certificate is only valid for 5 days.
It's recommended to equip a drinking bowl (water bowl) with water to prevent dehydration during the flight. Make sure it doesn't spill during flight.
If you are not able to accompany your pet on the journey, you can hire a flight volunteer to ensure a smooth transport process, including checkin, boarding, control and arrival at the destination airport. All necessary documents must be issued to the flight volunteer in advance.
Quarantine
Upon arriving in Jakarta with your pet, either an agent or an employee from your accompanying agency will take the animal into quarantine. The mandatory quarantine period typically ranges from 7 to 14 days. A PCR test for coronavirus is conducted at this time.
If the test returns a negative result, the animal will only need to undergo a 7-day quarantine.
If the PCR test for coronavirus returns a positive result or the owner chooses not to have the test done, the mandatory quarantine period for the animal will extend to 14 days. During this time, pet owners are not allowed to visit their animals. However, agents can provide requested videos and photos to provide updates. Nevertheless, there is no need to fear, as this quarantine process is a standard procedure. All animals are kept separate, with only those of the same owner housed together.
As a reminder, import or export of pets to or from the Bali airport (DPS) is prohibited, except for transit purposes.
FAQ
Do purebred dogs and cats need additional documents for import?
In order to import a purebred dog or cat, it is necessary to have a Certificate of Breeding Value in addition to the standard documents for importation to Indonesia
Useful tips
Detailed information about the procedures for importing animals should be clarified at the Indonesian embassy or consulate.
