REQUIREMENTS TO TRAVEL WITH PETS
(dogs and cats) FROM URUGUAY TO THE UNITED STATES:
To travel to the U.S. with a pet(s) from
Uruguay an International Certificate for Exportation, a
Rabies Vaccination Certificate and a photo of the pet are
required. These documents must be endorsed at the appropriate
ministries and offices. The following is a complete description
of the required steps:
A. Rabies Vaccination Certificate
The Health Certificate including Rabies
Vaccination Certificate has to be issued by a veterinarian
registered with the Animal Health Direction of MGAP. The
veterinarian’s registration number and a professional
stamp* (approximately 170 Uruguayan pesos) must be included.
The rabies vaccination must have been given more than a
month and less than a year before travel. Animals 3 months
of age or older must have a Rabies vaccination. The animal
must also be treated for internal parasites. The Health
Certificate is valid for 30 days. Some veterinarians prefer
to only issue certificates within 10 days of travel. Other
veterinarians will say that the health certificate is good
for 45 days but it will NOT be accepted by MGAP.
*NOTE: The professional
stamp (in Spanish it is called a Timbre Profesional, better
to get the pink “rosado” one but the green one
will also be accepted) must be purchased at a local bookstore
or kiosks, if not provided by the veterinarian who issues
the health certificate.
B. International Certificate for
Exportation
In order to obtain this certificate, the
owner (or someone acting on their behalf) must go WITH THE
PET to the local Veterinary Services Office of the Ministerio
de Ganadería Agricultura y Pesca (MGAP). In Montevideo,
this office is located at MILLAN 4741 near the cross street
Sayago, the telephone number is 308-8653 or 309-8410, ext.
249, and is open to the public Monday to Friday from 11:00
a.m. to 3:00 p.m., but please call in advance to make sure
that the veterinary official will be available as he/she
may be on duty outside the office. This office does not
change operating times during the summer. If it is necessary
to get all documents in one day, please, be advised that
the MRREE office closes at 2:30 p.m. (see below).
The cost of the International Certificate
is 381 Uruguayan pesos and the certicificate is ready in
48 hours. To get the documents on the same day the cost
is aproximately 860 Uruguayan pesos, in this case an appointment
should be arranged calling to the numbers above. The only
Uruguayan official veterinarians that are authorized to
fill out import and export certificates are with MGAP. In
some cities in the interior, it is possible that an official
veterinary inspector is available. Please, call the phone
number above to find out more information.
The person who goes to the MGAP office WITH
THE PET will also need the following documents with them:
1. Health certificate including
Rabies Vaccination Certificate. MGAP will only accept health
certificates issued within 30 days of travel (even if your
veterinarian says that they are good for 45 days).
2. A photocopy of the Health Certificate/Rabies Vaccination
Certificate (this copy will be filed at the MGAP office)
3. THE ANIMAL. A veterinarian will be examining the animal
to determine if it is healthy.
4. A photograph of the animal. This can be any photo you
have of your animal and does not need to be professionally
taken. It can also be a digital photo printed on regular
paper.
C. Endorsement of the International
Certificate of Exportation
Bring the MGAP International Export Certificate,
with the photo of your animal and the original Rabies Certificate
attached, to the Direction of Consulate Affairs at the Ministry
of Foreign Affaires (MRREE), located at Cuareim 1384 (in
the Centro neighborhood), between 18 de Julio and Colonia.
Their telephone/fax number is 908-9142 or 903-2065, and
they are open from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (no changes in
operating times occur during the summer). This is the ministry
that will officially endorse the International Export Certificate
with a seal and a stamp. The cost of this procedure is 1.5
consulate pesos, equivalent to 7.5 US dollars (1 consulate
peso=5 US dollars) or the equivalent in Uruguayan pesos
(150 pesos as per exchange rate in June 2008). You
are NOT REQUIRED to bring the pet to the MRREE.
D. Endorsement of the Complete Documentation
by the U.S. Consulate: THIS STEP IS NO
LONGER REQUIRED.
