QUARANTINE & PET REGULATIONS

Animals entering the territorial waters of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago must be declared at customs. All animals, irrespective of their vaccination history, are required to remain on board their vessels, and are forbidden from leaving their vessel and coming onto land. If veterinary attention is needed, local veterinarians will assist by attending to the animal on board their vessel. Their fees are reasonable. Under no circumstance is an animal to be taken ashore to a Veterinary Clinic. This is against the law.

Animals entering by Boat and leaving by Plane
The animal will need a recent health certificate. Local Veterinarians can provide this after examining the animal on board. Allow three days for processing. A fee is required.
An In Transit Permit is needed which can be obtained from the Veterinary Services Division, the Ministry of Agriculture, St Clair (opposite the Kapok Hotel). Telephone 622-1221. Fee TT$10.
A Quarantine Guard must escort the animal from the boat to the plane (or visa versa). Arrangements must be made with the Quarantine Station in Curepe, no less than 48 hours before the journey begins. Tel 622-5986. Transport must be provided for the guard from the Quarantine Station to the boat, to the airport, and then back to the Quarantine Station, at the owners expense. The Quarantine Guard is tipped, at your discretion, but not less that TT$25.
Note
The animal must be taken directly from the boat to the plane in a secure carrier with the guard without making any stops.

Animals entering by Plane and leaving by Boat
The animal must travel with a recent health certificate and a vaccination certificate from the country of origin.
An In Transit Permit must be obtained in advance from the Ministry as described above.
A Quarantine Guard must escort the animal from the plane to the boat with arrangements being made as described above.
In addition, the animal must be met upon arrival at the airport by the Government Veterinarian. Arrangements are to be made at least 48 hours in advance through the Quarantine Station tel 622-5986. The Government Veterniarian will issue a Landed Permit and an Import Permit. The fee is TT$75 for the first animal plus TT$20 for each additional animal depending on the hour of the planes’ arrival.
Note:
It is essential that the Government Veterinarian meet the plane upon arrival otherwise the animal will be automatically deported.

General Information
Resident Status
Animals wishing to attain resident status within Trinidad and Tobago, need undergo a six month quarantine at the Government Quarantine Station in Curepe, unless they have traveled in rabies-free countries. Arrangements must be made with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Quarantine Station. Kennels need to be booked well in advance as space is not always available. Landing and transport arrangements will be similar to those outline above.

Rabies
Although Trinidad has a reservoir of Rabies with the vampire bat, and this disease is occasionally transmitted to large farm animals (Enzootic Bat Transmitted Paralytic Rabies), the small animal population has remained free of the disease. The regulations intended to protect this status. The small animals of Trinidad & Tobago are not protected against rabies by routine vaccination programs, and in addition there is a large stray animal population. As such, the introduction of rabies to the small animals would have a disastrous consequences for the animals and the people of Trinidad & Tobago. “Walkabout” permits are not routinely issued by the Ministry of Agriculture.

To import live animals or animal products into Trinidad and Tobago, the following steps should be completed:

Apply for an import permit from the relevant department listed below.
Apply for a health certificate from the country of origin.
Contact the Veterinary Office to provide flight/landing information 28 to 48 hours in advance.
The Veterinary Officer
Havelock Street
Curepe
Trinidad, West Indies
Tel. (868) 662-5986 or (868) 642-0063/4
Opening hours: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays

Extracted From: Trinidad & Tobago Newsday Newspaper