Turks and Caicos Pet Travel Information
Entry Requirements
Unfortunately, it is not easy to obtain the required approval to travel with your pet to the Turks and Caicos. You must obtain approval before attempting to bring any animal into the Turks and Caicos Islands. The Department of Agriculture requires a minimum of two business days to process the application, and you are advised to complete this process well in advance of your travel. The local veterinarian Bark + Bliss provides a travel consultation service to assist visitors in getting the necessary permit to bring pets into the Turks and Caicos.
Caring for your pet
There are a few licensed veterinarian practices on the island, however, Bark + Bliss in Grace Bay is the only full-time veterinarian on island. All supermarkets sell a wide range of dog and cat food, with a small selection for other species.
Certain things should be noted, such as to NEVER leave your pet in a car, even with the windows down. As you will soon notice, cars parked, especially in the sun, become inhabitable after about 5 minutes with the air conditioning off, and any animals left in the car will soon die.
Feral Dogs
For those bringing pets, be advised there is a feral dog problem on most islands. Essentially, there are packs of wild, scavenging dogs, and these will attack and kill any cats or smaller dogs they encounter. This is a larger issue outside of central Grace Bay, but wild dogs can be seen roaming around Grace Bay as well.
Despite being the law, many dog owners in the Turks and Caicos do not keep their animals on leads, and instead have them freely roaming. In addition, many owners do not keep animals on their property, and instead allow them to roam throughout the neighborhood, generally being a nuisance.
It’s common for pet dogs (along with feral dogs) to attack and kill pet cats, including many instances involving visitors' pet cats.
Application Requirements:
- A valid veterinary certificate from your country of origin. If this document is not in English, it must be translated and notarized. This certificate must be specific for where you're from that the Turks and Caicos Government has created (cannot simply be any veterinary certificate).
- A completed import application (must be submitted and approved at least one week prior to travel).
- A fee of $50 to be paid upon arrival in the country (per animal).
Prohibited Dogs
The following breeds are prohibited from entry into the islands.
- Dogo Argentino
- American Pit Bull Terrier
- American Staffordshire Terrier
- American Bulldog
- Japanese Tosa
- Canary dog
- Perro de Presa Canario
- Fila Brasileiro
Veterinarians
