Kenya requires an import permit obtained through an authorized agent in Kenya or from the Kenyan High Commission abroad. All dogs and cats need an ISO microchip, rabies vaccination between 21 days and 12 months before entry, and additional species-specific vaccinations. A health certificate from a licensed veterinarian in the origin country is mandatory.
Companies Listed
3
Quarantine
Not Required
Common Pets
dogs, cats
Requirements
8 documented
Key Import Requirements
Import permit required (valid 3 months from date of issue)
Import permit obtained through authorized agent in Kenya or Kenyan High Commission
ISO microchip required
Rabies vaccination 21 days to 12 months before entry
Health certificate from licensed vet in origin country
Pets must be free of contagious diseases at entry airport inspection
Import requirements by pet type
Requirements for relocating a pet to Kenya vary significantly by species. Below are the rules for birds, horses, and exotic pets — dogs and cats are covered in the key requirements above.
Birds
Import permitted
Kenya's Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) issues import permits for birds, including a specific permit category for parrots and for live poultry and ostriches. A veterinary health certificate is required, and CITES-listed birds such as parrots also need a CITES permit issued through Kenya Wildlife Service. Bird import is tightly controlled on avian-disease grounds, with inspection and possible quarantine on arrival.
Apply for an import permit from Kenya's Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS); the official DVS fee schedule lists a distinct import-permit category for parrots, and separate categories for live poultry and ostriches
Veterinary health certificate from the exporting country's competent authority confirming the birds are healthy and disease-free
Bird import is restricted on avian-disease grounds; expect avian-influenza / Newcastle-disease sanitary conditions
CITES permit issued via Kenya Wildlife Service for protected species (most parrots, raptors)
Inspection on arrival and possible quarantine at the point of entry
Verified against the official DVS permit-payment schedule (Kenya InfoTrade government portal), which lists an import permit for 'sheep or goat for breeding, or parrot' and separate live-poultry and ostrich permit categories, confirming DVS handles bird import. The commonly cited 90-day permit validity comes from Kenyan veterinary/embassy guidance rather than this fee schedule. Specific avian-influenza testing and quarantine day-counts are not clearly published and depend on origin-country disease status, so exact figures are unknown here. Confirm current sanitary conditions with DVS and CITES requirements with KWS before shipping.
Horses
Import permitted
Horses can be imported into Kenya through the Directorate of Veterinary Services, which issues a specific import permit and international veterinary certificate for horses. Disease controls are strict because Kenya is in an African Horse Sickness (AHS) zone, so expect a government health certificate, disease testing and quarantine. Practical import is complex and best handled through a specialist equine agent.
Obtain an import permit for horses from Kenya's Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS); the official DVS fee schedule lists both an import permit and an international veterinary certificate for horses
Government-endorsed veterinary health certificate from the exporting country confirming freedom from contagious equine diseases
Disease testing appropriate to the protocol, typically including equine infectious anaemia (Coggins), glanders, dourine and piroplasmosis
Compliance with African Horse Sickness control measures (Kenya is an AHS-affected country), including vaccination/quarantine as required
Quarantine and veterinary inspection on arrival
Use a specialist equine import agent given the complexity of African disease-zone movements
Verified against the official DVS permit-payment schedule (Kenya InfoTrade government portal), which lists an 'import permit for horse or large game' and an international veterinary certificate for horses, confirming DVS handles equine import. Most detailed published protocols cover exporting Kenyan horses to the US (60-day AHS quarantine; testing for dourine, glanders, piroplasmosis, EIA), not the precise inbound protocol; Kenya's own inbound AHS vaccination/quarantine day-counts are not clearly published, so exact figures are unknown here. Confirm the current protocol directly with DVS before travel.
Reptiles
Generally not permitted
Importing reptiles into Kenya as pets is impractical. Reptiles would need a DVS import permit and health certificate, but keeping protected, game or wild animals requires a Kenya Wildlife Service licence under the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act 2013, and CITES species are tightly controlled by KWS as the national CITES authority. KWS licenses regulated enterprises rather than private wild-animal keeping, so private reptile relocation is effectively not viable.
Reptiles require a DVS import permit and a veterinary health certificate to enter Kenya (DVS treats reptiles among non-rabies-regulated species with general entry requirements)
Keeping any protected, game or wild animal requires a permit/licence from Kenya Wildlife Service under the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act 2013
CITES permits are mandatory for listed species; KWS is Kenya's CITES focal point and processes such applications (for example, many tortoises and chameleons are CITES-listed)
KWS authorises regulated captive-wildlife enterprises rather than private wild-animal collection or keeping
Unpermitted trade or possession of protected reptiles carries severe penalties
Verified against Kenya Wildlife Service material confirming that captive keeping and any utilisation of wild/protected species require KWS authority under the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act 2013, and that KWS is Kenya's CITES focal point processing permits under CITES. Kenya is largely a source country for the reptile pet trade rather than an import destination. Case-by-case permits may exist for captive-bred non-protected species, but for ordinary owners reptile relocation into Kenya is effectively impractical. Verify any species with DVS and KWS.
Pet-type requirements researched and last updated June 2026. Always confirm current rules with the destination’s government authority before booking — regulations change frequently.
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