How do you bring a pet to Azerbaijan in 2026?

Identify the animal with an ISO 11784/11785 15-digit microchip before the rabies vaccination so the chip number appears on every certificate. Dogs and cats over three months need a valid rabies vaccination; primary shots usually need at least 21 days before arrival. Boosters must still be valid on entry day. A licensed veterinarian in the exporting country issues a health certificate shortly before travel, then the competent government veterinary authority endorses it. Carry originals.

AQTA’s published veterinary requirements for dogs, cats, and related species set disease-freedom and certificate standards and describe quarantine pathways for some commercial or non-compliant movements. Mover guides commonly report that fully compliant privately owned pets enter without routine quarantine, while incomplete files may face inspection, isolation, return, or refusal at the owner’s cost. Re-check AQTA before departure rather than freezing an old PDF.

Air arrivals generally clear veterinary checks at Heydar Aliyev International Airport in Baku. Officers may scan the chip, review rabies and health papers, and examine the animal. Keep certificates in your hand luggage, not buried in checked bags.

After entry, housing is the next gate. Many Fountain Square and Yasamal leases restrict pets or demand extra deposits: How to rent a home and Living in Baku. Place-of-stay registration still applies to you as the human resident: Register your address. A local SIM helps coordinate vets and pet taxis: Get a mobile phone. Longer stays still need a residence basis: Apply for a residence permit.