How do you bring pets to Cape Verde in 2026?

Confirm the current Visit Cabo Verde / DGASP import checklist for dogs and cats before you buy tickets. Typical stacks include an official veterinary health certificate issued close to travel, proof of rabies vaccination inside the accepted window, a microchip readable to ISO standards, and recent parasite treatments when listed. Some routes ask for additional tests or quarantine if the origin country sits outside the accepted list. Airlines add their own crate and cabin or hold rules that can be stricter than DGASP.

Keep Portuguese or bilingual copies ready for the inspector: Portuguese bureaucracy without Portuguese. Align pet arrival with your own status story: Apply for a residence permit. Landlords often need a written pet clause before you ship a crate: How to rent a home.

Book the pet cargo or cabin slot only after the health certificate timing is locked. Heat and ferry legs between islands add stress; plan vet access on your arrival island before you hop. Put crate fees and vet certificates into the arrival budget sheet: Paperwork after moving. Human health cover does not insure animals: Choose health insurance. Keep NIF and bank KYC ready if a local vet clinic wants a resident account later: Get a tax number and Open a bank account.