When taking pets from your home country to Belize it is important to have in place all the necessary documentation otherwise you may find that you are refused entry. Those wishing to take an animal to Belize must contact the BAHA to arrange for an import permit. Once you have this permit and you enter the country, there will be a fee to pay, which is currently BZE$75.00. The BAHA website has all the relevant forms and details that you need to apply for this permit.

The animal must have a certificate of good health from your veterinarian and which shows that all relevant vaccinations are current. These include rabies, parvovirus, distemper, leptospirosis, hepatitis and coronavirus. This certificate must be dated within 14 days of your travelling to Belize. The rabies vaccination and certificate must be a minimum of one month old when travelling, but not more than one year.

Animals less than 3 months of age will have to be confined at home until they are old enough to receive a rabies vaccination, then they must be confined for a further 30 days. They may be inspected by a BAHA veterinary officer to confirm that the confinement and vaccinations have been carried out in accordance with the procedures. This will incur a fee and must be paid by the pet's owner.

Should you arrive at an airport in Belize without the relevant permits will be placed into quarantine until all documentation and vaccinations are correct. All costs associated with this will be met by the owner. As well as the standard quarantine inspection at the port of entry, there are also additional examinations involved for animals coming from countries which are associated with specific conditions. This will involve an examination by a qualified veterinarian and will incur a fee.

The standard of veterinary care is excellent in Belize. Most qualified veterinarians have studied at universities in the US or the UK and as English is the official language there, communication should not be a problem. If your pet requires a specific medication for an existing condition, it is advisable to check in advance to ensure that this medication is available in Belize. If not, then you will need to discuss with your vet at home or in Belize to find an alternative treatment.

Supplies of pet food are also readily available, though it may be that the branded foods you are used to at home are not imported into the country and you will have to try an alternative. If you are in any doubt, your local vet in Belize will be able to help you.