Taking a Dog to the Caribbean: Entry Rules and Beach Care

Your dog can go to the Caribbean, but each island sets its own entry rules, and the United States sets separate rules for the trip home. Aruba, Barbados, and the Cayman Islands show how far the rules differ. Aruba requires a health certificate that its veterinary service approves before the dog is shipped. Barbados requires an import permit and a 35-day wait after a primary rabies vaccination. The Cayman Islands require an import permit and refuse certain breeds.

If you are considering a cruise, ask the cruise line about its pet policy before you pick a ship, then look up the rules for every port. The sections below give the official rules for three islands and for Mexico, the CDC rules for coming home, and beach, heat, and water care from a vet school.

Getting Your Dog Back Into the United States

The CDC says, “Requirements for returning with your dog or bringing a dog into the U.S. depend on where the dog was vaccinated and what countries the dog has been in during the 6 months before entry into the U.S.” Read the CDC’s dog import page before you book.

For a dog that has been only in countries the CDC counts as dog rabies-free or low-risk, the CDC says “the only required documentation for dogs entering or returning to the United States that have been only in dog rabies-free or low-risk countries in the past 6 months is the CDC Dog Import Form.” The CDC also says “Dogs must appear healthy upon arrival.” It says “Dogs must be at least 6 months old at time of entry or return to the U.S.” And it says “Dogs must have a microchip that can be detected with a universal scanner to identify them.” Each dog needs its own form, and the form is free. The CDC recommends completing it “a few days or up to six months before travel,” and says the receipt “can be printed or shown on a phone screen to U.S. customs officials or airlines (if applicable).”

The CDC keeps a separate list of high-risk countries for dog rabies, and the list includes Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti. The CDC says, “Dogs that have been in any of these countries within the past 6 months are required to be vaccinated against rabies in order to enter the U.S. They must also meet additional requirements such as age, microchip, rabies serology titer, health, and documentation requirements.” The same page says, “If a country or political unit is not listed below, it is not considered high risk for importing dog rabies into the United States.”

USDA APHIS adds a second check. APHIS Veterinary Services has requirements only for a dog coming from a country affected by foot-and-mouth disease or screwworm. The APHIS page for Mexico says that Mexico “is considered to be affected with screwworm” and that “All dogs (including U.S.-origin dogs returning to the United States after traveling to Mexico) must meet APHIS requirements for screwworm-freedom certification upon entry (re-entry).”

Entry Rules for Aruba, Barbados, and the Cayman Islands

USDA APHIS publishes a page for each destination, and each says the page “provides the most recent entry requirements and can change without notice.” The table gives the time windows each page sets for a dog traveling from the United States. The notes under it give the other steps.

Aruba

Aruba requires AVID brand or ISO compatible microchips, and the APHIS page says a pet with another chip type must travel with a microchip scanner that can read it. A dog over 3 months old must be vaccinated against rabies. The dog must have been in the United States or Aruba continuously for the 6 months before travel, unless the Head of the Veterinary Service of Aruba gives a written exemption. A dog younger than 6 months must have been born and lived continuously in the United States. A USDA Accredited Veterinarian issues the health certificate and a USDA Endorsement Office counter-signs it. The Director of the Veterinary Service of Aruba must approve the certificate and related documentation before the dog is shipped.

Barbados

Barbados requires a permanent microchip, and the dog must be vaccinated against rabies after the microchip is in place. An Import Permit must first be obtained from the Veterinary Services Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and Water Resource Management, and a permit is valid for six months from the date of issue. The official veterinarian who endorses the health certificate, in the page’s words, “may not be the same veterinarian who carries out the procedures and/or fills out the health certificate.” The page says you will need a customs broker to clear customs, and that a dog that does not meet every health condition “will result in your pet being refused entry into Barbados.”

Cayman Islands

The Cayman Islands Department of Agriculture issues an import permit for every dog, and the application needs evidence that the dog meets the import requirements. The APHIS page says, “Certain breeds of dogs or crosses of such breeds are not allowed to be imported into the Cayman Islands.” It lists the Pit Bull Terrier, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brazileiro, and Japanese Tosa, each with its breed types, and any dog whose breeding lineage was for the primary purpose of dog fighting. The page sets separate conditions for crosses of the listed breeds, so ask the Department of Agriculture about a mixed-breed dog.

The health certificate is issued by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and does not require APHIS endorsement, and the original must be presented on arrival. The page says, “Possession of a valid Import Permit does not guarantee entry,” and “Detention or quarantine is NOT an option in the Cayman Islands.” A dog that stays more than 30 days must be licensed with the Cayman Islands Department of Agriculture.

Mexico

A dog enters Mexico in a clean carrier and goes to the Agricultural and Livestock Health Inspection Office, where a SENASICA official checks that the dog shows no signs of infectious or contagious disease, is free of ectoparasites, and has no fresh wounds or wounds in the process of healing. The official also checks for a New World screwworm inspection certificate signed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and issued no more than 5 days earlier. APHIS says that certificate does not require APHIS endorsement. A dog that comes back from Mexico needs the screwworm freedom certification described in the section on returning home.

Cruising With a Dog

Cunard says, “Our cat and dog kennels on board Queen Mary 2 offer everything your pet needs to sail the Transatlantic Crossing in comfort and style.” For any other ship, read that cruise line’s own pet policy and each port’s entry rules before you book.

Arriving by sea changes some rules. The APHIS page for Barbados says, “Category 2: All other countries and territories. Animals travelling by sea (e.g. on yachts, cruise ships and cargo vessels) also fall into this category.” It also says that “pets arriving by sea must be tested for rabies antibodies using a FAVN test done at an approved laboratory.” The APHIS page for the Cayman Islands says, “All animals travelling to the Cayman Islands must do so by the most direct route possible.”

APHIS also offers a Pets on Planes training for people who plan to fly with a dog or cat. For a crate, see our travel crate picks for German Shepherds.

Beach, Heat, and Water Care

Dr. Brian Collins of the Cornell Richard P. Riney Canine Health Center writes, “Dogs with thick or dark-colored coats, short snouts, or underlying health conditions are especially vulnerable to heat stroke.” For the signs of heat stroke and first aid, see our guide to keeping a dog cool in the summer.

On sand, Collins says, “If it’s too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for their paws.” He also says “it’s best to avoid peak sun hours (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.)” and to “keep an eye out for sharp objects such as glass, shells and fishhooks.”

Collins writes that “ingesting too much salt water can cause problems including vomiting and diarrhea or even seizures.” His advice is “Always bring plenty of fresh water (both for drinking and rinsing) and a non-spill bowl.” He adds that “Even dead jellyfish on the sand can sting and cause mouth irritation, drooling, or even breathing trouble,” and that after an ocean swim you should “rinse them off with fresh water afterward to remove any lingering irritants.”

Boats, Ferries, and Life Jackets

Collins says, “Even strong swimmers can get tired or caught in a current.” He says, “A doggy life jacket is a wise investment, and keeping your dog on a leash in the water offers added security.” For specific jackets, see our life jacket picks for German Shepherds. For a ferry or a charter, read the operator’s own pet policy before you buy tickets.

What to Bring

• The CDC Dog Import Form receipt, printed or on your phone.
• The rabies vaccination certificate. Barbados says all supporting certificates should bear the microchip number.
• The import permit, for a destination that requires one, such as Barbados or the Cayman Islands.
• The original health certificate, which the Cayman Islands require on arrival.

For the beach, Collins’s packing list is fresh water and a bowl, shade, dog-safe sunscreen, a towel or blanket, a first aid kit, ID tags, a collar or a harness plus a leash, dog food and treats, and your dog’s life jacket.

Check the Official Page Before You Book

Entry rules change, so check the official page before you book. USDA APHIS says, “If you are planning to take your pet from the United States to another country, contact a USDA-accredited veterinarian as soon as you decide to travel.” The pages for your route:

• USDA APHIS: Pet Travel From the United States to Aruba
• USDA APHIS: Pet Travel From the United States to Barbados
• USDA APHIS: Pet Travel From the United States to Cayman Islands
• USDA APHIS: Pet Travel From the United States to Mexico
• USDA APHIS: Travel With a Pet

Sources

• CDC: Bringing a Dog into the U.S.
• CDC: Entry Requirements for Dogs from Dog-Rabies Free or Low-Risk Countries
• CDC: High-Risk Countries for Dog Rabies
• USDA APHIS: Bring a Pet Dog into the United States
• Cunard: Kennels on Queen Mary 2
• Cornell Richard P. Riney Canine Health Center: Dogs at the Beach, August 2025