🇱🇰Taking a dog or cat to Sri Lanka: entry rules and flights
✓ Rules checked: September 15, 2026Official sources only
Preparing from scratch takes about 4 weeks, wherever you fly from.
Sri Lanka sets its own requirements for bringing in dogs and cats. From any departure country your pet needs microchip, import permit, rabies vaccination, additional vaccination, parasite treatment and veterinary health certificate. The rules are the same for dogs and cats.
Quarantine on arrival is mandatory — 30 days; documents do not waive it. Pets may not enter through just any airport: there is only one designated point. Order matters more than the list: the microchip goes in before the rabies vaccination, or the vaccination does not count. 5 carriers in our directory fly direct to Sri Lanka, and their pet conditions differ.
Check your own route
Free, no signup: timings, documents and airlines for your pet
🐕 🐈 Same rules for dogs and cats
Airlines with direct flights
5 airlines in our directory fly direct to and from Sri Lanka. Their conditions differ — the cabin weight limit, whether they carry pets in the hold, the fee and breed restrictions — so it is worth choosing the carrier before buying the ticket.
Showing the 5 carriers serving the most cities out of 5 with direct flights. Schedules: AeroDataBox, AirLabs, Travelpayouts; pet conditions come from our airline directory.
Restrictions
The limits people find out about last: how many animals one person may bring, the minimum age and which breeds are turned away at the border.
QuarantineAlways: 30 days
Banned breedsNo bans+
These are the country's rules. Airlines refuse some breeds on their own — their limits are in the carrier table above.
Pets per personNot stated
Minimum ageno limit; vaccination from 90 days
Points of entry1 airports+
CMB
What you need to enter Sri Lanka
The full list of documents and procedures for entering Sri Lanka. Every item carries its official source and last-checked date, and is marked as always required or required only from some departure countries.
Identification
Microchip+
The pet must be microchipped with an ISO standard 11784/11785 15-digit microchip
«The pet must be microchipped with an ISO standard 11784/11785 15-digit microchip»
NEGATIVE test results for Heartworm (Dirofilaria Immitis) within 30 days using ELISA, PCR, or Modified Knott's testing
«5. Parasitic Treatment. 5.1. Dogs must be treated for both ectoparasites and endoparasites within fourteen (14) days prior to departure. 5.2. Such treatment must be certified in writing by a registered veterinarian.»
Source ↗Rules checked: September 15, 2026government
Documents
Import permit+
When importing pet dogs to Sri Lanka, the importer must have a valid import permit issued by 'The Department of Animal Production and Health' (DAPH). Complete and submit an application for an animal permit online at least 2 weeks before arr
«When importing pet dogs to Sri Lanka, the importer must have a valid import permit issued by 'The Department of Animal Production and Health' (DAPH). Complete and submit an application for an animal permit online at least 2 weeks before arrival in Sri Lanka.»
International Veterinary Health Certificate (*Official Export Health Certificate) issued by the Government Veterinary Authority in the exporting country
«6. International Veterinary Health Certificate. 6.1. An International Veterinary Health Certificate must be issued by the competent veterinary authority of the exporting country within ten (10) days prior to export. This certificate must be submitted at the time of application; however, if it is not available at that stage, it shall be presented upon arrival in Sri Lanka.»
Source ↗Rules checked: September 15, 2026government
The order of preparation
The order matters more than the list: a step done too early has to be repeated. The intervals come from the same rule fields the engine uses for the earliest departure date.
Microchip
before the rabies vaccination
Rabies vaccination
pet at least 90 days oldvalid after 30 days
Parasite treatment
Additional vaccination
Import permit
Veterinary health certificate
no earlier than 10 days before entry
Steps marked “depends on origin” are not needed by everyone — see the table above or check your own route.
Compared by departure country
The requirements are the same whichever country you fly from — this country draws no distinction between departure countries. Below is the same engine answer on six examples, counted from zero: no microchip and no vaccination yet, preparation starting today.
If the microchip and vaccination are already done, the wait is shorter: the clock runs from the vaccination date, not from today. Breed, weight and connections change the answer too — check your own route with the form above.
Arrival airports
Pets may not enter through just any airport. Below: where direct flights go and whether animals are accepted.
On the list of entry points1
CMBColombo
Not on the list of entry points1
JAFJaffna
FAQ
What documents do I need to enter Sri Lanka?+
From any country: microchip, rabies vaccination, additional vaccination, parasite treatment, import permit, veterinary health certificate.
Is a rabies titre test required for Sri Lanka?+
No, a titre test is not required for entry.
Which breeds are banned from entry?+
The country's rules list no breed bans. Individual airlines have their own restrictions — see the carrier table.
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