REQUIREMENTS TO TRAVEL
WITH PETS (dogs and cats) FROM URUGUAY TO THE UNITED STATES
To travel to the U.S. with a pet(s) from
Uruguay an International Certificate for Exportation, a
Rabies Vaccination Certificate and a photo of the pet are
required. These documents must be endorsed at the appropriate
ministries and offices. The following is a complete description
of the required steps:
A. Rabies Vaccination Certificate The Health Certificate including Rabies Vaccination
Certificate has to be issued by a veterinarian registered
with the Animal Health Direction of MGAP. The veterinarian’s
registration number and a professional stamp* (approximately
29 Uruguayan pesos) must be included. The rabies vaccination
must have been given more than a month and less than a year
before travel. Animals 3 months of age or older must have
a Rabies vaccination. The animal must also be treated for
internal parasites. The Health Certificate is valid for
30 days. Some veterinarians prefer to only issue certificates
within 10 days of travel. Other veterinarians will say that
the health certificate is good for 45 days but it will NOT
be accepted by MGAP.
*NOTE: The professional
stamp (in Spanish it is called a Timbre Profesional, better
to get the pink “rosado” one but the green one
will also be accepted) must be purchased at a local bookstore
or kiosks, if not provided by the veterinarian who issues
the health certificate.
B. International Certificate for
Exportation In order to obtain this certificate, the owner
(or someone acting on their behalf) must go WITH THE PET
to the local Veterinary Services Office of the Ministerio
de Ganadería Agricultura y Pesca (MGAP). In Montevideo,
this office is located at San Fructuoso 897 (in the Prado
neighborhood) near the cross street of Rambla Baltasar Brum
1, the telephone number is 203-4822, and is open to the
public Monday to Friday from 9:30 to 16:00, but please call
in advance to make sure that the veterinary official will
be available as he/she may be on duty outside the office.
This office does not change operating times during the summer.
If it is necessary to get all documents in one day, please,
be advised that the MRREE office closes at 14:30 (see below).
The only Uruguayan official veterinarians
that are authorized to fill out import and export certificates
are with MGAP. In some cities in the interior, it is possible
that an official veterinary inspector is available. Please,
call the phone number above to find out more information.
The person who goes to the MGAP office WITH
THE PET will also need the following documents with them:
1. Health certificate including Rabies Vaccination Certificate.
MGAP will only accept health certificates issued within
30 days of travel (even if your veterinarian says that they
are good for 45 days).
2. A photocopy of the Health Certificate/Rabies Vaccination
Certificate (this copy will be filed at the MGAP office)
3. THE ANIMAL. A veterinarian will be examining the animal
to determine if it is healthy.
4. A photograph of the animal. This can be any photo you
have of your animal and does not need to be professionally
taken. It can also be a digital photo printed on regular
paper.
C. Endorsement of the International
Certificate of Exportation Bring the MGAP International Export Certificate,
with the photo of your animal and the original Rabies Certificate
attached, to the Direction of Consulate Affairs at the Ministry
of Foreign Affaires (MRREE), located at Cuareim 1384 (in
the Centro neighborhood), between 18 de Julio and Colonia2.
Their telephone/fax number is 908-9142 or 903-2065, and
they are open from 10:00 to 14:30 (no changes in operating
times occur during the summer). This is the ministry that
will officially endorse the International Export Certificate
with a seal and a stamp. The cost of this procedure is 1.5
consulate pesos, equivalent to 7.5 US dollars (1 consulate
peso=5 US dollars) or the equivalent in Uruguayan pesos
(220 pesos in April 2004).
You are NOT REQUIRED to bring the
pet to the MRREE.
D. Endorsement of the Complete Documentation
by the U.S. Consulate This step is no longer required.
1- Indications on how to get to the MGAP
office at San Fructuoso 897 are described in red in the
attached map.
2- Indications on how to get to the
MRREE office at Cuareim 1384 are described in blue in the
attached map.
MGAP: From the US Embassy,
take the Rambla west, pass Customs building (at the port),
train station, Antel tower, after two signal lights, 1 block
before a Shell gas station (this is San Fructuoso) MGAP
office is on the left (see photos).
MRREE: From the US Embassy, take the
Rambla west; after the ANCAP gas station, turn right into
Ejido, cross 18 de Julio, go 1 block, turn left onto Colonia,
go two blocks and turn left onto Cuareim (MRREE is on the
left).
