Turks and Caicos Pet Travel Information

A pet cat in the Turks and Caicos — A Turks and Caicos cat.

Unfortunately, it is not easy to obtain the required approval to travel with your pet to the Turks and Caicos. You must obtain approval before attempting to bring any animal into the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Entry Requirements

To get approval to bring pets into the country, you must obtain an import permit from the Turks and Caicos Islands Department of Agriculture and provide an international health certificate endorsed by your home country's department of agriculture or relevant animal transportation authority (such as the USDA).

The Turks and Caicos Islands Department of Agriculture requires a minimum of two business days to process the application, and you are advised to complete this process well in advance of travel. Be sure to bring physical copies of any supporting documents, such as vaccination records, Rabies tests, blood tests, microchip records, and proof of spay or neuter.

The local veterinarian Bark + Bliss provides a travel consultation service to assist visitors in getting the necessary permit to bring pets into the Turks and Caicos. Using such a service is recommended, as entry requirements can change without notice.

Caring for Your Pet

Never leave your pet in a car, even with the windows down. Cars parked, especially in the sun, become uninhabitable after about 5 minutes with the air conditioning off, and any animals left in the car will soon die.

There are a few licensed veterinarian practices on the main island of Providenciales. Bark + Bliss in Grace Bay is the only full-time veterinarian on the island. Veterinary services on the other islands in the archipelago are virtually nonexistent. All supermarkets sell a wide range of dog and cat food, with a small selection for other species.

All things considered, it's typically best to leave your pet at home if you plan to visit the country. Very few accommodations, restaurants, and businesses are pet-friendly.

Turks and Caicos Potcake dog with blue eyes — A Turks and Caicos Potcake.

Feral Dogs

For those bringing pets, be advised there is a feral dog problem on most islands. There are packs of wild, scavenging dogs that will attack and kill any cats or smaller dogs they encounter. While this is a larger issue outside of central Grace Bay, wild dogs can be seen roaming around Grace Bay as well.

Despite being the law, many dog owners in the Turks and Caicos do not keep their animals on leashes, and instead have them roaming freely. In addition, many owners do not keep animals on their property, and instead allow them to roam throughout the neighborhood, generally being a nuisance.

It’s common for pet dogs (along with feral dogs) to attack and kill pet cats. There have been many instances of this involving visitors' pet cats.

Adopting a Potcake

Application Requirements:

A valid veterinary certificate from your country of origin. If this document is not in English, it must be translated and notarized. This certificate must be endorsed by the body or department that the Turks and Caicos Government recognizes as the agriculture authority for your country (cannot simply be any veterinary certificate).
A completed import application (must be submitted and approved at least one week prior to travel).
A fee of $50 to be paid upon arrival in the country (per animal).