Issued by the Ministry for Primary Industries
Guidance Document
Dogs and Cats to the Cayman
Islands (Guidance)
KYPET9
Effective from 8 August 2022
1 Purpose
(1) This guidance document has been issued to accompany Dogs and Cats to the Cayman Islands (OMAR),
dated 08 August 2022. This guidance document should be read in conjunction with that OMAR.
2 Specific guidance for the zoosanitary certificate
(1) The animal(s) for export are to fully comply with the Animal Products Notice: Export Requirements for Live
Animals Microchipping.
(2) The microchip number must be recorded on all documentation required for the importation of the dogs and
cats.
(3) All dogs and cats entering the Cayman Islands are to be accompanied by an import permit.
(4) Correspondence regarding the intent to import to the Cayman Islands and securing an import permit can
be addressed to ci.agri[email protected]
(5) An import permit will only be issued on the provision to the competent authority of the Cayman Islands of
an acceptable draft version completed export certificate.
(6) The draft export certificate is not endorsed by MPI prior to submission to the Cayman Islands.
2.1 Rabies
(1) In regard to rabies vaccination in clause 3.1 of the zoosanitary certificate, 1 year, 2 year and 3 year
vaccinations are recognised by the Cayman Islands if the following criteria outlined by the Cayman Islands
is followed:
a) The dog or cat must be at least 12 weeks old before the primary rabies vaccination is given.
b) A booster vaccination must be administered one year later in accordance with the requirements of
the Cayman Islands.
c) Only after the second vaccination (administered 1 year later after the primary vaccination) the
interval for revaccination can be extended to 2 or 3 years with a product that has a 2 year or 3 year
duration of immunity label.
i) The rabies regime outlined in 2.1 (1) c) does not recognise New Zealand product licensing
regime.
ii) In most cases, the animal will require a single rabies vaccination administered in New Zealand
to be eligible for import into the Caymans.
(2) The microchip must be recorded on the rabies vaccination certificate.
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Ministry for Primary Industries Page 2 of 3
(3) Vaccination certificates without a microchip number will not be accepted.
(4) If the dog or cat was vaccinated before being fitted with a microchip, it must be vaccinated again.
2.2 Rabies Fluorescent Antibody Virus Neutralising (FAVN) test
(1) The Cayman Islands recognises the Australian Animal Health Laboratory as an approved laboratory for the
purpose of rabies FAVN testing.
(2) All blood samples must be sent to the MPI Official Laboratory for subcontracting out to the Australian
Animal Health Laboratory accordingly.
(3) To continue to be eligible to enter the Cayman Islands, the FAVN test must be repeated on or before the
12 month expiration date.
2.3 Tick treatment
(1) With regard to clause 4.3, the tick treatment must be a systemic preparation known to have residual
action.
a) Approved product ingredients include:
– Fipronil
– Amitraz
– Pyrethrins
– Permethrins and
– Isoxazolines.
b) The following preparations are not acceptable:
– Shampoos
– Collars
– Preparations that are licensed for control of fleas only (e.g. Program, Advantage, Revolution or
Sentinel).
3 Additional information
Further information taken from the requirements for the importation of dogs and cats to the Cayman
Islands suggests:
(1) You must give at least 48 hours’ notice of expected date and time of arrival, along with details of the
vessel or airline if such information was not provided on the importation application form or the travel
arrangements have changed (e.g. date of arrival, airline and flight number).
(2) No differentiations or exemptions in meeting entry requirements is granted for service and support
animals.
a) Service animals must be restrained upon disembarking the aircraft or vessel and must be identified
via appropriate vests.
(3) All dogs staying longer than 30 days in the Cayman Islands must be licensed with the Cayman Islands
Department of Agriculture.
4 If you are planning on returning to New Zealand
(1) If you are planning on returning to New Zealand with your pet in the future, please contact the MPI Animal
Imports team to obtain all the relevant information on importing pets back into New Zealand, and if there is
anything that can expediate your animals return to New Zealand. We strongly suggest that this is done
Dogs and Cats to the Cayman Islands (Guidance) Final 8 August 2022
Ministry for Primary Industries Page 3 of 3
before your pet is exported from New Zealand, as not every country can meet the New Zealand import
conditions, and so you may not be able to import your pet back into New Zealand.
For all the necessary information on importation into New Zealand, contact animal.imports@mpi.govt.nz.
Disclaimer
This guidance does not constitute, and should not be regarded as, legal advice. While every effort has been made
to ensure the information in this guidance is accurate, the Ministry for Primary Industries does not accept any
responsibility or liability whatsoever for any error of fact, omission, interpretation or opinion that may be present,
however it may have occurred.
