Local Travel with Pets

Veterinary Health Certificate

Pursuant to the directives issued by the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), citizens are required to apply for a Shipping Permit (SP) when traveling domestically (inter-island) together with their pets (dog, cat). Application is to be done initially at the NVQSD website.

To apply for an SP, a pet owner must submit a copy of a Veterinary Health Certificate (VHC). One VHC is required per pet.

AVCI can issue a VHC for traveling pet owners with the following conditions:

  • The pet has been vaccinated with rabies at AVCI or from any other legal veterinary practice.
  • Rabies vaccination has been done within a year upon request.
  • The pet is apparently healthy during checkup.

Take note that the validity of a VHC is only 3 days.

To request for a VHC from AVCI, consider the following conditions & requirements:

  • You must present your pet at AVCI. As required by the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), your pet must be weighed and must undergo physical examination.
  • If your pet has recently received its first or initial rabies shot, a mandatory 14-day waiting period is necessary before it becomes eligible for a Veterinary Health Certificate (VHC).
  • If your pet’s rabies booster was administered within the preceding 12 months from the last shot, your pet can promptly obtain a VHC without the 14-day waiting period. Nevertheless, we will still conduct a thorough examination, including weighing and a physical assessment, before releasing the VHC.
  • If your pet’s rabies booster was administered beyond the 12-month timeframe from the previous rabies shot, your pet has missed the required annual booster. In such instances, a 14-day waiting period from the last rabies shot is imperative before obtaining a VHC.
  • For clients from another veterinary clinic, we will consider your pet’s rabies vaccination history for VHC issuance, on the condition that the administering veterinarian is a licensed practitioner in the Philippines.
  • The asking fee of a VHC per pet is P400 (exclusive of rabies shot fees).
  • To ensure an accurate assessment of your pet’s health and fitness for travel, we recommend visiting AVCI for the VHC not more than 14 days before your scheduled date of domestic travel. This timeframe minimizes the margin of error in evaluating your pet’s condition and complies with our protocol.

Before presenting your pet at AVCI, please fill out the VHC Form below for travel details and to set a date for your visit. We do not allow filling up the form and visiting AVCI on the same day.

VHC Form

Step 1 of 2

VHC APPLICATION AGREEMENT

I acknowledge and agree to the following terms and conditions regarding the issuance of a Veterinary Health Certificate (VHC) by Aycardo Veterinary Center Inc. (AVCI) for domestic travel with my pet:

1. Rabies Vaccination Requirements:
• My pet has received a rabies vaccination from AVCI or another licensed veterinary practice.
• The rabies vaccination was administered within one year prior to the VHC request.
• If my pet received its first rabies vaccination, a mandatory 14-day waiting period has been observed before requesting the VHC.
• If my pet’s rabies booster was administered beyond the 12-month timeframe from the previous rabies shot, a 14-day waiting period from the last rabies shot is imperative before obtaining a VHC.
• Proof of rabies vaccination must be provided, and the administering veterinarian must be licensed in the Philippines.

2. Health Examination:
• I will present my pet at AVCI for a physical examination, including weighing, as required by the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI).
• I understand that the VHC will only be issued if my pet is deemed apparently healthy during the checkup.

3. Scheduling and Communication:
• After submitting this agreement and the required documents, I will wait for a call from an AVCI staff member within 24 hours to schedule my visit.
• I understand that no calls will be made on Sundays. If I submit my form on a Sunday, I will receive a call the next working day.

4. Validity of VHC:
• The VHC is valid for only three (3) days from the date of issuance.
• I will apply for a Shipping Permit (SP) within the validity period of the VHC.

5. Fees:
• I agree to pay the VHC issuance fee of ₱400 per pet, exclusive of any additional rabies vaccination fees if required.

6. Scheduling of Visit:
• I will not visit AVCI on the same day I submit the VHC form.
• I understand that I must visit AVCI no more than 14 days before my scheduled travel date to ensure an accurate assessment of my pet’s health and fitness for travel.

7. Compliance with BAI Directives:
• I acknowledge that obtaining a VHC is a prerequisite for applying for a Shipping Permit (SP) for inter-island travel with my pet, as mandated by the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI).
• I will initiate the SP application through the National Veterinary Quarantine Services Division (NVQSD) website.

By clicking the SUBMIT button below, I confirm that I have read, understood, and agreed to the terms and conditions outlined above. I also attest that the information provided in this form is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge.