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Bringing a Cat from the USA to Brazil: Requirements & Timeline

Easy both ways for cats — about three weeks in, and none of the CDC return process dogs face.

Rules last verified against official sources: 2026-07-24

Planning for a dog instead? See the dog version of this route →

Pick your travel date to get a dated, backward-planned checklist. (This tool needs JavaScript; the full requirements are listed below either way.)

For a cat, Brazil is easy: no import permit, no quarantine, MAPA inspects on arrival. You need a rabies vaccination (for a first shot, at least 21 days before departure), an internal-and-external parasite treatment within 15 days of the certificate, and a USDA-endorsed health certificate valid 60 days.

Minimum lead time: about 0.7 months (21 days). About three weeks from a standing start: a first rabies vaccination needs 21 days before departure. Brazil's certificate is valid 60 days — and coming home is simple for a cat.

The requirements, in order

Order matters — several steps are only valid if the earlier ones were done first. This is the same sequence the planner above turns into dated deadlines.

  1. Rabies vaccination (21 days before departure)
    A current rabies vaccination is required. For a first (primary) dose it must be given at least 21 days before departure to Brazil. Animals under 90 days old may be exempt if unvaccinated and not exposed to urban rabies in the last 90 days.
    Planning to bring a dog back to the US? Use a US-issued rabies vaccine given at least 28 days before you leave — that satisfies both trips.
    Official source ↗
  2. Internal & external parasite treatment
    A broad-spectrum treatment against both internal and external parasites (US-authorized products), given within 15 days before the health certificate is issued.
    Official source ↗
  3. Health certificate endorsed by USDA APHIS
    The international veterinary certificate (Certificado Zoosanitário), issued by a USDA-accredited vet after a clinical exam done within the prior 10 days, then endorsed by USDA APHIS. It is valid for 60 days from issue and must still be valid on arrival.
    Official source ↗

No return hassle for cats

Brazil is CDC high-risk, which makes the return trip complicated for dogs — but cats are exempt. No CDC Dog Import Form, no US-issued rabies certification, no microchip requirement to come home.

The trip home: bringing your dog back to the US

Brazil is a CDC high-risk country for dog rabies — set up the return BEFORE you leave. The step people miss: a Certification of U.S.-issued Rabies Vaccination must be completed by a USDA-accredited vet and endorsed by USDA before your dog departs the US (and the microchip must have been implanted before the rabies shot, or the vaccination is invalid for re-entry). Before flying back, also file the free CDC Dog Import Form — a single-entry receipt for your arrival date. Your dog must be at least 6 months old and appear healthy. Skip the pre-departure certification and a US-vaccinated dog can face a CDC-registered facility, revaccination, and quarantine on return.

Cats are exempt — they aren't subject to the CDC dog-import rules and need no rabies paperwork to re-enter (Hawaii and Guam set their own quarantine even from the mainland).

Official sources

These are the only authorities on this route. If anything here disagrees with them, they win — and please tell us.

FAQ

How long does it take to bring a cat from the US to Brazil?
About three weeks if your cat needs a first rabies shot (21-day wait), plus parasite treatment and the USDA-endorsed certificate, which is then valid 60 days.
Is the trip home easy for a cat?
Yes — cats skip the CDC high-risk return process that dogs face. Nothing special is needed to bring a cat back.
Do I need a permit for Brazil?
No — no permit and no quarantine for an accompanied cat. MAPA inspects on arrival.

Other cat routes

Compare every country's lead time, titer and return requirements side by side →

Disclaimer: Preflight Pet is a planning aid, not legal or veterinary advice. Import rules change; airlines add their own requirements. Always confirm every step with the official government sources linked on this page, and with your airline and accredited veterinarian, before booking travel.
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