Can You Bring Your Pet to Bali? What You Should Know About Relocating Your Furry Friend to Bali
Pets are beloved family members who provide that feeling of being at home wherever you go. So if you’re planning a move to Bali, it’s unlikely you’ll want to leave your fur baby behind. Although it’s somewhat of a grey area in Indonesia, if you prepare and have patience, you should be able to bring your pet with you. However, before you get too excited, it’s important to keep in mind that transporting your pet can be both challenging, expensive and even dangerous for your pet, and should only be done with thorough consideration. If you’re still curious, let’s walk through your options so you can make the right decision for you and your pet.
Bringing pets to Bali requires special preparation, from complying with strict regulations to ensuring your beloved animals' comfort during the journey.
Is it Legal to Bring Your Pet to Bali?
The truth is - direct animal imports to Bali are officially prohibited. This ban has been in place following a rabies outbreak on the island in 2008. However, that doesn’t mean that people don’t bring their pets to the island, although it’s technically not legally endorsed.
It’s a two stage journey, where first you legally import your pet to Jakarta with full documentation, then arrange ground transportation to Bali with assistance. Although, as we said, it’s a legal grey area, this process is routinely facilitated by experienced pet relocation companies.
The journey typically follows this sequence:
Your pet arrives in Jakarta with complete import documentation
They undergo mandatory government quarantine in the capital
After getting health clearance, a transfer service transports them to Bali
The journey to the island involves both road travel and a ferry crossing
It’s important to note that attempting direct flights with your pet to Denpasar Airport will undoubtedly result in both refusal and most likely, return shipping at your expense.
How to Prepare Your Pet:
Whatever you do, start your preparations at least a few months before you plan to arrive. Before you start the process, make sure that your pet meets the criteria:
Age: Your pet must be at least six months old
Breed: Not all breeds are permitted entry into Indonesia or approved for air travel, you should ideally check with a pet relocation service for an updated breed list
Microchipping:
Microchipping should precede all vaccinations in your preparation sequence. The microchip must:
Meet ISO 11784/11785 standards
Be registered in an international database
If your pet received vaccinations before being microchipped, unfortunately, those vaccinations won't be recognized, so you’ll need to do the vaccination process again.
Vaccination:
Following microchipping, your pet needs specific immunisations recorded in an International Pet Passport:
Rabies Protection:
Administered at least 30 days before travel but not more than one year before
Blood drawn for titer testing 30 days post-vaccination
Test must confirm adequate antibody levels
Disease Protection:
For cats: protection against calicivirus, rhinotracheitis, and panleukopenia
For dogs: immunization for distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, and parvovirus
All vaccines must be administered between 21 days and 12 months before travel
Pets, especially dogs and cats, must be vaccinated against rabies regularly because rabies remains a health concern in Bali.
Documentation Requirements
The following paperwork is necessary for the import permit application:
Copy of your passport
Photograph of your pet
Pet details (with their name, breed, age, color and gender)
Microchip certification
Vaccination records
Rabies titer test results
Health certificate (issued shortly before departure)
The import permit takes roughly 4-5 weeks to process and will be valid for 90 days once issued.
What’s the Quarantine Like?
Once you arrive to Jakarta, your pet will enter mandatory quarantine:
They will be taken to government facilities located near the airport
Duration ranges from 7-14 days depending on health assessments
Visitor access is not permitted, but you may receive some updates when possible
Transportation from Jakarta to Bali:
Budget Services:
Group transport with multiple animals
The journey can take up to 5 days with multiple stops
Limited updates during transit
Premium Services:
Individual or small-group transportation
Direct routing, typically within 24 hours
Regular updates and possible GPS tracking
Specialized care for breed-specific needs
The cost for relocation from Jakarta to Bali can vary wildly, with pet owners quoting they generally spent between $500-$2500. The journey can be stressful for your pet, so it’s of the utmost importance to make sure whoever you do this leg of the journey with has a good reputation. Please do your research before booking, as unfortunately, some pets have been hurt and incurred injuries during transit.
It’s also important to keep in mind that this is not a legal practice, and if the relocator gets caught, your pet may be put down by the authorities. As such, we would strongly caution anyone thinking of relocating their pet to spend time speaking to others who have successfully done it, either on the island or via expat Facebook groups. There are reputable companies out there, but it’s not a decision to be taken lightly.
Planning for Return
Another thing to keep in mind is leaving Bali. If you later decide that island life isn’t for you, the journey could be another stressful one for you and your pet. The process typically requires transportation to Jakarta first, then international departure.
Return requirements ultimately depend on where you’re headed:
Australia has the most rigorous and least flexible protocols
Other regions including the US, Canada, and many European countries have somewhat simpler and less costly procedures
These regulations are constantly changing. However, generally speaking, the price of exporting your pet from Bali is quite high, as it is also illegal to take a dog out of Bali. Start researching current requirements at least three months before your planned departure.
Bali has strict regulations regarding taking animals out of the island to prevent the spread of diseases to other regions.
Considering Local Alternatives
Being that bringing your pet is quite stressful and expensive for both you and your furry friend, it may be worth considering other options. If you’re not planning on moving your life here long-term, it's probably better to have someone pet sit your pet back home instead. If you’d like to have a pet here, simply reach out to local pet adoption agencies, and you’ll find plenty of animals looking for a forever home.
Health And Safety
Something to keep in mind is that rabies is still a concern on the island. Anyone who spends time around animals on the island should get a rabies vaccination, because the vaccine may not always be readily available in the case of an emergency.
The Bottom Line
Whilst it is possible to move your pet to Bali, it’s neither officially legal or straightforward. Unfortunately, the journey requires quite a lot of preparation, patience and adequate finances. So if you do decide to go ahead with relocation:
Do as much research as you can - some articles can be outdated so keep this in mind
Make sure your pet is physically and emotionally strong enough to handle the journey
Start planning at least 3-4 months before so that you have enough preparation times
Once you’ve dealt with the stress of moving your pet, you’ll be ready to relax and settle down here, and to make some money to recoup the costs. If you need help with something related to business, visas or relocation, you’re in the right place. As one of Bali’s premier visa and business consulting agencies, we’re well equipped to help you. Simply reach out to one of our friendly experts at Bali Solve, either at our office in Pererenan or via Whatsapp, and together let’s make Bali a forever home for you and your furry companions.
Written by Team Bali Solve
18 May 2025
