Bringing your dog or cat to Bali is possible, but it's neither direct, nor fast, nor cheap. No animal enters through Denpasar airport: the only documented route runs via Jakarta, with a government quarantine followed by a road transfer to the island. Budget 4 to 6 months of preparation and, as a purely rough guide, USD 2,500 to 6,500 all in. The reason for all this red tape comes down to one word: rabies, endemic to Bali. Before you commit a single euro, keep one simple rule in mind that will save you plenty of grief. And if you don't have a pet yet, the simplest, fastest and most ethical option is to adopt locally.
**Important — rules can change: confirm with a specialist agency and on karantinaindonesia.go.id before you commit to any costs.** Indonesia's rules on importing animals to Bali can change, be tightened, or be temporarily suspended without notice. This article describes the process as documented by the Indonesian quarantine agency and by professional relocators, but it is no substitute for written, up-to-date confirmation. Animal transport is also a field where dodgy middlemen operate: get a recognized specialist agency to guide you, ideally a member of IPATA (the international pet transport association), rather than going it alone.
Why it's so strict: rabies in the background
To understand why you can't simply put your dog in the hold of a Paris–Denpasar flight, you need to know the island's health context. Rabies has circulated endemically in Bali since a major outbreak in 2008, and it has never been eradicated since. This isn't an administrative footnote: it's the key to every restriction.
The official 2025 figures show the scale of the problem. Between 1 January and 26 September 2025, Bali's health authorities logged around 49,000 bite and rabies cases on the island, and 12 human deaths — an average of roughly 180 bites a day. In response, the Indonesian government classes Bali among its rabies-affected zones, which has one direct, non-negotiable consequence: direct entry and exit of animals through Denpasar airport are closed.
In practice, that means no airline will board a dog or cat bound for Bali, and the only documented legal route runs through mainland Indonesia. It's frustrating, but it also makes sense: the goal is to avoid importing fresh rabies outbreaks into a territory that's already affected.
The step-by-step process, via Jakarta
The standard point of entry is Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta international airport (code CGK), where Indonesia's quarantine agency — the Barantin (Badan Karantina Indonesia) — has the facilities it needs. From there, the animal is moved to Bali by road. Here's the typical timeline, from the first vet appointment to arrival on the island. All the timeframes and amounts below are rough estimates: your agency will confirm the figures that apply to your situation.
| Step | When | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| ISO microchip | Day −180, before anything else | Must come before any vaccination |
| Rabies vaccination | After the chip | Between 30 days and 12 months before entry |
| Rabies titer test (FAVN) | ≥ 30 days after the vaccine | Result ≥ 0.5 IU/ml required |
| Import permit (rekomendasi) | 4 to 8 weeks' lead time | Valid for 30 days once issued |
| Health certificate | Less than 5 days before departure | Endorsed by the official authority |
| Quarantine in Jakarta | On arrival | 7 to 14 days in a Barantin facility |
| Road transfer to Bali | After quarantine | Separate "antar area" (inter-regional) permit |
1. The microchip, before everything else
It all starts with an ISO 11784/11785-compliant microchip. Crucial detail: it must be implanted before any vaccination. If your animal was vaccinated against rabies before being chipped, that vaccine risks not being recognized, and you'll have to start over. It's the most common sequencing mistake, and the most costly in time.
2. The rabies vaccination
Once the chip is in place, you carry out (or redo) the rabies vaccination. It must be more than 30 days and less than 12 months old at the moment of entry into Indonesia. This vaccine is the basis for the next blood test, the step that stretches the timeline the most.
3. The rabies titer test (FAVN)
The titer test, or FAVN test, is a blood draw performed by an approved laboratory that measures the level of rabies antibodies. The result must be greater than or equal to 0.5 IU/ml, and the blood must be drawn at least 30 days after vaccination. In France, the rule is even stricter: the titer must be done at least 3 months before travel, and it's required for both the outbound and the return trip. As a rough guide, budget on the order of USD 75 to 180 (around £80 to 150 in the UK) for this test alone, depending on the lab.
4. The import permit (rekomendasi)
This is the central piece of paperwork. The issuing authority is the Directorate of Animal Health at the Ministry of Agriculture, via the Barantin. The permit is applied for in two stages: first a recommendation from the destination province (Bali's veterinary authority), then a national application filed on the karantinaindonesia.go.id portal. The lead time is 4 to 8 weeks — realistically, count on 6 to 8 weeks. Don't miss this: once issued, the permit is valid for only 30 days, which means you have to line up all your dates carefully. The quarantine action request itself is filed online through the official PTK Online system, with a prior notification to be lodged several days before arrival.
5. The international health certificate
Just before departure, an official vet issues an international health certificate, dated less than 5 days before travel, which must be endorsed by the official authority of the country of origin (the DDPP/DGAL in France, the APHA in the UK, the USDA APHIS in the United States, the DAFF in Australia). This is the document that "makes official" the animal's state of health in the eyes of the Indonesian authorities.
6. Quarantine in Jakarta
On arrival in Jakarta, the animal is placed in mandatory quarantine in a government Barantin facility for 7 to 14 days. That duration can be extended if the file is incomplete — hence the importance of a flawless file prepared with your agency. The exact cost of this government quarantine isn't reliably published: it's precisely one of the line items your agency or the Barantin should price out for you upfront.
7. The road transfer to Bali
After the national quarantine, the animal needs a separate inter-regional movement permit — the "antar area" permit — to enter Bali. The official documents required include the vaccination record, the protective rabies titer results, and a Sertifikat Veteriner issued by the local veterinary authority, with the request again going through PTK Online. Since no flight will board an animal bound for Bali, the Jakarta–Bali leg is done by road, in an air-conditioned minivan, over anywhere from about 24 hours to a few days depending on the arrangements.
One last word on the temptation to cut corners: there is none. Bypassing these protocols or attempting an illegal entry exposes the animal to confiscation, or even euthanasia. That's not a theoretical risk, and no saving could ever justify it.
What it really costs
There's no way to quote a price to the cent: it all depends on the country of departure, the size of the animal, and the agency you choose. The ranges below, provided by professional relocators, serve as a benchmark for building a budget — not a quote.
| Item | Rough range |
|---|---|
| FAVN titer test | USD 75-180 |
| Full relocation from the UK | ~£2,800-5,000 (medium-sized dog) |
| Full relocation from the United States | ~USD 3,500-6,500 |
| Road transfer Bali → Jakarta (exit) | ~USD 500-2,500 |
| Total budget to plan for (entry) | ~USD 2,500-6,500 all in |
These amounts usually cover flights, tests, government fees, permits, and quarantine boarding, but every agency breaks down its quote differently. Always ask for a line-by-line breakdown, and be wary of a suspiciously low "all-in" price: it's often a sign that a line — quarantine, the road transfer, a permit — has been left out.
From the origin country: the French example
Before you even think about Indonesia, a good part of the work happens at your regular vet. For a departure from France, the logic runs like this: ISO microchip ID, rabies vaccination on an already-chipped animal, then a rabies titer at an approved lab — to be done at least 30 days after vaccination and at least 3 months before departure. This titer is required for both the outbound and the return trip, which means it's best to schedule it early and hold on to the result carefully.
The final link on the French side is the health certificate, issued less than 5 days before travel and then endorsed by the official veterinary services (DDPP/DGAL). Your official vet knows this chain: talk to them about your plan as early as you can, because it's the titer's timeline that drives everything else. And keep in mind that the Indonesian side of the file (import permit, quarantine, transfer) is run in parallel, ideally by a specialist agency that bridges the two countries.
Leaving Bali with your pet
Leaving follows exactly the reverse path, and it's just as tightly regulated. There's no direct export from Bali: you have to obtain an export permit from the Ministry of Agriculture, move the animal by road to Jakarta, then board an international flight out of Jakarta — never Denpasar. The Bali–Jakarta road transport is organized by agencies, often in grouped convoys at roughly one a week, for a rough cost of USD 500 to 2,500 depending on the size of the animal and the destination.
Add to that the rules of the destination country, which apply on top of the Indonesian formalities. Australia, for example, imposes a strict protocol and quarantine for animals coming from a "group 2" country; France, for its part, again requires a valid titer. In other words, a return trip demands as much care as a departure.
The alternative we recommend: adopt locally
If you don't have a pet yet, or if the import process feels out of proportion, there's an infinitely simpler, cheaper and more useful option: adopt in Bali. The island has a large population of stray dogs and cats, and several serious, active and vetted associations are constantly looking for foster and adoptive families. Adopting locally means zero quarantine, zero flight, zero international paperwork — and a concrete good deed.
- BAWA (Bali Animal Welfare Association): an NGO founded in 2007 and based in Ubud, it rehomes around 60 animals a month through a serious process including a pre-adoption interview and a home visit.
- Mission Paws'ible: founded in 2015, a no-kill shelter with its "The Healing Centre" sanctuary in Tabanan; more than 1,000 animals saved and no fixed adoption fee (donation-based).
- Villa Kitty Foundation: a cat-focused shelter near Ubud, founded in 2009, with more than 200 cats and an in-house clinic (it also takes in abandoned dogs).
- BARC (Bali Dog Adoption and Rehabilitation Centre): a no-kill shelter in Ubud, around 170 dogs, with a multi-species sanctuary project in Tabanan.
- Odd Cat Bali: the island's first full-service cat center since 2016 (cat café, boarding, adoption), with more than 600 cats saved and more than 400 rehomed.
Whether you adopt or move in with your companion, you'll also need all the everyday gear — bed, travel crate, bowls, cat tree, litter box. That's exactly what you'll find secondhand and among expats in the Pets category on Lokalfinds, where other residents regularly resell their animals' gear before they leave. A quick look at the current listings is often enough to kit out a dog or cat for a fraction of the new price.
Where to get your pet treated in Bali
Once you're settled, it's good to know who to turn to. Several well-regarded, English-speaking clinics cover the expat areas:
- Sunset Vet: clinics in Canggu, Ubud and Kuta, open 24/7, with a well-equipped emergency hospital in Kuta (CT scanner, digital X-ray, ultrasound).
- Island Vet Bali: in Canggu, also specialized in exotic pets and species, with an in-house lab.
- Bali Central Vet: in Canggu, with a 24-hour service.
- Semer Vet Care: more than 14 years' experience, well liked by the expat community.
- Hadiprata Vet: in Seminyak, an excellent online reputation.
In the event of a bite — a real risk given the island's rabies context — the immediate reflex is to wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water, then seek care at a health center without delay for post-exposure treatment. Never play down a dog or monkey bite in Bali.
Sources
For the official procedures on importing, quarantining, and inter-regional movement of animals in Indonesia, refer to the authoritative sources — and, once again, have your case confirmed by a specialist agency before you commit to any costs:
- Badan Karantina Indonesia (Barantin): the national quarantine agency, the competent authority for import/export permits and the PTK Online system.
- Barantin — procedure for transporting an animal to/from Bali: documents required for inter-regional ("antar area") movement.
- BAWA — Bali Animal Welfare Association, Mission Paws'ible, Villa Kitty and BARC: vetted adoption associations in Bali.
Frequently asked questions
Can I bring my dog straight to Bali?
No. No flight will board an animal bound for Denpasar airport, because of the island's rabies status. The only documented route runs via Jakarta: your animal enters Indonesia through Soekarno-Hatta airport, does its quarantine there, then reaches Bali by road. Because these rules can change, have the process confirmed by a specialist agency and on karantinaindonesia.go.id before you commit to anything.
How long does quarantine last?
On arrival in Jakarta, the mandatory quarantine in a government Barantin facility lasts 7 to 14 days. It can be extended if the file is incomplete. On top of that is the road transfer to Bali, from about 24 hours to a few days. A file well prepared in advance is the best way to avoid extensions.
What's the total cost?
As a rough guide, a full professional relocation to Bali runs around USD 2,500 to 6,500 all in, depending on the country of departure and the size of the animal. The titer test alone costs on the order of USD 75 to 180. These figures are benchmarks for building a budget: always ask your agency for a detailed, line-by-line quote.
What paperwork do I need to prepare on the France side?
The France-side chain covers ISO microchip ID, a rabies vaccination on an already-chipped animal, a rabies titer at an approved lab (at least 30 days after the vaccine and at least 3 months before departure), then a health certificate issued less than 5 days before travel and endorsed by the official veterinary services. Talk to your official vet early, because the titer drives the whole timeline.
How long does it take to prepare everything?
Plan for 4 to 6 months of preparation, sometimes more. It's the rabies titer and getting the import permit (4 to 8 weeks' lead time, valid for only 30 days) that set the pace. Starting too late often forces you to push back the trip or redo certain steps.
Can I leave Bali with my pet?
Yes, but by the reverse path: an export permit from the Ministry of Agriculture, a road transfer to Jakarta, then an international flight out of Jakarta. The road transport costs on the order of USD 500 to 2,500. Add the rules of the destination country, often strict (Australia, for example, imposes a dedicated quarantine; France again requires a valid titer). Here too, a specialist agency makes things far easier.
Where can I adopt a pet in Bali instead of importing one?
Several vetted associations are looking for adopters: BAWA and BARC in Ubud, Mission Paws'ible in Tabanan, Villa Kitty for cats near Ubud, or Odd Cat Bali. Adopting locally avoids quarantine, flights and international paperwork. For gear, the Pets category on Lokalfinds gathers secondhand equipment resold among expats.
