Moving to Bali With Your Pet 2026: Why Dogs and Cats Can't Come

You can't bring your dog or cat to Bali. Rabies reached the island in 2008, and since then provincial rules have closed Bali to dogs, cats and other animals that can carry the disease. The ban covers pets flying in from abroad and pets coming from other Indonesian islands. If you're planning a family move, plan for your pet to stay behind, or plan to live somewhere else in Indonesia.

What the Rules Actually Say

Bali has its own animal-movement rules on top of Indonesia's national import system. Under them, dogs, cats, monkeys and similar animals are not allowed into the province. A few points catch families out:

Cats count too. The rules cover every animal that can carry rabies, so a small cat in a cabin carrier is refused just like a large dog in cargo.

Jakarta is not a back door. Indonesia does accept imported pets in other regions, such as Jakarta, with an import permit, microchip, rabies vaccination, antibody titer test and a government health certificate. That clearance stops at Jakarta. A pet cleared there still can't fly, drive or take the ferry on to Bali.

What Families Do Instead

Rehome at home. Most families leave the dog or cat with grandparents, friends or a trusted new family before they move. Give yourself a few months so the handover is calm for the pet and for the kids.

Live elsewhere in Indonesia. If keeping your pet matters more than the island, families do relocate with pets to Jakarta or other regions that accept imports. Use a licensed pet relocation agent and get the rules for your exact destination in writing.

Pro-Tips If You Adopt in Bali

Find a vet in your first week. South Bali has the most English-speaking clinics. Book a check-up to start a vaccination record.
Keep rabies shots current. This protects your pet and your family, and you'll need the records if you ever apply to move the animal.
Start tick prevention early. Tick-borne illness is common in Bali's heat. Ask your vet for a blood test if your dog seems tired or off its food.
Teach kids about street dogs. Many dogs roam freely. Children should never approach or feed unfamiliar dogs. Read what to do after a dog bite in Bali before you need it.
Look at boarding before you choose an area. Pet boarding is easier to find in South Bali than in Ubud or the north.

A Conscious Note

Bali's animal welfare work runs on a small number of local organisations and volunteers who are stretched thin. If you adopt, sterilise and vaccinate your pet, and support the shelter you adopted from. If you leave the island and can't take your pet, work with the rescue community on rehoming. Never abandon an animal.

Quick-Reference FAQ

Can I bring my dog or cat to Bali in 2026? No. Bali bans dogs, cats and other rabies-carrying animals from entering the province, whether they arrive from abroad or from elsewhere in Indonesia. Any exception needs written approval from Bali's animal quarantine office and the provincial veterinary service, and these approvals are very rarely granted.

Can I import my pet into Jakarta and then fly it to Bali? No. Importing a pet into Jakarta is possible with the right permits, but that clearance does not cover onward travel to Bali. The pet would still need Bali's own written approval, which families almost never receive.

What happens if someone brings a pet into Bali without approval? The animal can be seized and may be put down, and the owner can be fined. Foreign residents also risk deportation. It is not worth the risk to the animal or to your family's visa.

Can I take a pet I adopted in Bali with me when I leave? Only with written permission to move the animal out of Bali, plus the import rules of your next country. Plan this before you adopt, not when you are packing.

Moving to Bali With Your Pet 2026: Why Dogs and Cats Can't Come