Bringing a dog or cat to Costa Rica requires advance veterinary and travel planning. Confirm the requirements for the species, country of departure and transport arrangement before booking. Correct paperwork matters, but this guide cannot promise same-day clearance or an unconditional exemption from official inspection.
Start with SENASA and the exporting authority
SENASA’s dog-and-cat entry guidance, published on 18 December 2025, describes a veterinary examination within the two weeks before travel and an official health certificate from the competent authority in the country of origin or departure. Check the applicable certificate with that authority rather than using a generic vaccination card.
For departures from the United States, USDA APHIS’s Costa Rica page requires a USDA-accredited veterinarian’s certificate followed by APHIS endorsement. Its linked bilingual certificate contains the detailed conditions. Begin arranging the process early enough for examination, corrections and endorsement.
Vaccines and parasite treatment
The official U.S.-to-Costa-Rica certificate lists distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and leptospirosis vaccination for dogs; feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus and panleukopenia for cats. Dogs and cats older than three months require a current rabies vaccination.
Have the veterinarian record the required vaccination and treatment details accurately. SENASA’s summary calls for internal and external parasite treatment within 15 days before arrival; the U.S. certificate describes treatment within 15 days before export. Plan the timing to satisfy the applicable instructions, particularly if the journey includes stopovers.
The reviewed certificate does not state a universal 21- or 30-day rabies waiting period. Ask the certifying veterinarian and SENASA about the animal’s age, vaccine history and route rather than presenting an unsupported waiting period as the Costa Rican rule.
Microchip identification
The SENASA notice and U.S. certificate linked above do not list a universal microchip requirement for entry. That does not settle every route or future requirement. Confirm identification requirements for Costa Rica, any transit country and the return destination. A microchip is required under the U.S. dog-entry rules discussed below.
Accompanied pets, cargo and permits
SENASA says pets declared as cargo require a prior import permit arranged through a customs agency. APHIS also identifies an import-permit requirement for unaccompanied pets. Ask the airline how the animal will be classified; travelling on the same aircraft as the owner does not necessarily mean it is recorded as accompanied baggage.
Confirm permit arrangements, inspection procedures and any applicable quantity limits with SENASA for the shipment. Do not assume that an airline’s cabin reservation also completes the animal-import process.
Quarantine and entry clearance
Do not assume that every arriving pet must spend a fixed number of days in quarantine, or that every pet is guaranteed immediate release. SENASA’s published dog-and-cat entry notice sets out health certification, vaccination, treatment and cargo-permit requirements; it does not state a universal quarantine period for all compliant arrivals. Ask SENASA about the arrangements for your animal, departure country and transport classification before travel.
Meeting the airline’s boarding rules does not replace SENASA’s decision at entry. Its notice warns that failure to meet the requirements can result in refusal and return to the country of origin. The official notice was rechecked on 7 September 2026.
Arrival and airline arrangements
SENASA warns that noncompliance can result in refusal of entry and return to the country of origin. Keep the endorsed documentation accessible and follow the arrival instructions for the selected entry point.
Airlines set separate rules for carriers, accepted species and breeds, cabin or cargo transport, temperature restrictions and connections. Ask the operating carrier about every flight segment, suitable carrier dimensions, booking availability and current charges. A hard-sided kennel is not a universal requirement for all in-cabin arrangements.
Allow the animal time to become comfortable with its carrier and discuss fitness to travel with the veterinarian. Obtain written confirmation of the pet booking and the documents the airline expects.
Returning with a dog to the United States
CDC’s dog-entry rules depend on the dog’s travel history and vaccination circumstances. Dogs must meet the applicable age, microchip, health and documentation requirements. The low-risk-country pathway considers the preceding six months, not just the country of the final flight.
The CDC form does not replace other agencies’ requirements. APHIS requires screwworm certification for dogs arriving from affected countries: an inspection within five days before shipment and certification by an official government veterinarian that the dog meets the stated conditions. Check the current affected-country information and arrange the Costa Rican certification with SENASA. Also check the destination state’s rules.
A planning checklist
- Confirm the animal’s species, age, route and accompanied or cargo classification.
- Check the current official certificate and any import permit before booking.
- Schedule examination, vaccinations, treatment and endorsement with the veterinarian.
- Confirm carrier rules, connections, fees and arrival procedures.
- Prepare separately for the return journey; its requirements may differ.
This guide focuses on dogs and cats. Other species need separate checks; APHIS’s current Costa Rica page, for example, says pet-bird imports are not allowed.
Official SENASA, USDA APHIS and CDC material reviewed on 6 September 2026. Recheck the requirements shortly before travel.
If you are considering adoption or want to help an animal locally, read our animal-welfare and stray-dog guide for reporting and responsible-care questions.