Moving a pet to Costa Rica from the USA
Permit-driven or window-sensitive: import permits, home quarantine registration or tight treatment timing.
Quick rules summary
| Governing body | SENASA |
|---|---|
| Mandatory lead time | 1–2 months |
| Rabies titer test (FAVN) | No |
| Import permit | Yes, for manifest air cargo only |
| Post-arrival quarantine | 0 days for in-cabin or checked baggage |
| Microchip mandate | ISO chip required |
| Primary failure point | A rabies vaccine older than 365 days, or a certificate issued outside the 14-day window. |
Biosecurity & veterinary protocol
- 1
Implant an ISO-compliant microchip.
- 2
Rabies vaccination administered between 31 and 364 days before entry — even a valid 3-year vaccine must have been given within the previous 12 months.
- 3
Core vaccinations (DHLPP for dogs, FVRCP for cats) within 30 days of travel.
- 4
Internal and external parasite treatment within 15 days of export.
- 5
USDA-endorsed health certificate issued within 14 days of departure.
- 6
Pets arriving in-cabin or as checked baggage bypass quarantine; unaccompanied manifest cargo requires a SENASA import permit obtained through a licensed broker.
Breed & airline warnings
No national breed ban, but airlines apply their own restricted-breed lists.
Heat embargoes are common on cargo routings into San José.
Crates must follow IATA Live Animals Regulations: L = A + ½B, W = 2C, H = D + bedding. Two compatible animals up to 14 kg (30 lbs) each may share a crate; heavier animals travel individually. Check your breed →
Your Costa Rica timeline
Plan backwards
Complexity: Moderate
Lead time: 1–2 months
Governing body: SENASA
Quarantine: 0 days for in-cabin or checked baggage
- T−60d
Apply for the import permit (SENASA)
Permit requirement: Yes, for manifest air cargo only. Approval must be in hand before departure.
- T−45d
Microchip + records review
Implant an ISO 11784/11785 15-digit microchip and confirm every vaccination record post-dates it.
- T−45d
Book flights and IATA-compliant crate
Confirm carrier acceptance, crate sizing and any brachycephalic or breed embargoes on the routing.
- T−38d
Rabies vaccination
Rabies vaccine administered after the microchip — a vaccine given first is legally invalid.
- T−10d
USDA-accredited vet exam + health certificate
Category II accredited veterinarian completes the certificate and submits it via VEHCS.
- T−7d
USDA APHIS endorsement
Endorsement within 10 days of arrival for non-commercial moves, or within 48 hours of departure for commercial moves.
- T−3d
Parasite treatments and final checks
Tapeworm or parasite treatments given inside the destination's required window, recorded by the vet.
- Day 0
Departure day
Check-in as cargo, checked baggage or in-cabin per the booked service.