We rescue dogs, so I understand: the pets are coming too. Many people bring their dogs and cats to Costa Rica. The key is to plan ahead and get the paperwork right.
Requirements change, and they depend on where you are flying from. Treat this post as a general map, and confirm the current rules with SENASA and your airline before you travel.
Who sets the rules
SENASA, Costa Rica's National Animal Health Service, sets the requirements for dogs and cats entering the country. Your airline has its own rules too: crates, breeds, weather, and whether your pet can fly in the cabin or must travel as cargo.
The paperwork, in general terms
- A health certificate from a licensed veterinarian, issued within the time window required before travel.
- A current rabies vaccination for dogs and cats over three months old, given with enough lead time before the trip.
- The other core vaccinations for dogs or cats listed in the current requirements.
- Treatment for internal and external parasites, if required for your trip.
- If you are flying from the United States, an endorsement of the health certificate by USDA APHIS.
Costa Rica does not quarantine healthy dogs and cats that arrive with the correct paperwork. One more reason to get every document right.
Start early. Most of the stress comes from paperwork left to the last week.
Step by step
- Call your airline first and ask about their pet policy for your route.
- Check the current SENASA requirements, and the USDA APHIS page if you are in the United States.
- Book a visit with a vet who knows international travel paperwork.
- Update vaccinations, keeping the timing rules in mind.
- Get the health certificate and any endorsement inside the required window.
- Carry the originals and copies with you, not in checked luggage.
When you land
Give your pet a few quiet days to settle in. The heat in Guanacaste is real, so walk dogs early in the morning or around sunset, and keep plenty of water out. Find a local vet soon after you arrive so you have someone to call.
If you are house hunting with pets, tell me early. I will look for a yard, check the pet rules in any condo we consider, and share what we have learned from our own dogs.
Dawn, DN Realty Partners
Dawn helps buyers and sellers across Playas del Coco. Nolberto, her partner at DN Realty Partners, is a professional tour guide.
