Bringing Pets to Costa Rica from the U.S.A.
Moving abroad requires a lot of preparation and foresight. Moving abroad with animals, can make things even more complicated. Travel and import requirements vary greatly depending on the origin and destination countries, but there is good news: bringing your dog or cat from the United States to Costa Rica isn’t all that difficult. Having gone through the process twice myself, this blog is intended to guide you through the basic requirements and provide you the resources you’ll need, so you can rest assured your fur-babies will be legally ready for the big move.
Things to Consider Before Bringing Your Pet to Costa Rica
Costa Rican Climate - The climate along the Costa Rican coastline is HOT, and not all breeds fare well in tropical climates. Although no dogs are immune to the effects of hot weather, some breeds are much more susceptible to heat stroke, such as snub nosed breeds and heavy-coated dogs. If your dog falls into one, or both, of those categories it doesn’t mean you can’t bring them, it just means you’ll need to be extra diligent to ensure they don’t get overheated. Stay on top of monthly grooming to keep their fur/hair short, and make sure they always have access to shade and drinking water when outside, and last but not least, know the symptoms of a dog heat stroke.
Medications - If your pets suffer from chronic health issues such as diabetes, call a local veterinarian in Costa Rica to find out how the price of their medications compare to what you pay now and plan accordingly (a list of Nosara vets is included at the end of this article).
Ticks - In certain parts of the U.S., tick preventatives may be optional or only seasonal, but here in Costa Rica it is a necessity year round. This is due to a prevalent and life-threatening tick-transmitted bacteria known as Ehrlichia, which infects the white blood cells. The acute symptoms of an infection occur one to three weeks after transmission, but they can vary greatly. If you suspect your dog may have contracted ehrlichiosis, make an appointment as soon as possible with your local vet. Treatment requires medication to be administered every 12 hours for 21 or more days. Prevention is key!
Heartworm - Heartworm is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. Because mosquitos are ever-present here in the tropics, you will need to be diligent about giving your dog monthly preventatives. Ask your new Costa Rica-based vet for more info.
Step 1: Book Your Flight
Bringing your pet to Costa Rica from the US requires a health certificate that has been issued within two weeks of traveling, so you must know your exact travel date to get started. Every airline has their own requirements and restrictions on international pet travel. There are some important questions you’ll need to ask BEFORE you buy your airline tickets. For example, can you bring your pet in the cabin with you or do they have to travel in the cargo hold? Do they have breed, age or size restrictions? What are the kennel requirements? What are the additional fees for bringing your pet? Does your pet qualify as a service animal? Are there any pet travel restrictions for the specific airports you will be traveling to/from/through? Can you medicate your animal to make the trip less stressful? Are there limits on the number of pets you can bring? If you have more pets than people making the trip, you may need to consider using a pet transportation service, such as World Pet Travel. Check with your preferred airline early on to ensure you won’t run into any problems at the airport.
Step 2: Obtain a Health Certificate
Obtaining a Veterinary Health Certificate for the Export of Dogs and Cats from the United States of America to Costa Rica is the second step. To begin, you’ll need to make an appointment with a veterinarian that is USDA accredited in your state. Again, the health certificate must be issued within two weeks of traveling, so I suggest making the appointment 13 days before your flight to CR to ensure you have the maximum amount of time to get the certificate endorsed by United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (USDA APHIS), but you also have an extra day should your flight be delayed, cancelled or missed.
When making your appointment, be sure to state the specific reason so the veterinary office can acquire the necessary documents and check for the most current requirements before you arrive. You and your veterinarian can find the most recent version of the certificate on the USDA APHIS website here. Scroll down to the dark blue box labelled “Pet Dogs and Cats”, expand it, and you’ll find the certificate PDF. The requirements are listed directly on the certificate itself. Please note that health certificates must be legible, accurate, and complete.
Step 3: Health Certificate USDA APHIS Endorsement
The next step will be obtaining an APHIS endorsement. You can find your local USDA APHIS Veterinary Services Endorsement Office by searching their website here. I strongly suggest calling the office to find out the current turn-around times and to discuss submission options. In general, there are two methods of acquiring endorsement of a health certificate: by mail or in-person.
When sending by mail, I suggest opting for the fastest shipping option you can afford. Trust me, it is not worth the stress of having to reschedule your flight and other plans to save $10-$20 or having to leave your pet behind for someone else to bring later. If you would prefer to bring the certificate in-person you will need an appointment. Once you have your signed, dated, and endorsed health certificate in hand, and assuming you’ve done your homework on your specific airline and airport requirements, your pets should be ready to go! If you’re planning to use a taxi or shuttle service from the airport to your final destination, don’t forget to ask if they allow pets on-board.
I hope this blog has helped to demystify the pet import process from the U.S.A to Costa Rica. If you have any questions, please feel free to post your comment below. If, in your personal experience, you find that the legal requirements or process has changed or you think of some other useful information I can include, please send me an email. Best of luck on your adventures!
Nosara Veterinarians
Safari Animal Clinic
Services: General veterinary services, boarding, grooming, pet supplies
Languages: Spanish & English
Hours: Mon-Fri, 9am to 4pm
Phone: 2682-0735
Email: safarianimalclinic@gmail.com
Facebook: Safari Animal Clinic
Agroveterinaria Nosara S.A.
Services: General veterinary services, pet supplies
Languages: Spanish & English
Hours: Mon-Fri 7am to 5pm, Sat 7am-2pm
Phone: 2682-5042
Facebook: @agroveterinarianosarasa
Nosaravet
Services: General veterinary services, grooming, pet supplies
Languages: Spanish
Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-5pm, Sat 8am-3pm
Phone: 8373-1925
Email: nosaravet@gmail.com
Facebook: @nosaravet
NOTE: This article was written on April 23, 2019. The legal requirements are subject to change without notice. It is the responsibility of the veterinarian to make sure the pet has met all the requirements of the destination country before issuing a health certificate. Failure to meet the requirements may result in problems gaining certificate endorsement or difficulties upon arrival Costa Rica. Current requirements for traveling with your pet are described in the health certificate. USDA APHIS endorsement of the health certificate is required after it has been issued by a USDA Accredited Veterinarian. You can find the most up-to-date version of the required health certificate at this web address: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel/by-country/pettravel-costa-rica
Written by:
Reagan Jackson