Bringing Your Pet to Latin America: Country-by-Country Import Guide

The best news first: none of the countries covered in this guide — Costa Rica, Panama, or Colombia — require quarantine for dogs or cats arriving from the United States, Canada, or Europe. Your pet will not be separated from you and locked in a government facility for weeks. That alone makes Latin America far more pet-friendly than Australia, the UK, or Japan for incoming animals.

The less good news: the paperwork is strict, time-sensitive, and easy to get wrong. A missing stamp, an expired health certificate, or the wrong vaccine timing can result in your pet being held at the airport, sent back on the next flight, or stuck in bureaucratic limbo while you frantically make phone calls in a language you may not speak fluently. This guide covers exactly what you need, country by country, so none of that happens.

Costa Rica: SENASA Requirements

Costa Rica's animal health authority is SENASA (Servicio Nacional de Salud Animal). Their import requirements for dogs and cats are straightforward but must be followed precisely.

Required Documents and Vaccinations

• Health certificate: Issued by a USDA-accredited veterinarian (if coming from the US) within 14 days of travel. The certificate must be endorsed by your USDA APHIS Veterinary Services office. This endorsement is the step most people forget — your regular vet's signature alone is not sufficient.
• Rabies vaccination: Must be current. The vaccine must have been administered at least 30 days before travel but no more than 12 months prior. Puppies and kittens under 3 months old are exempt from rabies but must have all other requirements.
• Internal and external parasite treatment: Your pet must be treated for internal parasites (deworming) and external parasites (fleas and ticks) within 14 days of travel. The treatment must be documented on the health certificate with the product name and date.
• SENASA import permit: You can apply online through SENASA's website. The permit costs approximately $10 to $15 and is valid for a specific travel window. Apply at least two weeks before your travel date.

At the Airport

When you arrive at Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) or Daniel Oduber Airport (LIR), proceed to the SENASA inspection station in the customs area. An inspector will review your documents and visually examine your pet. Assuming your paperwork is in order, the process takes 15 to 30 minutes. There is an inspection fee of approximately $15 payable at the airport.

Panama: MIDA Requirements

Panama's agricultural authority MIDA (Ministerio de Desarrollo Agropecuario) oversees pet imports. The requirements are similar to Costa Rica's but with a few differences.

Required Documents and Vaccinations

• Health certificate: Must be issued by an accredited veterinarian and endorsed by the relevant government authority (USDA APHIS for US travelers). The certificate must be issued within 14 days of travel.
• Apostille: Panama requires that the health certificate be apostilled. This is an additional step that authenticates the document for international use. In the US, apostilles for federal documents (like USDA-endorsed health certificates) are issued by the US Department of State. This can add 5 to 10 business days to your timeline, so plan accordingly.
• Vaccination records: Bring the original vaccination booklet showing all vaccines, including rabies, distemper, parvovirus, and parahepatitis for dogs, and rabies, feline calicivirus, and panleukopenia for cats.
• Blood titer test: Not required for pets arriving from the US, Canada, or most European countries. However, pets arriving from countries not recognized as rabies-free may need a rabies antibody titer test.

At the Airport

At Tocumen International Airport (PTY), a MIDA inspector will meet you at the quarantine/inspection area near baggage claim. Present all original documents. The inspection typically takes 20 to 45 minutes depending on how busy the station is. Fees are approximately $25 to $40.

Colombia: ICA Requirements

Colombia's agricultural authority ICA (Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario) handles pet imports. Colombia has modernized its process significantly in recent years, and the system generally works smoothly.

Required Documents and Vaccinations

• Health certificate: Issued within 10 days of travel (shorter window than Costa Rica or Panama) and endorsed by the relevant government veterinary authority.
• Rabies vaccination: Must be current, administered at least 21 days before travel.
• Microchip: Colombia requires all imported dogs and cats to have an ISO 11784/11785 compliant microchip. The microchip must be implanted before the rabies vaccination so the vaccine record is linked to the chip number. If your pet was vaccinated before being microchipped, you may need to revaccinate.
• ICA import permit: Apply online through ICA's SISPAP system at least 7 business days before travel. The permit is free but required.
• Parasite treatment: Internal and external parasite treatment within 30 days of travel, documented on the health certificate.

At the Airport

At El Dorado International Airport (BOG), the ICA office is located in the international arrivals area. An inspector reviews your documents and examines the pet. If everything is in order, clearance takes about 20 minutes. The inspection fee is approximately $30.

Airline Pet Policies

Your paperwork is only half the battle. Each airline has its own rules for pet transport, and these rules change frequently.

In-Cabin Travel

Most airlines allow small dogs and cats in the cabin if the pet and carrier together weigh under a certain limit (typically 8 kg or 17.6 lbs including the carrier). The carrier must fit under the seat in front of you. Fees range from $75 to $200 each way depending on the airline.

• Copa Airlines: Allows in-cabin pets on most routes. Maximum combined weight of 9 kg (pet plus carrier). Fee is approximately $100 per flight segment. No brachycephalic (snub-nosed) breeds in cargo.
• LATAM Airlines: Allows in-cabin pets up to 7 kg combined weight. Cargo transport available for larger pets. Seasonal embargoes may apply during extreme heat months.
• American Airlines: In-cabin pets allowed at $125 per carrier. Only cats and dogs. Maximum carrier dimensions: 19" x 13" x 9". Does not transport pets as cargo on most Latin American routes — check current policy.
• United Airlines: In-cabin pets at $125 per carrier. United PetSafe cargo program available for larger animals but not on all routes and suspended seasonally.

Cargo and Checked Pets

Larger dogs must travel as cargo or checked baggage. This means they fly in the pressurized, temperature-controlled cargo hold. While generally safe, there are risks — airlines impose seasonal embargoes when ground temperatures exceed certain thresholds. Summer months (June through September in North America) are the most restricted. Book cargo transport well in advance and confirm that your specific flight has a pet-safe cargo compartment.

Driving Overland with Pets

If you are driving from North America through Mexico and Central America, each border crossing requires its own set of paperwork. Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica each have their own veterinary import requirements. You will need a separate health certificate or veterinary inspection at each border.

The easiest overland crossings for pets are the major highway border posts with staffed veterinary offices. Remote or minor crossings may not have an inspector on duty, which means delays. Carry multiple copies of all documents — some border agents keep originals. A bilingual summary of your pet's vaccination history is extremely helpful.

Finding a Vet After You Arrive

Schedule a veterinary visit within the first two weeks of arrival. Your pet needs a local vet record established for ongoing care, prescription medications, and any future travel. In all three countries, veterinary care is significantly less expensive than in the US — a standard consultation runs $20 to $50 depending on the city and clinic.

In San José, Panama City, and Bogotá, there are veterinary clinics with English-speaking staff, though they are not the norm outside major cities. Ask the local expat community for recommendations — Facebook groups for expats with pets are active and helpful in all three countries.

Pet Health Insurance Abroad

Most US or Canadian pet insurance policies do not cover veterinary care outside the home country. A few international pet insurance providers offer coverage in Latin America, but the market is small. Alternatively, some expats simply pay out of pocket, since veterinary costs in these countries are a fraction of what they would pay at home. A dental cleaning that costs $800 in the US might run $100 to $200 in Costa Rica.

Importing Pet Food and Medications

You can generally bring a reasonable personal supply of pet food (one to two bags) in your luggage without issues. Shipping large quantities may trigger customs duties. Prescription medications for your pet should be accompanied by a veterinary prescription and kept in original packaging. Some flea and tick medications that are over-the-counter in the US may have different regulatory status in Latin America, though enforcement on personal quantities is rare.

Emotional Support Animals vs. Service Animals

The distinction between emotional support animals (ESAs) and trained service animals that exists in US law does not translate directly to Latin American legal systems. None of these three countries have ESA-specific protections for housing or air travel. Trained service dogs for people with disabilities generally receive accommodation, but there is no standardized certification system. If you rely on a service animal, carry documentation from your physician and the animal's training certification, and be prepared to explain the animal's function at each step of the journey.

What to Do If Your Pet Gets Sick Abroad

Veterinary emergencies with a pet in a foreign country are stressful precisely because you may not know where to go, who to trust, or how to communicate the problem. Emergency animal hospitals exist in all major cities — San José, Panama City, Medellín, Bogotá, and Cartagena all have 24-hour veterinary clinics. In smaller towns, you may need to drive to the nearest city for after-hours care.

ExpatEmergency members can call our 24/7 line for immediate help locating the nearest emergency veterinary clinic, arranging transportation if needed, and getting a bilingual coordinator on the line to help communicate with the veterinary team. Your pet is part of your family — and we treat the situation accordingly.