Bringing a Dog to Costa Rica: Rules, Paperwork and Tips

To take your dog to Costa Rica, you need a health certificate from a vet exam within 14 days of departure, a current rabies vaccine (for dogs over three months), distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and leptospirosis shots, and internal and external parasite treatment within 15 days of travel. From the U.S., a USDA-accredited vet issues the certificate and USDA APHIS endorses it. Dogs flying with their owner need no import permit and no quarantine. Coming home to the U.S., your dog needs a microchip, must be at least 6 months old and needs a free CDC Dog Import Form receipt.

This guide is for travelers and future expats bringing a dog to Costa Rica from the U.S. or elsewhere. It covers the paperwork and timeline, flying, arrival, getting around, where dogs can and can’t go, and the return trip.

Dog to Costa Rica	At a glance
Health certificate	Vet exam within 14 days of departure; endorsed by the official authority (USDA APHIS for the U.S.)
Rabies	Required for dogs over 3 months; must be valid on arrival
Other vaccines	Distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, leptospirosis
Parasites	Internal and external treatment within 15 days of departure
Microchip	Not required by Costa Rica; required to return to the U.S.
Import permit	Only for dogs flying as cargo or without their owner
Quarantine	None, if paperwork is complete and the dog is healthy
Return to the U.S.	Microchip, at least 6 months old, CDC Dog Import Form receipt

Requirements

Costa Rica Entry Requirements for Dogs

Costa Rica’s animal health service, SENASA, sets the rules. Your dog’s health certificate must cover all of the following:

• Vet exam within 14 days of departure: the dog must be healthy, with no tumors, fresh or healing wounds, external parasites or signs of contagious disease.
• Rabies vaccine: required for dogs over three months old and valid on the day you arrive. SENASA doesn’t set a waiting period after the shot, but check your airline’s rules. Puppies under three months skip rabies and travel with an age-appropriate vaccination record instead.
• Other vaccines: distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and leptospirosis.
• Parasite treatment: internal and external, within 15 days of departure. The certificate lists the date, brand, lot number and active ingredient.
• Language: Spanish or English, or with an official Spanish translation. No notary or consulate stamp is needed.
• Microchip: not required for Costa Rica, but if your dog has one, the number goes on the certificate. Since you’ll need one to return to the U.S., get it done before you go.

SENASA’s requirements can change without notice, so have your vet check the current Costa Rica requirements just before your appointment. Coming from the EU, UK, Switzerland or Norway? You’ll need a rabies titer test to get back home, so arrange it before you leave.

Timeline

Timeline for Taking Your Dog to Costa Rica

When	What to do
2–3 months before	Book your flight and your dog’s spot with the airline; confirm crate or carrier rules. Microchip your dog if needed.
1 month before	Check vaccines are current; get the carrier and start crate training.
Within 15 days	Internal and external parasite treatment.
Within 14 days	Vet exam and health certificate; vet submits it for endorsement.
Departure day	Carry the endorsed certificate, vaccine records and a copy of everything.

Flying

Flying Your Dog to Costa Rica

Dogs fly in one of three ways, and the airline’s rules matter as much as Costa Rica’s:

• In the cabin: small dogs in a soft carrier that fits under the seat. Size and weight limits vary by airline, and cabin spots are limited, so book early. A soft-sided carrier like the Petsfit Expandable Pet Carrier fits under most airline seats.
• As checked baggage: larger dogs travel in the hold on your flight, in a sturdy, IATA-compliant crate such as the Midwest Skudo Plastic Pet Carrier, big enough to stand, turn and lie down. You pick the dog up at the passenger terminal.
• As cargo: required by some airlines for big dogs or unaccompanied pets. Cargo pets need a Costa Rican customs broker to get an import permit from SENASA before arrival.

Many airlines limit or ban snub-nosed breeds such as pugs and bulldogs in the hold, and some restrict checked pets in hot weather. Copa, for example, doesn’t take pit bulls, American Staffordshire terriers, cane corsos or English bulldogs as cargo. Book a direct flight if you can, and confirm the rules with your airline before you buy the ticket. Flying within Costa Rica? Domestic airlines set their own pet rules; see our guide to Costa Rica domestic airlines.

Introduce the carrier a few weeks ahead with familiar bedding, label it with your contact details and a local contact in Costa Rica, and pack a collapsible water bowl, leash and treats in your carry-on.

Arrival

Arriving in Costa Rica with Your Dog

Most travelers land at Juan Santamaría (SJO) near San José or Liberia (LIR) in Guanacaste. See our Costa Rica airport guide. After you collect your dog, a SENASA officer checks the health certificate and examines the dog before you clear customs. Have the original certificate, a copy and vaccine records in hand, along with your own entry documents. See our passport tips for Costa Rica.

There’s no quarantine. A dog with wounds, tumors, ticks or fleas, or with incomplete paperwork, can be refused entry and sent back, which is why the parasite treatment and vet exam timing matter so much.

On the ground

Traveling Around Costa Rica with a Dog

• Driving: a rental car or your own car is the easiest way to move around with a dog. Ask the rental company about pet policies and cleaning fees. See our guide to Costa Rica car rental.
• Where to stay: pet-friendly hotels and vacation rentals exist across the country, but policies on size, fees and where dogs can go vary a lot. Confirm in writing before you book. See our comparison of Airbnb vs. hotels in Costa Rica.
• Beaches: dogs are a common sight on many Costa Rican beaches. Keep yours on a leash near other people and away from river mouths and estuaries, where crocodiles live, and watch for rip currents if your dog swims. See our guides to Costa Rica’s best beaches and handling crocodile sightings.
• National parks: pets aren’t allowed in Costa Rica’s national parks, including Manuel Antonio. Service animals are the exception. Plan a sitter or a dog-friendly alternative for park days.

Safety

Keeping Your Dog Safe in Costa Rica

• Heat: carry water, walk early and late in the day, and never leave a dog in a parked car. Hot sand and pavement burn paws.
• Ticks and fleas: keep up year-round prevention, and ask your vet about tick-borne diseases common in the tropics.
• Toads and wildlife: keep your dog from mouthing toads, and away from snakes and crocodile habitat.
• Street dogs: stray and free-roaming dogs are common in many towns. Keep yours leashed to avoid fights.
• A local vet: save the number of a vet near where you’re staying before you need it.
• ID: a tag with a local phone number, plus a GPS tracker collar such as the LINK AKC Smart Dog Collar, helps if your dog gets loose.

Going home

Bringing Your Dog Back to the U.S. from Costa Rica

Costa Rica isn’t on the CDC’s list of high-risk countries for dog rabies. If your dog has been only in Costa Rica or other low-risk countries for the six months before you fly home, it needs:

• To be at least 6 months old
• A microchip readable by a universal scanner
• A CDC Dog Import Form receipt, filled out free online. You can do it on travel day, but a few days ahead is better. Each dog needs its own form, valid for six months.
• To look healthy on arrival

If you travel overland through a high-risk country such as Guatemala, Honduras or El Salvador, stricter rules apply. Use the CDC’s dog import tool to check before you go. Canadian, UK and EU residents should check their own country’s return rules.

Moving

Moving to Costa Rica with a Dog

The entry rules are the same for a short trip or a permanent move. Ship the dog on the same flight as you if you can, so it travels as accompanied baggage and skips the import permit. If you’re relocating, see our guide to moving to Costa Rica.

Avoid these

Common Mistakes

• Getting the vet exam more than 14 days before departure, or the parasite treatment more than 15 days before.
• Leaving no time for USDA endorsement inside the 14-day window.
• Booking your own ticket before confirming the airline has space for your dog.
• Skipping the microchip and then being unable to bring your dog back to the U.S.
• Planning to hike national parks with your dog.

FAQ

Taking a Dog to Costa Rica: FAQ