🇨🇷 Pet Import to Costa Rica

Costa Rica's pet import process is administered by SENASA (Servicio Nacional de Salud Animal), the national animal health authority. As one of Latin America's most popular expat retirement destinations, the country has developed a well-established, owner-friendly framework for pet importation that is familiar to the large foreign resident community. A valid international veterinary health certificate issued by an accredited veterinarian in the country of origin is required and must be dated within 14 days of travel. Rabies vaccination is mandatory for animals aged 4 months or older and must have been administered no less than 30 days and no more than 12 months before entry. Core vaccines — DHLPP for dogs and FVRCP for cats — are required or strongly recommended. An external parasite treatment (flea, tick, and deworming) must be applied within 14 days prior to arrival and documented on the health certificate. Microchipping is not currently a legal requirement for entry, though it is recommended for identification purposes. No quarantine is imposed on pets that arrive with compliant documentation, making Costa Rica one of the more accessible entry points in the region. No FAVN rabies antibody titer test is required. Costa Rica imposes no breed-specific bans and allows a generous personal import allowance of up to 5 pets per person. Exotic species are governed by a separate and extremely strict regime under Costa Rica's Ley 7317 (Conservation of Wildlife Law) and CITES commitments; permits from MINAE (Ministry of Environment and Energy) are required and rarely granted given the country's biodiversity protection priorities. SJO airport has a dedicated SENASA inspection office. Pre-arrival notification is not mandatory but is recommended. Inspection fees are nominal, typically USD 35–50.