What your dog or cat needs to fly from the United States to Costa Rica and home again, including the papers you must get before you leave: certificates, vaccines, deadlines and the official sources, checked daily. Free.
Monitored DailyOfficial pages last read October 10, 2026 · Watched dailySENASA
Things to Arrange
11
Tightest Window
5 days
Screwworm Certificate for Flying Home
Coming Home
Harder than going
Watch Out For
The steps people miss most: short windows measured back from the flight, and papers you can only get before you leave the US.
Worming and Flea and Tick Treatment Within 15 Days
Within 15 days before your flight Your Vet
Your dog must be treated for internal and external parasites no more than 15 days before travel, and be free of ticks. The certificate lists each treatment's date, brand name, active ingredient and lot number, so keep the packaging or ask your vet to give the treatment at the certificate visit.
Within 2 weeks before your flight A USDA-accredited Vet
A USDA-accredited vet examines your dog no more than 2 weeks before you fly and fills in USDA's health certificate for dogs and cats going to Costa Rica. USDA then endorses it; your vet can send it through USDA's online system and you print the endorsed copy. Bring the original and a copy. It does not need a notary or a Costa Rican consulate stamp, and no import permit is needed when your dog flies with you, in the cabin or as checked baggage.
How to Do It
Book a USDA-accredited vet for a day within 2 weeks of your flight. Ask whether they issue certificates through USDA's online system (VEHCS).
At the visit, the vet examines your dog, gives the parasite treatment if it is not done yet, and fills in the certificate with the treatment, vaccine and microchip details.
The vet sends it to USDA for endorsement. Allow a few working days.
Print the endorsed certificate and make a copy. Keep both in your hand luggage.
The US only accepts a rabies vaccination given after the microchip went in. If the shot came first, it has to be given again. Dogs coming home also need a microchip a universal scanner can read.
Costa Rica asks for your dog to be vaccinated against distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and leptospirosis, current on the day you arrive, with each vaccine's date, brand, lot number and expiry on the certificate.
Pets over 3 months need a rabies shot that is still valid on the day you land in Costa Rica. The certificate lists the date, brand, manufacturer, lot number and expiry. Costa Rica sets no waiting period after the shot, but it must not run out before you arrive.
Costa Rica's Ministry of Agriculture says dogs and cats coming in must have a microchip, with the number written on the certificate. You need one for the trip home to the US too.
The Official Sources Differ. SENASA's rules for pets from the US say "microchip if the pet has one". The ministry's page says it is required. We show the stricter one.
Only if your dog travels as cargo or without you: a customs broker in Costa Rica must get SENASA's import permit (the sanitary requirements form) before your dog arrives. SENASA answers within 24 working hours of receiving the original. If you fly together, in the cabin or as checked baggage, skip this.
On landing, show SENASA's officer the original certificate and a copy. The officer checks your dog: fresh or healing wounds, lumps, or ticks and fleas mean entry is refused, and Costa Rica sends the pet back to where it came from. Bring any prescribed medicines with their prescription.
Within 5 days before your flight home A Government-Authorised Vet
Dogs flying from Costa Rica to the US need a screwworm certificate issued no more than 5 days before the flight, saying your dog was inspected and is free of screwworm. USDA wants it signed by an official government vet, so make sure SENASA's official vet signs it along with Costa Rica's export certificate.
How to Do It
Book a private vet authorised by SENASA for 1 to 5 days before your flight home. Earlier than 5 days is too early.
At the visit, the vet examines your dog for screwworm and issues the screwworm certificate together with the export certificate.
Take both to SENASA. Ask SENASA's official vet to sign the screwworm certificate as well as the export certificate.
Check it says no screwworm was found, and that the date is no more than 5 days before your flight.
Keep the original with you and a photo on your phone. If your flight moves to more than 5 days after the visit, book a new inspection.
Before your flight out of Costa Rica A Government-Authorised Vet
Before your dog can leave Costa Rica, a private vet authorised by SENASA examines your dog, checks what your next country asks for, and issues the export certificate. A SENASA official vet then reviews and signs it; only then may your dog leave. Bring the vaccination record, and pay SENASA's fee. For the US you also need the screwworm certificate, listed with your flight home.
How to Do It
Find a private vet authorised by SENASA near where you are staying, and book the visit for the last few days before your flight.
Bring your dog, the vaccination record, the microchip number and your flight details.
The vet examines your dog and issues the export certificate for your next country.
Take it to SENASA for its official vet to review and sign. Pay SENASA's fee there.
Keep the signed original in your hand luggage, with a photo on your phone.
Any time before your flight home; a few days ahead is safest You
Free, online, and filled in by you. Every dog needs its own form. The receipt is good for 6 months of trips into the US from Costa Rica, so one form can cover this flight home and later ones.
How to Do It
Open CDC's Dog Import Form (link below). Answer No to the high-risk question if your dog has only been in low-risk countries like Costa Rica for the last 6 months.
About you: date of birth, passport or driver's licence number, email and phone. You can add one other owner, who can then travel with your dog on the same receipt.
About your dog: name, age, sex, breed (choose Mixed Breed/Other if it is not listed), and colour and markings.
Purpose: Personal Pet, or Service Animal only for a trained service dog travelling with the person it helps. An emotional support dog is a Personal Pet.
Your trip: by air, Costa Rica as the country you fly from, and your arrival date. A rough date is fine.
Type your name as the signature and press Submit. CDC emails you from 1cdpwebsurvey@cdc.gov to confirm your email address (check spam), then emails the receipt.
Show the receipt, on your phone or printed, to the airline before you board and to US Customs when you land.
Rabies Certificate and Microchip Papers in your Bag
You
Your dog needs a microchip a universal scanner can read. CDC does not ask for the rabies certificate for a trip home from Costa Rica, but carry it anyway: airlines, vets and border officials may ask to see it.
How to Do It
Pack the rabies certificate (the original and a copy) and a note of the microchip number.
Save photos of both on your phone, or upload them to your dog's documents here.
At the screwworm visit, ask the vet to scan the microchip and check the number matches your papers.
At the customs counter, hand the officer the CDC Dog Import Form receipt and the screwworm certificate, and have the rabies certificate with you in case they ask. There is no separate office to visit. Your dog must look healthy and be at least 6 months old.
Worming and Flea and Tick Treatment Within 15 Days
Within 15 days before your flight Your Vet
Your cat must be treated for internal and external parasites no more than 15 days before travel, and be free of ticks. The certificate lists each treatment's date, brand name, active ingredient and lot number, so keep the packaging or ask your vet to give the treatment at the certificate visit.
Within 2 weeks before your flight A USDA-accredited Vet
A USDA-accredited vet examines your cat no more than 2 weeks before you fly and fills in USDA's health certificate for dogs and cats going to Costa Rica. USDA then endorses it; your vet can send it through USDA's online system and you print the endorsed copy. Bring the original and a copy. It does not need a notary or a Costa Rican consulate stamp, and no import permit is needed when your cat flies with you, in the cabin or as checked baggage.
How to Do It
Book a USDA-accredited vet for a day within 2 weeks of your flight. Ask whether they issue certificates through USDA's online system (VEHCS).
At the visit, the vet examines your cat, gives the parasite treatment if it is not done yet, and fills in the certificate with the treatment, vaccine and microchip details.
The vet sends it to USDA for endorsement. Allow a few working days.
Print the endorsed certificate and make a copy. Keep both in your hand luggage.
Costa Rica asks for your cat to be vaccinated against feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus and panleukopenia, current on the day you arrive, with each vaccine's date, brand, lot number and expiry on the certificate.
Pets over 3 months need a rabies shot that is still valid on the day you land in Costa Rica. The certificate lists the date, brand, manufacturer, lot number and expiry. Costa Rica sets no waiting period after the shot, but it must not run out before you arrive.
Costa Rica's Ministry of Agriculture says dogs and cats coming in must have a microchip, with the number written on the certificate. You need one for the trip home to the US too.
The Official Sources Differ. SENASA's rules for pets from the US say "microchip if the pet has one". The ministry's page says it is required. We show the stricter one.
Only if your cat travels as cargo or without you: a customs broker in Costa Rica must get SENASA's import permit (the sanitary requirements form) before your cat arrives. SENASA answers within 24 working hours of receiving the original. If you fly together, in the cabin or as checked baggage, skip this.
On landing, show SENASA's officer the original certificate and a copy. The officer checks your cat: fresh or healing wounds, lumps, or ticks and fleas mean entry is refused, and Costa Rica sends the pet back to where it came from. Bring any prescribed medicines with their prescription.
Before your flight out of Costa Rica A Government-Authorised Vet
Before your cat can leave Costa Rica, a private vet authorised by SENASA examines your cat, checks what your next country asks for, and issues the export certificate. A SENASA official vet then reviews and signs it; only then may your cat leave. Bring the vaccination record, and pay SENASA's fee. For the US you also need the screwworm certificate, listed with your flight home.
How to Do It
Find a private vet authorised by SENASA near where you are staying, and book the visit for the last few days before your flight.
Bring your cat, the vaccination record, the microchip number and your flight details.
The vet examines your cat and issues the export certificate for your next country.
Take it to SENASA for its official vet to review and sign. Pay SENASA's fee there.
Keep the signed original in your hand luggage, with a photo on your phone.
Airlines set their own rules, separate from the government's. These Latin American airlines count the pet and the carrier together in the cabin. Confirm with the airline before you book.
Aeroméxico9 kg (19.8 lb) with the carrierseen September 20, 2026
Copa10 kg (22 lb) with the carrierseen September 20, 2026
Avianca10 kg (22 lb) with the carrierseen September 20, 2026
Volaris10 kg (22 lb) with the carrierseen September 22, 2026
Annual Subscription
What Annual Subscribers Get for Costa Rica
This guide is free for everyone. For $79 a year, the Annual Subscription keeps watching your own trip:
Deadline RemindersA reminder before "Screwworm Certificate for Flying Home", which has a 5-day window, and before every other deadline, counted from your real flight dates.
Each Pet's Records CheckedYour pet's saved records checked against every rule here, starting with "Rabies Shot Valid When you Arrive", so you see what is on file and what still needs doing.
Rule Change AlertsAn email if SENASA or any of the 9 official pages behind this guide changes a rule on your trip.
Vet Visit PacketA page for your vet with exactly what goes on the "Health Certificate for Costa Rica" and the dates it must fall between.
Scan a DocumentPhotograph any vet record or certificate: we read it, you check it, and it fills your pet's profile, files the paper and ticks off the trip tasks it covers.
While we launch, every feature is free for everyone with an account, the Annual Subscription included. Nothing is charged, and we will tell you well before that changes.
Compass & Collar explains the rules; your vet issues the certificates and border officials make the decisions. Rules change, so check the official pages and call your airline before you travel.