Pet Travel Requirements for Costa Rica

dog Regulations

Vaccinations

Description:

Required for dogs over 3 months; vaccine must be valid on the date of entry.

List vaccine brand, manufacturer, lot number, and expiration on the certificate
Record the date of vaccination

Description:

Core dog vaccines required.

Must be current per label at time of travel

Description:

Required.

Must be current per label at time of travel

Certifications

Description:

Use the APHIS model certificate for Costa Rica (or APHIS 7001 meeting the same requirements). Must be issued by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and then endorsed by APHIS. Examination must be within 14 days of departure.

USDA-accredited vet issues the certificate
APHIS digital or wet endorsement required
Exam within 14 days of departure
Document internal/external parasite treatments within 15 days of export

Microchip

Microchip is not required by Costa Rica, but strongly recommended for identification.

Origin Requirements

Birds_Prohibited
Costa Rica does not allow importation of pet birds.

bird

More Info

USDA endorsement of the health certificate is required. Veterinary exam must be performed within 14 days of departure. Internal and external parasite treatments are required within 15 days prior to export and must be recorded on the certificate (product, active ingredient, lot, date).

Import-Specific Links

APHIS – Pet Travel: United States to Costa Rica Costa Rica Dogs/Cats Health Certificate (PDF)

Official Source(s)

APHIS – Pet Travel: US to Costa Rica Costa Rica Dogs/Cats Certificate (PDF) Costa Rica Rabbit Certificate (PDF) Costa Rica Guinea Pigs Certificate (PDF)

cat Regulations

Vaccinations

Description:

Required for cats over 3 months; vaccine must be valid on the date of entry.

List vaccine brand, manufacturer, lot number, and expiration on the certificate
Record the date of vaccination

Certifications

Description:

Use the APHIS model certificate for Costa Rica (or APHIS 7001 meeting the same requirements). Must be issued by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and endorsed by APHIS. Examination must be within 14 days of departure.

USDA-accredited vet issues the certificate
APHIS digital/wet endorsement required
Exam within 14 days of departure
Internal/external parasite treatments within 15 days recorded on certificate

Microchip

Microchip is not required, but recommended for identification.

Origin Requirements

Birds_Prohibited
Costa Rica does not allow importation of pet birds.

bird

More Info

USDA endorsement of the health certificate is required. Veterinary exam within 14 days of departure. Internal and external parasite treatments within 15 days prior to export with product details recorded.

Import-Specific Links

APHIS – Pet Travel: United States to Costa Rica Costa Rica Dogs/Cats Health Certificate (PDF)

Official Source(s)

APHIS – Pet Travel: US to Costa Rica Costa Rica Dogs/Cats Certificate (PDF) Costa Rica Rabbit Certificate (PDF) Costa Rica Guinea Pigs Certificate (PDF)

rabbit Regulations

Vaccinations

Not specified.

Certifications

Description:

Use the APHIS rabbit certificate for Costa Rica; USDA endorsement required.

21-day home isolation under vet oversight
Internal/external parasite treatments during isolation (record details)
Disease-freedom statements per certificate

Microchip

No microchip requirement is specified.

Origin Requirements

Birds_Prohibited
Costa Rica does not allow importation of pet birds.

bird

More Info

Rabbits must be born/raised in the area of origin or kept in captivity for at least 60 days prior to export. No clinical cases of Tularemia, Myxomatosis, Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease, or screwworms in the 90 days prior. Home isolation for 21 days before travel under veterinary control; internal/external parasite treatments during isolation must be recorded. Route should be the most direct; cages must be new and disinfected.

Import-Specific Links

Costa Rica Rabbit Health Certificate (PDF)

Official Source(s)

APHIS – Pet Travel: US to Costa Rica Costa Rica Dogs/Cats Certificate (PDF) Costa Rica Rabbit Certificate (PDF) Costa Rica Guinea Pigs Certificate (PDF)

guinea_pig Regulations

Vaccinations

Not specified.

Certifications

Description:

Use the APHIS guinea pig certificate for Costa Rica; USDA endorsement required.

21-day quarantine
Negative leptospirosis MAT during quarantine (attach results)
Parasite treatments within 21 days recorded on certificate

Microchip

No microchip requirement is specified.

Origin Requirements

Birds_Prohibited
Costa Rica does not allow importation of pet birds.

bird

More Info

Applies to personal/companion shipments up to 5 animals. Premises free of tularemia; animals born/raised in exporting country; no listed clinical diseases. Quarantine for 21 days prior to boarding with a negative leptospirosis microagglutination test during quarantine. Endo/ecto parasite treatment within 21 days prior to departure with details recorded.

Import-Specific Links

Costa Rica Guinea Pig Health Certificate (PDF)

Official Source(s)

APHIS – Pet Travel: US to Costa Rica Costa Rica Dogs/Cats Certificate (PDF) Costa Rica Rabbit Certificate (PDF) Costa Rica Guinea Pigs Certificate (PDF)

bird Regulations

Vaccinations

Not specified.

Certifications

Not specified.

Microchip

N/A

Origin Requirements

Birds_Prohibited
Costa Rica does not allow importation of pet birds.

bird

More Info

Costa Rica does not allow the importation of pet birds.

Import-Specific Links

APHIS – Pet Travel: United States to Costa Rica (Birds not allowed)

Official Source(s)

APHIS – Pet Travel: US to Costa Rica Costa Rica Dogs/Cats Certificate (PDF) Costa Rica Rabbit Certificate (PDF) Costa Rica Guinea Pigs Certificate (PDF)

Compare Pet Travel Policies Easily

Costa Rica

dog Regulations

Vaccinations

Certifications

Microchip

Origin Requirements

More Info

Import-Specific Links

Official Source(s)

cat Regulations

Vaccinations

Certifications

Microchip

Origin Requirements

More Info

Import-Specific Links

Official Source(s)

rabbit Regulations

Vaccinations

Certifications

Microchip

Origin Requirements

More Info

Import-Specific Links

Official Source(s)

guinea_pig Regulations

Vaccinations

Certifications

Microchip

Origin Requirements

More Info

Import-Specific Links

Official Source(s)

bird Regulations

Vaccinations

Certifications

Microchip

Origin Requirements

More Info

Import-Specific Links

Official Source(s)