Pet Travel Requirements for Costa Rica

Vaccinations

Description:

Rabies vaccination must be valid on the date of entry and recorded on the health certificate.

Record vaccination date on the certificate
Include product details on the certificate (e.g., manufacturer, lot/batch, expiration) if listed on the model certificate

Description:

Core dog vaccines are required per the Costa Rica dog/cat health certificate.

Must be current per manufacturer guidelines at time of travel
Record vaccination details on the certificate if applicable

Description:

Required per the Costa Rica dog/cat health certificate.

Must be current per manufacturer guidelines at time of travel
Record vaccination details on the certificate if applicable

Certifications

Description:

Use the APHIS Costa Rica model certificate for dogs and cats. The certificate must be issued by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and endorsed by APHIS (digital endorsement is accepted). The clinical examination must be performed within 14 days of departure, and internal and external parasite treatments must be administered within 15 days prior to export and recorded on the certificate.

USDA-accredited veterinarian issues the Costa Rica dog/cat certificate
APHIS endorsement (digital or wet) required prior to travel
Clinical exam within 14 days before departure recorded on the certificate
Endo- and ectoparasite treatments within 15 days prior to export recorded on the certificate (product/active ingredient/lot/date)

Microchip

Not specified.

Origin Requirements

GuineaPig_Quarantine_Lepto
21-day pre-travel quarantine with a negative leptospirosis microagglutination test; endo/ecto parasite treatments within 21 days recorded on the certificate.
Birds_Prohibited
Costa Rica does not allow importation of pet birds.

More Info

Timing and Treatments

Examination and parasite treatment timing windows from APHIS materials.

Veterinary clinical exam within 14 days of departure
Internal and external parasite treatments within 15 days prior to export, documented on the certificate

Quarantine/Arrival

No on-arrival quarantine details are provided in the APHIS page or certificate; confirm with Costa Rican authorities if needed.

Import-Specific Links

USDA 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 Pig Health Certificate (PDF)

Vaccinations

Description:

Rabies vaccination must be valid on the date of entry and recorded on the health certificate.

Record vaccination date on the certificate
Include product details on the certificate (e.g., manufacturer, lot/batch, expiration) if listed on the model certificate

Certifications

Description:

Use the APHIS Costa Rica model certificate for dogs and cats. The certificate must be issued by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and endorsed by APHIS (digital endorsement is accepted). The clinical examination must be performed within 14 days of departure, and internal and external parasite treatments must be administered within 15 days prior to export and recorded on the certificate.

USDA-accredited veterinarian issues the Costa Rica dog/cat certificate
APHIS endorsement (digital or wet) required prior to travel
Clinical exam within 14 days before departure recorded on the certificate
Endo- and ectoparasite treatments within 15 days prior to export recorded on the certificate (product/active ingredient/lot/date)

Microchip

Not specified.

Origin Requirements

GuineaPig_Quarantine_Lepto
21-day pre-travel quarantine with a negative leptospirosis microagglutination test; endo/ecto parasite treatments within 21 days recorded on the certificate.
Birds_Prohibited
Costa Rica does not allow importation of pet birds.

More Info

Timing and Treatments

Examination and parasite treatment timing windows from APHIS materials.

Veterinary clinical exam within 14 days of departure
Internal and external parasite treatments within 15 days prior to export, documented on the certificate

Quarantine/Arrival

No on-arrival quarantine details are provided in the APHIS page or certificate; confirm with Costa Rican authorities if needed.

Import-Specific Links

USDA 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 Pig Health Certificate (PDF)

Vaccinations

Not specified.

Certifications

Description:

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

Animals born and raised in the country of origin or kept in captivity for at least 60 days before export
No clinical cases of specified diseases (e.g., tularemia, myxomatosis, rabbit hemorrhagic disease, screwworm) in the preceding period as stated on the certificate
Home isolation for 21 days prior to travel under veterinary supervision
Endo- and ectoparasite treatments during isolation recorded on the certificate
Transport in new, disinfected cages by the most direct route

Microchip

Not specified.

Origin Requirements

GuineaPig_Quarantine_Lepto
21-day pre-travel quarantine with a negative leptospirosis microagglutination test; endo/ecto parasite treatments within 21 days recorded on the certificate.
Birds_Prohibited
Costa Rica does not allow importation of pet birds.

More Info

Pre-travel Isolation and Health

Isolation, disease freedom, and parasite treatment requirements per the APHIS rabbit certificate.

21-day home isolation under veterinary control
Record parasite treatments administered during isolation
Confirm disease-freedom statements on the certificate

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 Pig Health Certificate (PDF)

Vaccinations

Not specified.

Certifications

Description:

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

Applies to personal shipments up to the number allowed on the certificate
Premises free of tularemia; animals born/raised in exporting country; no listed clinical diseases
Quarantine/observation for 21 days prior to boarding
Negative leptospirosis microagglutination test (MAT) during the 21-day quarantine; attach results
Endo- and ectoparasite treatment within 21 days prior to departure recorded on the certificate

Microchip

Not specified.

Origin Requirements

GuineaPig_Quarantine_Lepto
21-day pre-travel quarantine with a negative leptospirosis microagglutination test; endo/ecto parasite treatments within 21 days recorded on the certificate.
Birds_Prohibited
Costa Rica does not allow importation of pet birds.

More Info

Pre-travel Quarantine and Testing

21-day quarantine and leptospirosis testing per the APHIS guinea pig certificate.

Maintain 21-day pre-travel quarantine/observation
Obtain and attach a negative leptospirosis MAT result
Record parasite treatments administered within 21 days before departure

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 Pig Health Certificate (PDF)

Vaccinations

Not specified.

Certifications

Not specified.

Microchip

Not specified.

Origin Requirements

GuineaPig_Quarantine_Lepto
21-day pre-travel quarantine with a negative leptospirosis microagglutination test; endo/ecto parasite treatments within 21 days recorded on the certificate.
Birds_Prohibited
Costa Rica does not allow importation of pet birds.

More Info

Import Status

Costa Rica does not allow the importation of pet birds per APHIS guidance.

Import-Specific Links

USDA APHIS – Pet Travel: United States to Costa Rica

Official Source(s)

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

Compare Pet Travel Policies Easily

Pet Travel Concierge

Costa Rica

Birds Regulations

Vaccinations

Certifications

Microchip

Origin Requirements

More Info

Timing and Treatments

Quarantine/Arrival

Import-Specific Links

Official Source(s)

Vaccinations

Certifications

Microchip

Origin Requirements

More Info

Timing and Treatments

Quarantine/Arrival

Import-Specific Links

Official Source(s)

Vaccinations

Certifications

Microchip

Origin Requirements

More Info

Pre-travel Isolation and Health

Import-Specific Links

Official Source(s)

Vaccinations

Certifications

Microchip

Origin Requirements

More Info

Pre-travel Quarantine and Testing

Import-Specific Links

Official Source(s)

Vaccinations

Certifications

Microchip

Origin Requirements

More Info

Import Status

Import-Specific Links

Official Source(s)