Bringing a dog or cat to Costa Rica in 2026 falls into the easy category for international pet travel. Costa Rica is in Central America. Costa Rica does not routinely quarantine pets that arrive with complete paperwork.
Reviewed by Clifford Wilson, Founder of ClearToFly.pet. Compiled from official government and airline documentation. Last reviewed 2026-04-13.
Beyond rabies, Costa Rica requires or recommends these vaccinations:
Plan to present the following at check-in and on arrival:
Costa Rica has straightforward pet import requirements. No quarantine required. Health certificate must be issued within 14 days of travel and endorsed by the government veterinary authority (e.g., USDA for US travelers). Rabies vaccination must be current and administered at least 30 days before travel. Pets are inspected by SENASA (National Animal Health Service) upon arrival. No breed restrictions. Costa Rica is considered a pet-friendly destination.
Use the ClearToFly Trip Planner to build a personalized checklist with exact deadlines for your route into Costa Rica. Compare carriers that fly your route on the airline pet policy directory, or get expert eyes on your paperwork with a Route Review.
Government pet import rules change without notice. Before booking flights, confirm requirements directly with the Costa Rica veterinary authority via the official source: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/pet-travel/us-to-another-country-export/pet-travel-us-costa-rica. We also recommend cross-referencing the USDA APHIS Pet Travel database for U.S.-origin pets.
Data last verified 2026-04-13 from National Authority. Country code: CR.