Einreise mit Tier: Costa Rica (2026)

Key points

• Whether you need an import permit depends on how the pet travels, and this is the single most consequential fork in Costa Rica's rules
• Travelling WITH your pet in the cabin or as checked baggage, no permit arises: "For pets that are transported in the cabin as hand luggage or checked luggage and are accompanied by their owner, only the health certificate issued by the veterinary/competent authority of the country of origin must be presented at the border inspection post" (SENASA DCA-PG-02-RS-01-IN-006 v11, s6.2)
• Shipping the pet as manifested CARGO, or sending it unaccompanied, does require one: "Para importar una mascota declarada como carga, además de cumplir con los requisitos anteriores, es necesario gestionar el permiso previo de importación por medio de una agencia aduanal." (MAG)
• It is filed by a Costa Rican customs broker and "The request will be resolved within a maximum period of twenty-four working hours" (s6.4)
• The permit fields on this plan describe that cargo case, which is the stricter of the two
• Rabies titre: Costa Rica does not require one to ENTER
• The only titre sentence in the instrument is about going home again: "Pets coming from the European Union, United Kingdom and countries members of EFTA (Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein) that will return to their country of origin must bring, in addition to the International Veterinary Certificate, a valid rabies antibody titration test with result equal or greater than 0.5 UI/ml." (s5.7) — MAG confirms it is carried "para el posterior trámite para exportación"
• If you are an EU/UK/EFTA resident bringing your pet back, you still need that test done before you leave home
• Puppies and kittens under three months: "Puppies and kittens (dogs / cats) younger than three months should not be vaccinated against rabies; however, the vaccination plan must be certified according to age and species." (s5.6) — so a very young animal travels on a certified age-appropriate vaccination plan rather than a rabies shot
• Microchip — sources differ, so assume it is required
• MAG's December 2025 statement is unqualified: "Los perros y gatos que se importen deben estar identificados con microchip, cuyo número tiene que estar declarado en el certificado"
• The SENASA instrument's certificate-content section is softer, listing "Pet's information: breed, sex, color, age and pet's identification (microchip or transponder if available)." (s4.1)
• Chip the pet
• If the paperwork fails, Costa Rica does not quarantine — it refuses entry: "En caso de incumplir con los requisitos sanitarios, el ingreso será denegado y se procederá con la devolución de la mascota al país de origen como medida sanitaria." (MAG)
• No notarisation or consular stamp is needed: "The health certificate does not need to be signed by a notary public, nor does it need to be stamped by the Costa Rican consular office." (s6.6)