Exit Requirements for Dogs and Cats Traveling from Costa Rica to the USA or Other Countries
As you mentally prepare to trade warm temperatures, sun-kissed beaches and luxuriant jungle for your life’s routine, it is time to ensure that your furry companion has a smooth entrance back home and all his/her paperwork in order to pass through customs in Costa Rica.
read more closeTo depart from Costa Rica, your pet must have the following:
Document Issued in Costa Rica
Note: We provide express issuance and delivery of these certificates. Contact Us for a quote, or call us toll free 1-800-900-5406.
Health Export Certificate
A Health Export Certificate for Dogs and Cats (Certificado de Exportación de Caninos y Felinos) issued by a licensed Costa Rican veterinarian and endorsed by the Costa Rican National Animal Health Service (SENASA – Servicio Nacional de Salud Animal).New World Screwworm (NWS) Certification
A New World Screwworm (NWS) Certification, issued within 5 days prior to your departure date from Costa Rica, by a licensed Costa Rican veterinarian and endorsed by SENASA.
Documents Issued in the USA (If Traveling to the USA)
CDC Import Form Receipt
A completed Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Import Form Receipt must be filled out by the person responsible for the pet between 2 and 10 days prior to your departure from Costa Rica.
Please double check that Costa Rica is categorized by the CDC as a rabies free or low risk country and fill out the form. You can access the CDC website here. The phone number of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is 1-800-232-4636.
Additional Requirements
Your pet must:
be in good health and appear healthy upon departure.
Be at least 6 months old at the time of entry or return to Costa Rica.
Have a current rabies vaccine, administered starting at the age of 3 months.
Have a microchip implant for identification purposes, detectable by a universal scanner. The microchip number must be included in the health certificate.
Note:
The New World screwworm (NWS) refers to the larval stage in the lifecyle of a parasitic fly whose scientific name is Cochliomyia hominivorax. The fly’s body is metallic-green with bluish tints and reddish-orange eyes. The female fly lays her eggs on open wounds or mucous membranes of warm-blooded animals (included humans). These eggs hatch the larvae (screwworm) within 24 hours and start burrowing into the living flesh and feeding on it. After 5 to 7 days of feeding and growing the larvae falls to the ground, goes underground in the soil and transform to a pupa. After 7 to 10 days, the fly emerges from the pupa to restart her lifecycle.
The NWS was eradicated in Central America in the early 2000s. However, according to the Costa Rica Agriculture and Cattle Department, as of November 30, 2024, Costa Rica has reported 11,812 cases. Of these, 80.6% were in cattle, 10.35% in dogs, 0.33% in humans, and the remainder in sheep, goats, horses, pigs and cats. This resurgence has raised concerns about the potential risk of the parasite being reintroduced to the United States or other countries. This is why an NWS certificate is required to re-enter the USA with your pet.
Sources: Costa Rica National Animal Health Services. Notification: SENASA-DCA-C004-2024 & USA Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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