UPDATE : July 25, 2023

To travel with your cat or dog from Costa Rica to the U.S.

Costa Rica’s National Animal Health Service (SENASA) requires a certificate of good health from your veterinarian in Costa Rica AND an export authorization issued by the Costa Rican Ministry of Agriculture (SENASA-Cuarentena Animal). It is advised that your Costa Rican veterinarian take care of all required authorizations with the Ministry of Agriculture (SENASA-Cuarantena Animal).

While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) do not consider Costa Rica as high risk for importing dog rabies into the country, many states require rabies vaccines and many airlines require a health certificate and proof of your pet’s latest rabies vaccine.

*Please note, SENASA will have limited staffing during holy week. Please have your veterinarian call SENASA’s office at Juan Santamaria airport at 2442-6059 for services during this time. On April 13th SENASA offices will resume their normal schedule, with reduced personnel.

Screwworm

Effective July 14, 2023, and until further notice, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services (VS) is restricting the importation of animal commodities originating from or transiting Costa Rica based on the diagnosis of New World screwworm in a dog.

Dogs traveling from countries or regions where screwworm is known to exist may enter the United States if they are accompanied by a certificate signed by a full-time salaried veterinary official of the region of origin stating:
• The dog has been inspected for screwworm within 5 days prior to shipment to the United States; and
• The dog is either free from screwworm OR
• The dog was infested with screwworm, held in quarantine, and treated until free from screwworm prior to leaving the region.

Find out which countries are affected by screwworm.

For more information:

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS) pet travel website: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) pet travel website: https://www.cdc.gov/importation/bringing-an-animal-into-the-united-states/dogs.html

Servicio Nacional de Salud Animal (SENASA) – Dirección de Cuarentena Animal – 2587-1710 or 25871714

APHIS-IS Area Office in San José: +506 2290-4548

You will need a Certificate of Good Health from your veterinarian in Costa Rica and an export authorization issued by the Costa Rican Ministry of Agriculture (SENASA-Departamento de Cuarentena Animal).

Normally, your Costa Rican veterinarian can take care of all the required authorizations. If he/she does not, you will also need to visit the Ministry of Agriculture directly to obtain the export authorization. The Ministry (SENASA- Cuarentena Animal) is located in Barreal de Heredia, Jardines del Recuerdo, 2 Km West, 400 Meters South, Heredia. Telephone number: 2260-8300 Ext. 2024 or 2093 or 2260-9046.

You will need to take with you to the Ministry the following stamps, which can be purchased at most book/stationary stores: one “fiscal” stamp of ¢25.00 and one “archivo” stamp of ¢5.00.
To pay the required fee, you must deposit ¢4,992.00 (please confirm the correct amount with SENASA before depositing since amounts change frequently) into one of the following accounts:

 

 

Bank	Account Number	Currency	Name	Customer account
Banco de Costa Rica	001-262585-7	Colones	Servicio Nacional de Salud Animal	1520100102 625857
Banco Popular y de Desarrollo Comunal	161-010-089-1-019474-1	Colones	Servicio Nacional  de Salud Animal	161010089 10194741
Banco Nacional de Costa Rica	100-01-061-000890-1	Colones	Servicio Nacional  de Salud Animal	151061100 10008909
Banco Crédito Agrícola de Cartago	105519621	Colones	Servicio Nacional  de Salud Animal	15302001055 196219