Bringing Birds?  Click Here

Planning to bring your pets to Costa Rica?  Of course you are!  They're family too, right?  I brought my two cats when I moved to Costa Rica.

Read all of this first to make sure you do it correctly. 

As these rules can change, I strongly urge you to contact the Association of Residents of Costa Rica (ARCR), a moving advisor or a relocation specialist no later than three weeks before your move as a safeguard!  They will always have the most current info.  Note:  Often relocation firms outside Costa Rica are not current on laws and enforcement.  Costa Rica specialists and moving advisors are usually a better bet. 

If you follow these rules and do the final check back with ARCR, you will breeze through customs and immigration without any problems! 

Quarantine and info on cats and dogs

Cats and dogs are not quarantined. You walk right through customers and immigration  with the proper paperwork.  You will need a certificate from your vet, and this form MUST comply with the US Dept of Agriculture format. Your vet should know all about this.  Mine did. If he/she doesn't know, get another vet because THIS is critical stuff. Wrong form... no pets or long quarantine.  Period!

This paperwork may also need to be validated by the CR embassy in the US nearest you. Currently it does NOT, but at any time and without notice, this can change.  Check with ARCR for the current rules.

Shots (except rabies!) must be current within 30 days of transporting the animals. One day over? No pets.

Rabies shots must be over 30 days but less than one year.

You vet will know the immunizations required for shipping pets internationally.  If he/she doesn't, get another vet.  This sounds cold and it IS.  Your vet MUST know this stuff.

MORE INFO VISIT  http://www.therealcostarica.com/moving_to_costa_rica/moving_pets.html