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Pet travel route

Dog or cat from Costa Rica to Egypt: official requirements

Possible. With nothing done yet, start at least 3 weeks ahead. The main steps: ISO microchip, before the rabies vaccination, rabies vaccination at least 21 days before travel and official veterinary health certificate.

Rules checked up to 13 October 2026From 12 official pages

In short

Limited official guidance. The authority for entering Egypt publishes little for this route. Everything it does say is here, with its wording. We couldn't reach a page for pet owners from Egypt's veterinary authority (the General Organization for Veterinary Services). The basic rules below are the ones Egypt's Ministry of Agriculture sent to Australia's agriculture department in December 2025 for pets entering Egypt; the details for the UK, the US and Morocco come from the certificates those governments issue for Egypt. For other countries Egypt doesn't say how long before travel the health certificate may be issued, and it gives no minimum age. Ask the Egyptian embassy or consulate in your country and your own veterinary authority before you travel.

At a glance

The rules on this route are the same for dogs and cats.

How early to start

3 weeks

if your pet has no microchip or rabies vaccination yet

Set by: Rabies vaccination at least 21 days before travel (at least 21 days before travel)

No official wait

if it is already microchipped and vaccinated

The least time the official waiting periods allow. Vet, lab and paperwork appointments come on top.

On this route

  • No rabies blood test
  • No import permit
  • No quarantine

Prefer a feed reader? Costa Rica rule changes · Egypt rule changes

Costa Rica → Egypt

What your pet needs

In the order you do them. Each step says whether Costa Rica (leaving) or Egypt (entering) asks for it.

  1. Get ready

    1. IdentificationCosta Rica and Egypt

      ISO microchip, before the rabies vaccination

      Your pet must have an ISO-compliant microchip, put in before its rabies vaccination, and the microchip number must be written on all its documents.

      The official wording is ambiguous. Confirm this point with the authority.

      Details and the official words

      Egypt's requirement reached us through Australia's export database (Micor), which records the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture's correspondence of 18 December 2025 for pets entering Egypt. It is newer than the US and UK documents that don't require a chip; we follow it because it is Egypt's own, more recent statement.

      ISO microchip (15 digits), declared on the certificate: SENASA's resolution of January 2025 makes individual identification with a 15-digit ISO microchip compulsory for dogs and cats imported, exported or in transit, with the number declared on the health certificate.

      The resolution takes effect six months after its publication in the official gazette La Gaceta, which we couldn't date. We show the microchip to be safe: ask SENASA if your pet has none.

      “The following basic health requirements are mandatory for pets entering Egypt:”

      “The pet must be microchipped with an ISO-compliant microchip.”

      “The pet must be microchipped with an ISO-compliant microchip.”

      “Based on correspondence received from the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture on 18 December 2025.”

      “Animal microchips are not required for entry into Egypt”

      “Dogs and cats should be identified either by tattoo or microchip number or by a full description including coat colour and type, markings, weight, breed, sex and declared age.”

      “Se ordena como medida sanitaria implementar un sistema de identificación y rastreabilidad individual obligatorio para la importación, exportación o tránsito por el país para los animales de compañía (perros y gatos)”

      “El código de identificación asignado al animal debe declararse en el certificado sanitario correspondiente.”

      “Rige seis meses posteriores a su publicación en el Diario Oficial La Gaceta.”

    2. VaccinationEntering Egypt

      Rabies vaccination at least 21 days before travel

      Your pet must be vaccinated against rabies after its microchip, at least 21 days before it travels, and the vaccination must still be valid when it enters Egypt. Bring a valid rabies vaccination certificate.

      Details and the official words

      Egypt doesn't say whether a booster restarts the 21 days. We count them from the first vaccination of your pet's current, unbroken series; if a booster falls within 3 weeks of the trip, ask the Egyptian embassy.

      “A valid Rabies Vaccination Certificate is required.”

      “The rabies vaccine must be administered after microchipping and at least 21 days prior to travel and remain valid at the time of entry.”

      “The rabies vaccine must be administered after microchipping and at least 21 days prior to travel and remain valid at the time of entry.”

      “Egypt require separate evidence that the dog or cat has been vaccinated against rabies.”

      “This can either be in an up to date Pet Passport or a document provided by the veterinary practice.”

      “Passport & Proof of Vaccinations for rabies”

      “Ont été vaccinés contre la rage par un vaccin inactivé”

  2. In the days before you travel

    1. PaperworkCosta Rica and Egypt

      Official veterinary health certificate

      Your pet needs an official veterinary health certificate issued by a government-authorised vet in your country, within its period of validity before you travel. Egypt doesn't publish how long that is for your country: ask your veterinary authority, which knows the certificate it issues for Egypt.

      Details and the official words

      Export certificate from a private vet, signed by SENASA: An authorised private vet examines your pet, checks it meets the destination's requirements and issues the national export certificate (on the Costa Rican veterinary college's form). Take it to SENASA with your pet's vaccination card, any document the destination asks for (if it has its own certificate model, you need both) and proof of payment (tariff code C.16, ₡17,322 in 2026). SENASA's official vet reviews the certificates and signs them; once signed, your pet can leave. Certificates that don't need SENASA to authenticate the vet's signature can be signed at any SENASA office.

      “An official Veterinary Health Certificate issued by a government-authorized veterinarian in the country of origin is required.”

      “The certificate must be issued within the valid period prior to travel.”

      “3900EHC may be used to accompany dogs and cats, not intended for sale, exported to Egypt accompanied by their owners”

      “The clinical examination should be carried out no more than 96 hours prior to export.”

      “This certificate is valid for 14 days after issuance.”

      “I certify that the animals described in box 21 have been inspected by me on this date and appear to be free of any infectious or contagious diseases”

      “Ont été examinés au cours des 24 dernières heures, ont été trouvés en bon état de santé et n’ont présenté aucun signe clinique de maladies contagieuses propres à l’espèce.”

      “Ont été identifies à l’aide d’une micropuce électronique.”

      “Para iniciar el trámite, el propietario debe acudir a un médico veterinario privado autorizado para que realice la valoración clínica.”

      “El profesional verificará el cumplimiento de los requisitos solicitados por el país de destino y emitirá el certificado de exportación que presentará ante SENASA.”

      “El médico veterinario oficial de SENASA revisa el o los certificados presentados por el veterinario privado y confirmará el cumplimiento de los requisitos.”

      “Una vez firmado el certificado, la mascota puede salir del país.”

      “En el caso de que el país de destino requiera un modelo de certificado adicional, el usuario deberá gestionar ambos documentos.”

      “Asimismo, SENASA recuerda que los usuarios deben presentar la cartilla de vacunas y cualquier documento exigido por el país de destino.”

      “Cancelar el monto correspondiente, según el decreto tarifario código C.16”

      “CERTIFICADO EXPORTAC. ANIMALES, PRODUCTOS Y SUBPRODUCTOS NO COMESTIBLES (Resolución DG-R0014-2021)”

      “Certificado de exportación nacional (papelería del CMV) emitido por un médico veterinario privado;”

      “Los demás certificados que no requieran autenticación de firma por parte del país de destino pueden ser firmados en cualquier oficina del SENASA.”

Good to know

  • Egypt asks for accurate, original documents: bring the original health certificate and rabies vaccination certificate, with your pet's microchip number written on every document, to avoid delays on arrival.
  • SENASA lets your pet leave only if it meets the destination's requirements, which differ from country to country: look them up well in advance. Airlines and transport companies set their own rules too.

Money

What it costs

Government fees exactly as the official pages state them, and what vets and labs in Costa Rica publish for the steps above. The two are never added together.

Government fees on this route

Government fees in total: 17,322 CRC (each currency separately)

May also apply, depending on your case

What vets and labs charge Not official figures

We have no published vet or lab prices for Costa Rica yet.

Prices that businesses publish on their own pages, quoted as we read them; yours can differ. Ranges are the lowest to highest of these examples, never our estimate. How we collect prices

Airline fees aren’t included: check your airline’s pet page.

Round trip

Coming back to Costa Rica

Nothing for the trip back has to happen before your pet leaves Costa Rica (dogs).

The trip back asks for 7 steps: ISO microchip (15 digits), declared on the certificate, vet examination within two weeks before travel, international veterinary certificate from the official authority and internal and external parasite treatment within 15 days before travel and more.

Nothing for the trip back has to happen before your pet leaves Costa Rica (cats).

The trip back asks for 7 steps: ISO microchip (15 digits), declared on the certificate, vet examination within two weeks before travel, international veterinary certificate from the official authority and internal and external parasite treatment within 15 days before travel and more.

Every step from Egypt to Costa Rica

Nearby routes

Other routes

Where this comes from

Official sources

Last checked against the official pages: 2026-10-13.

Questions owners ask

Does my dog or cat need a rabies blood test to go from Costa Rica to Egypt?

No. The official rules we have verified for this route don't ask for a rabies blood test.

Do I need an import permit to bring my dog or cat into Egypt?

No. The official rules we have verified for this route don't ask for an import permit.

Will my dog or cat be quarantined in Egypt?

Not on the routes we have verified: the official rules list no quarantine for a pet that meets the requirements.

How early should I start preparing my pet for Costa Rica to Egypt?

With nothing done yet, start at least 3 weeks ahead. The main steps: ISO microchip, before the rabies vaccination, rabies vaccination at least 21 days before travel and official veterinary health certificate.

Every rule here is quoted from the official page and checked word for word; not legal advice. How we verify · Report a mistake

Read next

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