Pet travel route
Dog or cat from Morocco to Costa Rica: official requirements
Possible. There is no official waiting period for a dog, but you still need: ISO microchip (15 digits), declared on the certificate, rabies vaccination (pets over 3 months), valid on the day of entry and dogs: distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and leptospirosis vaccinations and 3 more.
Rules checked up to 13 October 2026From 7 official pages
In short
- Dogs and cats differ on this route: choose Dog or Cat to see just yours.
- On this route: parasite treatment before travel.
Limited official guidance. The authority for leaving Morocco publishes little for this route. Everything it does say is here, with its wording. Morocco's food safety office (ONSSA) publishes the health certificate model agreed with each destination, as scanned documents, and its fee list, but no guide for pet owners: it doesn't say how far ahead to apply, what to bring or how long it takes. It asks you to contact the veterinary service where you live. Do that well before you travel, and follow your destination's rules for the vaccinations and tests.
At a glance
How early to start (dogs)
No official wait
whether or not your pet is already microchipped and vaccinated
No official wait still means appointments: ISO microchip (15 digits), declared on the certificate, rabies vaccination (pets over 3 months), valid on the day of entry and dogs: distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and leptospirosis vaccinations and 3 more. Book them early; lab and paperwork times are not counted.
On this route (dogs)
- Parasite treatment before travel
Part of this route is still under review, so we don’t say what it doesn’t need.
How early to start (cats)
No official wait
whether or not your pet is already microchipped and vaccinated
No official wait still means appointments: ISO microchip (15 digits), declared on the certificate, rabies vaccination (pets over 3 months), valid on the day of entry and cats: rhinotracheitis, calicivirus and panleukopenia vaccinations and 3 more. Book them early; lab and paperwork times are not counted.
On this route (cats)
- Parasite treatment before travel
Part of this route is still under review, so we don’t say what it doesn’t need.
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Morocco → Costa Rica
What your pet needs
In the order you do them. Each step says whether Morocco (leaving) or Costa Rica (entering) asks for it.
Dogs
Taking a dog or cat out of Morocco (ONSSA): we summarised this from a short or older official page and it is still under review, so it may be incomplete.
Get ready
IdentificationEntering Costa Rica
ISO microchip (15 digits), declared on the certificate
SENASA's resolution of January 2025 makes individual identification with an ISO 11784/11785 microchip with 15 digits compulsory for dogs and cats imported into Costa Rica, with the number declared on the health certificate.
The official wording is ambiguous. Confirm this point with the authority.
Details and the official words
The resolution takes effect six months after its publication in the official gazette La Gaceta, which we couldn't date, and SENASA's 2024 requirement sheet still says 'microchip if available'. We show the microchip to be safe: ask SENASA if your pet has none.
“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)”
“con una codificación de quince dígitos”
“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.”
VaccinationEntering Costa Rica
Rabies vaccination (pets over 3 months), valid on the day of entry
Dogs and cats over three months old must be vaccinated against rabies, and the vaccination must be valid on the day they enter Costa Rica. The certificate gives the date, brand, manufacturer, batch and validity.
Details and the official words
“Los perros y gatos mayores de tres meses deben haber sido vacunados contra rabia; esta vacuna debe estar vigente el día del ingreso de la mascota al país.”
VaccinationEntering Costa Rica
Dogs: distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and leptospirosis vaccinations
Your dog must be vaccinated against distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and leptospirosis (according to its age), recorded on the certificate.
Details and the official words
“Los perros fueron vacunados contra distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus y leptospirosis.”
In the days before you travel
Vet examEntering Costa Rica
Vet examination within two weeks before travel
A licensed vet examines your pet within two weeks before it travels: it must be healthy, without tumours, fresh or healing wounds, external parasites or signs of a transmissible disease.
Details and the official words
“Este examen debe realizarse en un plazo de dos semanas antes del embarque.”
“Estos deben ser sometidos a un examen clínico por un médico veterinario en el país de origen dentro de las dos semanas previas al viaje.”
TreatmentEntering Costa Rica
Internal and external parasite treatment within 15 days before travel
Your pet is treated against internal and external parasites within the 15 days before export, and must be free of ticks. The certificate gives the date, brand, batch and active ingredient.
Details and the official words
“Los animales fueron tratados dentro de los quince (15) días previos a la exportación con medicamentos contra parásitos externos e internos, asegurando que se encuentran libres de garrapatas y otros parásitos externos e internos.”
“Además, los perros y gatos deben ser desparasitados contra parásitos internos y externos dentro de los 15 días previos a su llegada a Costa Rica”
PaperworkMorocco and Costa Rica
International veterinary certificate from the official authority
The official veterinary services (or competent authority) of the country of origin issue the international veterinary certificate: numbered, every page signed and stamped, in Spanish or English (or with an official Spanish translation). It records the vaccinations and treatments. Bring the original and a copy to the border post. No notary or Costa Rican consulate stamp is needed.
Details and the official words
ONSSA export health certificate (150 dirhams): An ONSSA official vet issues your pet's health certificate on the model agreed with your destination (ONSSA lists them by destination country). Ask the veterinary service where you live how and when to apply. The fee for a veterinary health certificate for exporting live animals is 150 dirhams per certificate.
“Debe ser emitido por los Servicios Veterinarios Oficiales o por la Autoridad Sanitaria Competente del país de origen.”
“En el puesto de inspección fronterizo de entrada, el usuario debe presentar el original y copia del certificado sanitario expedido o avalado por la entidad sanitaria oficial del país de origen.”
“El certificado de salud no tiene que ser refrendado por un notario público ni necesita ser sellado por la Oficina Consular de Costa Rica.”
“Los perros y gatos deben venir amparados por un Certificado Veterinario Internacional emitido por un médico veterinario autorizado por el Departamento de Agricultura de Estados Unidos (USDA) y refrendado por un médico veterinario de Servicios Veterinarios (SV)”
“Contrôle à l’exportation des animaux de compagnie (Chiens, Chats et Furets)”
“Certificat sanitaire vétérinaire à l’exportation des animaux vivants et des produits de multiplication animale”
“(à l'exception des chevaux)”
“Je soussigné, vétérinaire officiel certifie que les animaux désignés ci-dessus et examinés ce jour”
“Ont été examinés au cours des 48 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 correctement vaccinés contre la rage par un vaccin inactivé (ci-joint l’attestation de vaccination contre la rage)”
Travel day and arrival
On arrivalEntering Costa Rica
Inspection at the border post on arrival
SENASA inspects your pet where it enters Costa Rica. A pet travelling with its owner in the cabin or as checked baggage only needs the health certificate there.
Details and the official words
“Para las mascotas que son transportadas en cabina como equipaje de mano o equipaje chequeado (documentado) y que ingresan acompañadas por su dueño, únicamente se debe presentar, en el puesto de inspección fronterizo, el certificado sanitario emitido por la autoridad veterinaria/competente del país de origen”
Good to know
- A pet with tumours, fresh or healing wounds or external parasites is refused at the border, and a pet that doesn't meet the requirements is sent back to its country of origin.
- A pet shipped as declared cargo needs, in addition, a prior import permit (Sanitary Requirements Form) arranged by a customs agency in Costa Rica before it arrives.
- If your pet travels with prescription medicines, bring the prescription.
- For any question about taking your pet abroad, ONSSA asks you to contact its veterinary service where you live; the export page links a list of these services with their addresses and phone numbers. ONSSA publishes no lead time, so ask them early.
- ONSSA's list of current export health certificates has no model for taking this species to your destination. Ask the veterinary service where you live which certificate ONSSA can issue, and check with your destination's authority which document it accepts, before you book.
Cats
Taking a dog or cat out of Morocco (ONSSA): we summarised this from a short or older official page and it is still under review, so it may be incomplete.
Get ready
IdentificationEntering Costa Rica
ISO microchip (15 digits), declared on the certificate
SENASA's resolution of January 2025 makes individual identification with an ISO 11784/11785 microchip with 15 digits compulsory for dogs and cats imported into Costa Rica, with the number declared on the health certificate.
The official wording is ambiguous. Confirm this point with the authority.
Details and the official words
The resolution takes effect six months after its publication in the official gazette La Gaceta, which we couldn't date, and SENASA's 2024 requirement sheet still says 'microchip if available'. We show the microchip to be safe: ask SENASA if your pet has none.
“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)”
“con una codificación de quince dígitos”
“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.”
VaccinationEntering Costa Rica
Rabies vaccination (pets over 3 months), valid on the day of entry
Dogs and cats over three months old must be vaccinated against rabies, and the vaccination must be valid on the day they enter Costa Rica. The certificate gives the date, brand, manufacturer, batch and validity.
Details and the official words
“Los perros y gatos mayores de tres meses deben haber sido vacunados contra rabia; esta vacuna debe estar vigente el día del ingreso de la mascota al país.”
VaccinationEntering Costa Rica
Cats: rhinotracheitis, calicivirus and panleukopenia vaccinations
Your cat must be vaccinated against feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus and panleukopenia, recorded on the certificate.
Details and the official words
“Los gatos fueron vacunados contra rinotraqueítis, calicivirus y panleucopenia.”
In the days before you travel
Vet examEntering Costa Rica
Vet examination within two weeks before travel
A licensed vet examines your pet within two weeks before it travels: it must be healthy, without tumours, fresh or healing wounds, external parasites or signs of a transmissible disease.
Details and the official words
“Este examen debe realizarse en un plazo de dos semanas antes del embarque.”
“Estos deben ser sometidos a un examen clínico por un médico veterinario en el país de origen dentro de las dos semanas previas al viaje.”
TreatmentEntering Costa Rica
Internal and external parasite treatment within 15 days before travel
Your pet is treated against internal and external parasites within the 15 days before export, and must be free of ticks. The certificate gives the date, brand, batch and active ingredient.
Details and the official words
“Los animales fueron tratados dentro de los quince (15) días previos a la exportación con medicamentos contra parásitos externos e internos, asegurando que se encuentran libres de garrapatas y otros parásitos externos e internos.”
“Además, los perros y gatos deben ser desparasitados contra parásitos internos y externos dentro de los 15 días previos a su llegada a Costa Rica”
PaperworkMorocco and Costa Rica
International veterinary certificate from the official authority
The official veterinary services (or competent authority) of the country of origin issue the international veterinary certificate: numbered, every page signed and stamped, in Spanish or English (or with an official Spanish translation). It records the vaccinations and treatments. Bring the original and a copy to the border post. No notary or Costa Rican consulate stamp is needed.
Details and the official words
ONSSA export health certificate (150 dirhams): An ONSSA official vet issues your pet's health certificate on the model agreed with your destination (ONSSA lists them by destination country). Ask the veterinary service where you live how and when to apply. The fee for a veterinary health certificate for exporting live animals is 150 dirhams per certificate.
“Debe ser emitido por los Servicios Veterinarios Oficiales o por la Autoridad Sanitaria Competente del país de origen.”
“En el puesto de inspección fronterizo de entrada, el usuario debe presentar el original y copia del certificado sanitario expedido o avalado por la entidad sanitaria oficial del país de origen.”
“El certificado de salud no tiene que ser refrendado por un notario público ni necesita ser sellado por la Oficina Consular de Costa Rica.”
“Los perros y gatos deben venir amparados por un Certificado Veterinario Internacional emitido por un médico veterinario autorizado por el Departamento de Agricultura de Estados Unidos (USDA) y refrendado por un médico veterinario de Servicios Veterinarios (SV)”
“Contrôle à l’exportation des animaux de compagnie (Chiens, Chats et Furets)”
“Certificat sanitaire vétérinaire à l’exportation des animaux vivants et des produits de multiplication animale”
“(à l'exception des chevaux)”
“Je soussigné, vétérinaire officiel certifie que les animaux désignés ci-dessus et examinés ce jour”
“Ont été examinés au cours des 48 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 correctement vaccinés contre la rage par un vaccin inactivé (ci-joint l’attestation de vaccination contre la rage)”
Travel day and arrival
On arrivalEntering Costa Rica
Inspection at the border post on arrival
SENASA inspects your pet where it enters Costa Rica. A pet travelling with its owner in the cabin or as checked baggage only needs the health certificate there.
Details and the official words
“Para las mascotas que son transportadas en cabina como equipaje de mano o equipaje chequeado (documentado) y que ingresan acompañadas por su dueño, únicamente se debe presentar, en el puesto de inspección fronterizo, el certificado sanitario emitido por la autoridad veterinaria/competente del país de origen”
Good to know
- A pet with tumours, fresh or healing wounds or external parasites is refused at the border, and a pet that doesn't meet the requirements is sent back to its country of origin.
- A pet shipped as declared cargo needs, in addition, a prior import permit (Sanitary Requirements Form) arranged by a customs agency in Costa Rica before it arrives.
- If your pet travels with prescription medicines, bring the prescription.
- For any question about taking your pet abroad, ONSSA asks you to contact its veterinary service where you live; the export page links a list of these services with their addresses and phone numbers. ONSSA publishes no lead time, so ask them early.
- ONSSA's list of current export health certificates has no model for taking this species to your destination. Ask the veterinary service where you live which certificate ONSSA can issue, and check with your destination's authority which document it accepts, before you book.
Money
What it costs
Government fees exactly as the official pages state them, and what vets and labs in Morocco publish for the steps above. The two are never added together.
Government fees on this route
ONSSA veterinary health certificate for exporting live animals (per certificate)Leaving Morocco150 MAD
The tariff line is for exporting live animals other than horses; it doesn’t name pets, so ask ONSSA whether it is per certificate or per animal for several pets.
“Certificat sanitaire vétérinaire à l’exportation des animaux vivants et des produits de multiplication animale (semences, embryons, œufs à couver, …etc.) (à l'exception des chevaux) Certificat 150”
Décision fixant la liste et les prix des services et prestations rendus aux tiers par l'ONSSA (signed 7 April 2025, scanned PDF) · as of 2026-10-13
Government fees in total: 150 MAD (each currency separately)
What vets and labs charge Not official figures
We have no published vet or lab prices for Morocco 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 Morocco
Nothing for the trip back has to happen before your pet leaves Morocco (dogs).
The trip back asks for 6 steps: microchip or tattoo before the rabies vaccination, 6 months in a rabies-free country or area (ask ONSSA), rabies vaccination (inactivated vaccine) and rabies blood test, if your pet stays less than 12 months and more.
Nothing for the trip back has to happen before your pet leaves Morocco (cats).
The trip back asks for 6 steps: microchip or tattoo before the rabies vaccination, 6 months in a rabies-free country or area (ask ONSSA), rabies vaccination (inactivated vaccine) and rabies blood test, if your pet stays less than 12 months and more.
Nearby routes
Other routes
Where this comes from
Official sources
- Requisitos para la importación de perros y gatos, DCA-PG-02-RS-01-IN-006 v11 (SENASA)
- Requisitos para la importación de perros y gatos de Estados Unidos de América, DCA-PG-02-RS-01-IN-007 v09 (SENASA)
- Resolución SENASA-DCA-R0002-2025: uso de microchip para la importación, exportación o tránsito de mascotas (SENASA)
- Conozca los requisitos sanitarios establecidos por SENASA para la importación de perros y gatos (SENASA, 18 December 2025)
- Contrôle à l'exportation des animaux de compagnie (chiens, chats et furets): certificats sanitaires par pays de destination (ONSSA, page modified 2 July 2026)
- Certificat sanitaire pour l'exportation de chats à partir du Maroc vers les États-Unis d'Amérique (modèle E.CHAT.USA.NOV.2020, scanned PDF)
- Décision fixant la liste et les prix des services et prestations rendus aux tiers par l'ONSSA (signed 7 April 2025, scanned PDF)
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 Morocco to Costa Rica?
We couldn't find this in our summary of the rules, but that summary is short and still under review. Ask the official authority before you rely on it.
Do I need an import permit to bring my dog or cat into Costa Rica?
We couldn't find this in our summary of the rules, but that summary is short and still under review. Ask the official authority before you rely on it.
Will my dog or cat be quarantined in Costa Rica?
We couldn't find this in our summary of the rules, but that summary is short and still under review. Ask the official authority before you rely on it.
How early should I start preparing my pet for Morocco to Costa Rica?
There is no official waiting period for a dog, but you still need: ISO microchip (15 digits), declared on the certificate, rabies vaccination (pets over 3 months), valid on the day of entry and dogs: distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and leptospirosis vaccinations and 3 more.
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
Turn this into dates for your pet
Where from, where to, when. You get every step with its deadline and the official page it comes from.