Pet travel route
Taking a dog or cat from Türkiye → Costa Rica
What the official rules ask for on this route, for a family pet travelling with its owner. Enter your travel date and your pet’s details to turn it into a dated checklist.
How early to start
No fixed wait
if your pet has no microchip or rabies vaccination yet (the least time the official waiting periods allow)
No fixed wait
if it is already microchipped and vaccinated
Counted only from the officially fixed waiting periods. Vet, lab and paperwork appointment times are on top, so start earlier.
Headlines for Costa Rica
- Rabies blood test for some origins
- Import permit for some pets
What your dog needs
Dogs
Identification
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.
Microchip, PETVET registration and pet passport: A pet living in Türkiye must be microchipped, registered in the national pet register (PETVET) and have a Turkish pet passport. A pet that came from abroad keeps its existing microchip number and passport if they meet international standards.
“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.”
“kimliklendirilmiş ve Ev Hayvanı Kayıt Sistemi (PETVET)’nde kayıt altına alınarak”
“düzenlenmişse, mevcut mikroçip numaraları ve pasaportları ile işlemlerine devam eder.”
Vet exam
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.”
Paperwork
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
Veterinary health certificate from the Provincial or District Directorate of Agriculture (within 48 hours of departure): An official vet at the Provincial or District Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry where you live issues the veterinary health certificate, on the model agreed with your destination, no earlier than 48 hours before you leave. Bring the application letter, the pet passport and the lab report if the destination needs one. No dog or cat may leave without it.
“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)”
“erken çıkışa 48 saat kala veteriner sağlık sertifikası düzenlenir.”
“sahip olmayan hiçbir kedi ve köpek yurt dışına çıkarılamaz.”
Treatment
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”
Vaccination
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.”
Vaccination
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.”
On arrival
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.
- Türkiye asks for a rabies antibody (FAVN) test report only when your destination requires one, but the ministry won't issue the certificate without knowing what the destination asks for. Samples are sent to the Etlik institute in Ankara (VKMAEM) at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination; while vaccination continues on schedule, the report stays valid for the pet's life.
- Kangal, Akbaş and Kars shepherd dogs, the Çatal Burun hunting dog, the Zağar İnci dog, the Ankara (Turkish Angora) cat and the Van cat are protected breeds: they need prior permission to leave Türkiye. Whatever the passport says, the official vet checks that your pet isn't one of them.
- The pet's passport must state its breed and colour exactly. If it only says 'mix' for breed or colour, the passport must be corrected (to the closest breed and colour) before the pet can leave.
- A registered dog of a breed Türkiye lists as dangerous may leave with its owner if the destination accepts it, but it will not be allowed back into Türkiye.
- If the pet doesn't travel within 5 days before or after its owner (or someone the owner authorised), or goes by cargo company, Türkiye treats it as a commercial movement with a commercial certificate.
What your cat needs
Cats
Identification
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.
Microchip, PETVET registration and pet passport: A pet living in Türkiye must be microchipped, registered in the national pet register (PETVET) and have a Turkish pet passport. A pet that came from abroad keeps its existing microchip number and passport if they meet international standards.
“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.”
“kimliklendirilmiş ve Ev Hayvanı Kayıt Sistemi (PETVET)’nde kayıt altına alınarak”
“düzenlenmişse, mevcut mikroçip numaraları ve pasaportları ile işlemlerine devam eder.”
Vet exam
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.”
Paperwork
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
Veterinary health certificate from the Provincial or District Directorate of Agriculture (within 48 hours of departure): An official vet at the Provincial or District Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry where you live issues the veterinary health certificate, on the model agreed with your destination, no earlier than 48 hours before you leave. Bring the application letter, the pet passport and the lab report if the destination needs one. No dog or cat may leave without it.
“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)”
“erken çıkışa 48 saat kala veteriner sağlık sertifikası düzenlenir.”
“sahip olmayan hiçbir kedi ve köpek yurt dışına çıkarılamaz.”
Treatment
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”
Vaccination
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.”
Vaccination
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.”
On arrival
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.
- Türkiye asks for a rabies antibody (FAVN) test report only when your destination requires one, but the ministry won't issue the certificate without knowing what the destination asks for. Samples are sent to the Etlik institute in Ankara (VKMAEM) at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination; while vaccination continues on schedule, the report stays valid for the pet's life.
- Kangal, Akbaş and Kars shepherd dogs, the Çatal Burun hunting dog, the Zağar İnci dog, the Ankara (Turkish Angora) cat and the Van cat are protected breeds: they need prior permission to leave Türkiye. Whatever the passport says, the official vet checks that your pet isn't one of them.
- The pet's passport must state its breed and colour exactly. If it only says 'mix' for breed or colour, the passport must be corrected (to the closest breed and colour) before the pet can leave.
- If the pet doesn't travel within 5 days before or after its owner (or someone the owner authorised), or goes by cargo company, Türkiye treats it as a commercial movement with a commercial certificate.
Common questions
Does my dog need a rabies blood test to go from Türkiye to Costa Rica?
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 into Costa Rica?
No. The official rules we have verified for this route don't ask for an import permit.
Will my dog be quarantined in Costa Rica?
Not on the routes we have verified: the official rules list no quarantine for a pet that meets the requirements.
Does my dog need a microchip?
Yes: 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.