Bringing a dog or cat into Argentina

How early to start

The least time the officially fixed waiting periods allow, by where your dog is coming from. Vet, lab and paperwork appointment times come on top.

Every requirement

For every pet

1. Paperwork

   International Veterinary Certificate (CVI) or legalised passport

   Your pet needs a CVI issued, signed and stamped by the veterinary authority of the country it comes from (one of its languages must be Spanish), or a valid official passport carrying the same health information, endorsed by the veterinary authority before boarding (English is accepted as the only alternative language besides Spanish). It is valid for 60 calendar days from issue, as long as the rabies vaccination is still valid on the day your pet enters.

   Details and the official words

   “deben contar con el Certificado Veterinario Internacional (CVI) o con Pasaporte oficial legalizado”

   “Uno de los idiomas del CVI debe ser el español.”

   “El CVI o el Pasaporte oficial legalizado son válidos por 60 (sesenta) días corridos desde su emisión o legalización para ingresar a la Argentina con su perro o gato, siempre que la vacuna antirrábica se encuentre vigente el día del ingreso.”

2. Vet exam

   Health certificate from an authorised vet

   A vet authorised in the country of origin certifies that your pet is clinically healthy, shows no signs of parasites and is fit to travel. It is issued within the 10 days before the date the CVI is issued.

   Details and the official words

   “Emitido dentro de los 10 (diez) días previos a la fecha de emisión del CVI por un veterinario autorizado en el país de origen”

3. Treatment

   Internal and external parasite treatment

   A treatment against internal and external parasites, with a product approved by the authority of the country of origin, within the 15 days before the CVI is issued (or before the passport is endorsed).

   Details and the official words

   “Tratamiento contra parásitos internos y externos dentro de los 15 (quince) días previos a la fecha de emisión del CVI o a la intervención del pasaporte”

Depends on your pet or your route

1. Vaccination

   Rabies vaccination

   Applies when: your pet is 3 months old or older on arrival, or you don’t know your pet’s birth date

   Dogs and cats must be vaccinated against rabies with a vaccine authorised by the authority of the country of origin and with immunity still valid according to the vaccine maker's validity period. If it is the first vaccination, it must have been given at least 21 days before entering Argentina.

   Details and the official words

   The 21-day wait only applies to a first vaccination; the plan shows it for every vaccine date, so a pet with an in-date booster can ignore it.

   The original vaccination record must not be kept by the authorities: it stays with the owner.

   “Cuando se trate de animales vacunados por primera vez, la vacuna debe haber sido aplicada al menos 21 (veintiún) días previos al ingreso a la República Argentina.”

2. Vaccination

   Under 3 months old: no rabies vaccine, with conditions

   Applies when: you know your pet’s birth date and your pet is under 3 months old on arrival

   If your pet is younger than 3 months, the veterinary authority must certify its age and that it has not been on any property where a case of urban rabies occurred in the 90 days before it travels.

   Details and the official words

   “Si el perro o gato es menor de 3 (tres) meses, la autoridad veterinaria deberá certificar la edad del animal y que el mismo no ha estado en ninguna propiedad donde ha ocurrido algún caso de rabia urbana en los últimos 90 (noventa) días previos a su embarque.”

When this route doesn’t work

• Not covered by us yet · The pet is being sold, adopted or rehomed, or someone else brings the pet (you are not travelling with it)

  Pets that arrive as cargo (including pets sent without their owner) and commercial imports have extra steps, such as a prior notice to the border post and a permit fee. We cover pets travelling with their owners as accompanied baggage.

Good to know

• SENASA's page cites MERCOSUR Resolution GMC 17/15 for the health requirements. Brazil has since adopted a newer MERCOSUR text (GMC 20/24), so Argentina's page may be updated: check it before you travel.
• A pet from a country or zone declared rabies-free by WOAH may enter if the issuing vet authority states this on the CVI or passport. We ask for the vaccination from every pet aged 3 months or older, the safe side.
• To take your pet back to the country it came from you need a new CVI from SENASA, unless the CVI it entered with expressly says it is valid for the return, gives a maximum period and is still valid.
• A pet that arrives without meeting the requirements can be subjected to the health measures SENASA considers appropriate, which can include delays or re-export, and the owner pays the costs.
• For a pet travelling with its owner as accompanied baggage, no prior import application to SENASA, no notice to the border post and no SENASA entry permit are needed. SENASA staff check the documents, the animal and its identity on arrival, at no charge.