Bringing your dog into South America

Are you in the beginning stages of planning a move to South America? Or, are you planning on taking an extended trip there? I have recently been seeing many people who are choosing the expat life, many more who are deciding to take months-long vacations to South America, and I have also seen a substantial number of people choosing to retire there. If any of these describe you and your plans for South America travel, you may be curious and ready to learn what the rules and regulations are when it comes to bringing your dog into South America.

As a pet owner, moving is hard. This is true no matter where you are moving. Moving to a new city or a new state when you have a pet means that you have more work cut out for you. Moving to a new country or continent means that the work is amplified tremendously. When you have pets that you love though, this is well worth it.

When you are planning a move, it is imperative to know the steps that you need to take before you depart on your new journey. One thing that I do know is that moving to a new country with a pet can be a process, so I am happy that you are looking this up now, before you are down to the wire. You are saving yourself a lot of stress and unnecessary complications by being ready in advance.

If you are ready to start your new journey with your canine kids, here are the steps you need to take before bringing a dog into South America.

Should you bring your dog into South America?

Okay, I feel that it would be irresponsible of me to not to at least bring up that many people recommend not bringing a pet with you to South America. The following concerns are some of the reasons why people make this recommendation:

Countries in South America often have higher incidence of rabies, tick-borne diseases, distemper, as well as tropical diseases. Yes, I know that you will certainly have your dog up to date on all of their shots and vaccinations, but there are no guarantees.
Your lodging may not allow it. Many hostels, hotels, and rental homes don’t allow dogs.
Finally, there are countless close-to-feral dogs on the streets in South America. These dogs tend to leave humans alone, but many of these dogs aren’t too friendly with other animals. If your plans don’t include many walks along the streets and neighborhoods, this likely won’t be a problem, but it is definitely something to consider. Dog fights are not an uncommon occurrence on the streets of South America.

The most important things to do before bringing your dog to South America

Now that we have gotten some of the risks and “why nots” out of the way, let’s talk about the most important things for you to do once you reach the decision to bring your dog with you on your travels to South America.

Make reservations for your dog

As soon as you make the decision to take your dog to South America with you, be sure to call the airline and make reservations for your dog. This is required whether you are planning to send your dog in the luggage area or if they will be in the cabin with you. Airlines have a limited number of animals that they allow on each flight so you want to be sure that your dog gets one of those spots.

Make sure that your dog is in good health

This is true for any country you plan to visit or move to, but it is imperative that you first make sure that your dog is in good health. To confirm their good health status, you need to take your dog to a licensed veterinarian for a full check up. For most countries, this checkup needs to be done within 10 days of your departure.

Be prepared with the proper documentation and requirements for your destination

Send an International Health Certificate to your closest veterinarian services office to be endorsed. You will probably need to make sure you have a Spanish version as well. Having this form filled out and on hand will make your travel and arrival much easier. Additionally, while not required everywhere, it’s good to have a copy of veterinarian/health records on hand (and translated into Spanish) as well in case any questions should arise.

Make sure your dog is up to date on their rabies shot

This kind of goes along with your dog being in good health, however, I think it deserves it’s own mention. It is imperative to be sure that your dog is up to date on their rabies vaccination. Different countries have different risks of rabies and it’s best to be proactive with your own pet.

Know the rules for your method of travel

How are you planning to get to there? Will you be visiting other countries in South America? Many countries have different requirements for bringing a dog across (and back across) the borders depending on your mode of transportation.

Give your pup a bath

It’s always a good idea to give your dog a bath before and after your trip. A freshly washed dog is less likely to bring attention and very few countries will allow your dog to enter with excess dirt or debris in their fur.

Get your dog microchipped

It is recommended that you microchip your dog and register your contact information prior to traveling as a means of identification should your dog get separated from you.

What websites should you check before bringing your dog into South America?

It’s imperative to continually monitor the requirements of your destination country on the APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) website. This is the best resource to keep track of any current, new, or changing requirements for bringing your dog with you into any of the countries in South America. It’s good to visit the main website initially for any overall rules that may come up from your current location. However, the following links will take you to the specific requirements for pet travel for your destination within South America.

Please note that this information is specific to travel to South America from the United States. In general, the requirements should be similar for other countries of origin, or at least a good starting point.

Argentina

You will not need to quarantine your dog. You must vaccinate your dog for rabies not less than 21 days and not more than 36 months prior to arrival. If your dog is originating from a country that is considered as rabies free by the Organization of Animal Health, vaccination is not necessary to enter; however, you will need to get the vaccination within five days of entry.

You do not need an import permit to bring your dog into Argentina. However, within 10 days of arrival, you must get a Veterinary Health Certificate (in both English and in Spanish). The certificate must be endorsed by your State USDA office if your pet is traveling from the United States or by your local CFIA office if your pet is traveling from Canada. If you are traveling from another country, you will only need an endorsement if your country mandates it. You will need to present the original health certificate to veterinary officials when custom clearing your pet.

Argentina will accept EU pet passports from EU countries, Switzerland, and Norway. The passport should be in Spanish or a national public translator will be assigned at customs clearance.

You must treat your dog against internal and external parasites within 15 days of arrival.

Pets can enter the Argentina via Ministro Pistarini International Airport in Buenos Aires. All domestic dogs must be disease free when examined at the entry airport. Your airline must notify the station manager at the point of entry, at least 24 hours prior to arrival, giving notice of pets on board in order to ensure the attendance of the veterinary surgeon at the arrival airport. You may have to pay a customs fee.

Puppies under the age of three months can enter without a rabies vaccination certificate. They must have a health certificate and the issuing veterinarian must state that the puppy originates from an area where rabies has not occurred in the past 90 days.

Bolivia

You must obtain a health certificate issued by an accredited veterinarian within 3 months of arrival. The certificate must include the complete identification of the animal, including breed, sex, and age; owner’s name and address; address at destination; and date of rabies vaccination. The certificate needs to be endorsed by veterinary services and must be legalized at a Bolivian Consulate for a fee.

Brazil

You must obtain a health certificate issued by an accredited veterinarian before bringing your dog into Brazil. The health certificate is valid for 60 days from the day of issues and it must be valid at the time of arrival.

Chile

You must obtain a health certificate issued by an accredited veterinarian and endorsed by USDA-APHIS before bringing your dog into Chile. Upon arrival, your dog may have to be quarantined for at least 30 days.

Colombia

You must obtain a health certificate issued by an accredited veterinarian and endorsed by USDA APHIS Veterinary Services within 10 days of travelling to Colombia. You will also need to bring a rabies vaccination certificate. Your pet must travel with at least one photocopy of the original health certificate.

Ecuador

You must obtain a health certificate issued by an accredited veterinarian within 10 days of going to Ecuador. It must state that your is healthy with no symptoms of infectious diseases and without visible external parasites (mites, ticks, fleas) also should include race, sex, color, and age of your dog. The health certificate will need to be typed and in Spanish.

Your dog needs to get their vaccinations at least 21 days prior to arrival. You will need to show proof of vaccinations of the following diseases: distemper, canine hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, parainfluenza, and rabies (for dogs older than 3 months). The vaccination certificate should include the date of immunization, type, and brand of the product used.

If you bring your dog on the airplane with you, you will be able to pick up your dog in the international arrival area. You will need to present the Animal Health Export Certificate issued by an accredited veterinarian of the country of origin. You will need to contact the Ecuadorian Agency of Quality Assurance in Agriculture “AGROCALIDAD” staff working in the port of entry, 72 hours in advance of your arrival time. This is so that they can carry out a clinical inspection of your dog.

French Guiana

An APHIS-endorsed international health certificate is not a requirement. However, dogs must have a valid rabies vaccination certificate from a licensed veterinarian. The rabies vaccination must be given either within 30 days of travel for dogs that did not have a lapse in their rabies vaccine coverage; more than 30 days before travel for dogs that had a lapse between rabies booster vaccinations; or more than 30 days before travel for dogs vaccinated for the first time prior to travel.

You can only bring a maximum of three pets with you. Of the three animals, only one can be a puppy or kitten under 6 months of age.

Guyana

No specific requirements are on the APHIS website. You will, however, need to get a health certificate from an accredited veterinarian. The certificate must include the complete identification of the animal, including breed, sex, and age; owner’s name and address; address at destination; and date of rabies vaccination. Contact the consulate for specific instructions to be absolutely clear as to what you will need to provide.

Paraguay

Peru

You must obtain an international health certificate issued by an accredited veterinarian within 30 days of arrival. The certificate must include the complete identification of the animal, including breed, sex, and age; owner’s name and address; address at destination; and date of rabies vaccination. You will need to get this certificate from a USDA-approved federal veterinarian.

Suriname

No specific requirements are on the APHIS website. You will, however, need to get a health certificate from an accredited veterinarian. The certificate must include the complete identification of the animal, including breed, sex, and age; owner’s name and address; address at destination; and date and type of rabies vaccination. Contact the consulate for specific instructions to be absolutely clear as to what you will need to provide.

Uruguay

You must get an APHIS-endorsed health certificate from a USDA-accredited veterinarian within 10 days of arrival.

A rabies vaccination certificate is a must. For dogs over three months of age, this vaccine has to given at least 30 days before arrival.

You have to show that your dog is negative for Leishmania. Within 15 days prior to obtaining the health certificate, your dog has to take a broad spectrum parasitic. You must treat your dog for Echinococcus granulosus at least 72 hours and no more than 30 days prior to arrival.

Venezuela

You must get a health certificate from a USDA-accredited veterinarian within two weeks of arrival. Your dog must show proof of vaccination for rabies, unless they are a dog is under four months old. Your dog also has to so proof of vaccination against distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, and parainfluenza.

Budget extra money

Here’s the thing. In other countries, things happen, rules and regulations change and you just simply never know what might happen. For this reason I recommend budgeting extra money for anything that may come up. Just like with everything else, it’s always good to prepare for all emergencies.

Hope this helps makes planning for bringing your dog into South America a little easier. Have fun and safe travels with your pup. And if you are driving around in the car, have a read of our tips on taking a road trip with your dog.

Here’s a handy downloadable bringing your dog to South America checklist: