The authorities allow transit to the take off area on the same day with a confirmed subsequent booking

IMPORT/EXPORT REQUIREMENTS FOR CATS AND DOGS TO COSTA RICA:

1) Costa Rica does not require your pet to be identified using a pet microchip, but it is recommended that you make your pet's microchip and register your contact information before traveling as a means of identification if your pet is lost or separated from you.

If your pet doesn't have a registered microchip, make sure that your pets wear identification tags and have the owner's contact information.

2) All dogs and cats who are entering Costa Rica must have a valid rabies vaccination. Your pet should be vaccinated against rabies no later than 30 days before the trip.

Dogs should also be vaccinated against plague, hepatitis, leptospirosis, and parvovirus.

Cats should be vaccinated against viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, panleukopenia, and feline leukemia.

3) A blood antibody titer test is not required to enter Costa Rica from any country.

4) Within 14 days from entry, a licensed veterinarian must complete a veterinary certificate for Costa Rica. You also need either a bilingual certificate (Spanish is one of the languages) or an alternative copy translated into Spanish. The certificate must be confirmed by the Department of Agriculture Office of USA if your pet is traveling from the United States, and the local CFIA office if your pet is traveling from Canada. If you are traveling from another country, the government agency responsible for importing and exporting animals must confirm the health certificate.

Please note that all requirements must be met, otherwise your pet will be returned to its original destination or euthanized.

5) Up to five pets can be brought into Costa Rica without an import permit.

An import permit is required if your pet enters Costa Rica unaccompanied or for commercial reasons (breeding, competition, or resale). A permission will also be required if you aren’t flying to Costa Rica on the same flight as your pet. Your pet may be detained for 24 hours for additional inspection and paperwork.

A customs broker in Costa Rica must obtain an import permit if your pet enters Costa Rica as manifest (air) shipment or other types of service where an air waybill is

involved, regardless of whether you are traveling with your pet

6) Before your dog or cat can enter Costa Rica, it must be treated for internal and external parasites within 15 days of entering the country.

7) Entry to Costa Rica by airplane

Pets must enter Costa Rica via Juan Santamaria airport in Alajuela, located in the Central Valley region north of San Jose, or via Daniel Oduber airport (LIR) in Liberia.

All domestic dogs and cats shouldn’t show signs of human-transmitted diseases when checked at the airport of entry. If your dog or cat is not in good health, you may need an additional checkup with a licensed veterinarian at your expense.

You will need to have a personal letter which is indicated the market value of your pet or a document which is confirmed this, such as an invoice. Or you can provide this information in your veterinary certificate.

8) Import puppies or kittens from Costa Rica

Puppies and kittens under 3 months of age can enter Costa Rica with a health certificate confirmed by the state body responsible for importing and exporting animals.

9) Costa Rica doesn’t publish a list of prohibited breeds.

10) Dogs and cats who are leaving Costa Rica whose health and rabies certificates used to enter Costa Rica are still valid for return don’t require additional documents. They must have the necessary documents to return to their destination country. For example, the United States will accept medical certificates dated within 30 days of entering the country, so export medical certificates are not required in this case.

Dogs and cats who are leaving Costa Rica whose health or rabies certificates have expired will need to visit a veterinarian to obtain an export permit issued by the Costa Rican Ministry of Agriculture. Authorization is valid for 30 days and a commission fee is charged. Its processing will take several business days.

Dogs and cats will also need to be treated for internal and external parasites within 10 days of removal.

Dogs will need to be vaccinated against DHLP and cats against FVRCP in the last 12 months prior to export.

• up to 50 cigars or 400 pieces of cigarettes or 500 g of tobacco;
• shoes, clothes and perfumes for personal use.

The primary emergency number in Costa Rica is 911. This number covers the following emergency facilities:

• Red Cross

• Firefighters

• National Emergency Management Commission

• National intoxication Center

• Civil Guard

• Police patrols

• Transport Police

• Bureau of judicial investigation (Organismo de Investigación Judicial-OIJ)

Alternative 911 service numbers are available; the following numbers can be used directly to contact the following agencies:

• Police (Fuerza Pública) – phone number: 1117

• Firefighters (Bomberos) 1 - phone number: 1118

• Red Cross (Cruz Roja) - phone number: 1128 / 2221 5818

Costa Rica's embassies around the world can be found here: https://www.embassy-worldwide.com/country/costa-rica/