Pets to Costa Rica
There is MUCH confusion in the past couple of weeks on pets going into Costa Rica and worry that there is a new law in place because pets are being sent to the cargo warehouse rather than being cleared through the passenger terminal.
There is not a new law. This is an old law that the government is now enforcing on pets coming in on their own ticket or airway bill. The customs officials at the airport were not aware that Continental pets were not coming in as excess baggage until a very important woman (wife of someone high up in the government)threw her weight around on the 18th of April and flashed her airway bill at the customs officials demanding her pets.
This upset the customs officials and brought to their attention the fact that Continental was allowing pets to come through the passenger terminal with an airway bill when they should go directly to the cargo facility like all other pets arriving as manifest cargo with their own tickets.
Several meetings took place over the following days and the result of these meetings were that for now, only Continental would be affected by this ruling since all of the other airlines were already following this protocol. All pets arriving on Continental as quickpak on their own ticket (airway bill) will go directly to the cargo facility rather than be released in the passenger terminal as previously allowed.
Now you must acquire an import permit prior to arrival in order for your pet to be released when you arrive. This should be applied for at least 4 days prior to your arrival in Costa Rica through a broker so that your pet does not sit in the customs warehouse for many unnecessary hours unattended.
There will be taxes and customs duties charged as well as fees charged now that were never charged before as a result of the pets coming in through the cargo warehouse. The tax rate is 24.30% of the adjusted value. Pets are automatically insured at $50.00 above the amount shown on the AWB. Value is set at $50-$60 above the amount shown on the AWB and the taxes and costs are based on this amount.
You still must have a current rabies under one year and vaccinations (for a cat FVRCP, for a dog DHLPP) current within one year. Tick and tapeworm treatment prior to arrival as well. All of this must be documented on the APHIS 7001 International Health Certificate and it must be endorsed by the USDA within 10 days of arrival in Costa Rica.
I hope this information helps clear up some of the confusion that is out there about what is now necessary to bring your dog or cat into Costa Rica.
Filed under: Uncategorized
I just moved my 50lb dog to Costa Rica on the 21st of March with Continental. She rode in the cargo area and came through the over-sized luggage carousel. I was met by a broker who did not charge me any of the fees that Continental said I would be charged upon arrival. And the only paperwork they required was the International health certificate.
I’m surprised to find this post. I thought I was the only one crazy enough to move my dog to Costa Rica with me
pura vida!
Erin,
Your move was the weekend that the government was trying to decide what to do about the pets coming into the country via Continental. You were met at the airport by a Continental employee NOT a broker and walked through in the manner that pets were handled prior to the new process.
This mandate went into effect on the 25th/26th of March so consider yourself very lucky. Had you come in on Sunday the 28th your dog would have spent a couple of nights in the customs warehouse awaiting an import permit guaranteed.
Do NOT bring a pet into Costa Rica on the weekend as your baby will sit in the customs warehouse unattended until you are able to get an import permit and this process cannot be started until Monday when the MAG opens.
Wow that is incredible, I am lucky.
You know what else is incredible? The amount of misinformation I received from the representatives at Continental. They had to rebook my dog’s flight to Costa Rica 3 times due to errors on their parts in interpreting the pet regulations (Costa Rica’s and Continental’s).
I’m not complaining about it, though – We both got here in one piece
We are flying into san jose from houston this month with a chihuaha that is flying in cabin on continental. we have the paperwork from the states. what do we need upon arrival in san jose, how do we get it and where do we get it? everyone tells you something different.