Pet Transport Costa Rica to UK: Titre Test, SENASA Permit and 2026 Requirements

Costa Rica is classified as unlisted under UK pet travel rules, which means the FAVN titre test applies in addition to standard documentation. Plan for four to five months. The …

16-20 wks

Preparation needed

None

Quarantine on arrival

Medium

Route complexity

Managed

Full door to door

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Step by step

The import process, in full

4-5 months before travel.

Confirm ISO microchip is implanted and predates the rabies vaccination record.

Responsible: Your vet

4-5 months before travel.

Primary rabies vaccination confirmed current. Note the date for titre test scheduling.

Responsible: Your vet

4 months before travel.

FAVN titre blood draw at least 30 days after primary vaccination. Submit to APHA-approved laboratory. 90-day wait begins from blood draw date if test passes.

Responsible: Your vet and APHA-approved laboratory

6-8 weeks before travel.

Apply for SENASA Costa Rica export permit via online portal, at least 2 weeks before travel.

Responsible: You or your agent

6-8 weeks before travel.

Book cargo from San Jose (SJO) to London via Madrid or US connection. Confirm live animal acceptance throughout the route.

Responsible: You or cargo agent

1-5 days before UK arrival.

Tapeworm treatment (dogs): 24 to 120 hours before UK arrival. Vet-administered and recorded.

Responsible: Your Costa Rican vet

Within 10 days of travel.

Obtain SENASA-CR-endorsed health certificate within 10 days of travel.

Responsible: SENASA-CR-registered official vet

Checklist

What your pet needs

Every item below must be completed and verified before your pet can travel. Expand each category for the detail.

Microchip

ISO 11784/11785 microchip required. Must predate the primary rabies vaccination. Source: GOV.UK.

Rabies vaccination

Current rabies vaccination required. At least 30 days between primary vaccination and titre blood draw. Source: GOV.UK.

Rabies titre test

Required. Costa Rica is unlisted under UK pet travel rules. FAVN titre test at an APHA-approved laboratory, blood drawn at least 30 days after primary vaccination, result 0.5 IU/ml or above. 90-day waiting period from date of successful blood draw before travel. Source: GOV.UK, 2026.

Quarantine

No routine quarantine for compliant pets. Penalty quarantine up to 4 months for non-compliance. Source: GOV.UK.

Health certificate

AHC from SENASA-CR-registered official vet, issued within 10 days of travel. Covers microchip, vaccination, titre test, and tapeworm treatment for dogs.

Export permit

SENASA Costa Rica export permit required for live animals. Apply via SENASA portal at least 2 weeks before travel.

Health certificate

Official Veterinary Health Certificate issued by a SENASA-registered official veterinarian (Servicio Nacional de Salud Animal, Costa Rica) and endorsed by SENASA-CR. For UK entry this functions as the Animal Health Certificate. Issued within 10 days of travel.

We handle the regulations for every animal, every country, every airline, so nothing on your Costa Rica to United Kingdom move gets missed.

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Airlines

Carriers on this route

Not all airlines accept live animals on this route. We know every carrier policy for this corridor.

Iberia

Iberia operates from San Jose Juan Santamaria International (SJO) via Madrid Barajas (MAD) to London Heathrow. Iberia Cargo accepts pets on this corridor. The Madrid transit is short relative to the full journey from Central America.

Cargo Only

British Airways

British Airways does not operate a direct SJO-LHR route but connects via US gateways on partner carriers. BA World Cargo accepts the final leg into Heathrow. Confirm routing with a specialist cargo agent.

Cargo Only

American Airlines

American Airlines operates SJO to Miami (MIA), New York (JFK), and other US gateways. Onward cargo to the UK can be arranged via partner carriers. American handles a large volume of Costa Rica cargo due to the established US connection.

Cargo Only

United Airlines

United operates SJO to Houston (IAH) and Newark (EWR). Onward cargo connections to London Heathrow are available. Confirm live animal acceptance and UK routing before booking.

Cargo Only

Costs

What this route typically costs

FAVN titre test: USD 150-350

SENASA CR permit: minimal fee

Official vet health certificate: USD 80-200

Tapeworm treatment (dogs): USD 20-50

IATA crate: GBP 60-250 if needed

Pet cargo San Jose to London: GBP 1,000-2,500

Agent fees: GBP 200-500

Total typical range: GBP 1,500-3,600

Critical points

Costa Rica is unlisted for UK pet travel. The titre test and 90-day wait are mandatory. A four to five month minimum timeline from microchip to departure is realistic.

There are no direct cargo flights from San Jose to London. All routings connect via Madrid (Iberia) or via US gateways. Ensure the connecting carrier accepts live animals and that the full route is coordinated before booking.

Costa Rica bans Pit Bull Terriers and Rottweilers from some municipalities. The UK additionally restricts Pit Bull Terrier type dogs, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila Brasileiro. Verify your dog's type before starting.

SENASA CR's online portal handles the export permit application. The process is relatively straightforward, but allow at least two weeks for permit issuance and do not leave it to the last few days.

SENASA Costa Rica: what it covers and what you apply for

SENASA (Servicio Nacional de Salud Animal) is Costa Rica’s animal health authority. It handles the export permit for live animals leaving Costa Rica and endorses the official health certificate issued by your vet. Both are required for UK entry.

The permit application goes through the SENASA online portal and takes at least two weeks to process. Apply before you finalize the cargo booking, as having the permit in hand early allows you to coordinate the certificate timing with the cargo departure. The health certificate itself is issued within 10 days of travel by your SENASA-registered official vet.

Because SENASA operates online, the permit process is accessible and not particularly complex. The titre test requirement from the UK end is the more demanding constraint, and the SENASA process is organised around it once the 90-day wait has cleared.

Routing from San Jose to London

Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) is well connected to both European and US hubs. Iberia via Madrid is the most common routing for Central America to UK pet cargo, with a single European transit and a direct onward connection to Heathrow. American Airlines and United offer San Jose to US East Coast routings that can connect onward to London via partner carriers.

The cargo transit through a US airport introduces additional considerations: US customs clearance for transit, carrier-to-carrier handover, and live animal welfare during connection. Madrid is generally considered the cleaner transit option for pets because it avoids US customs procedures and keeps the connection within one carrier network.

FAQ

Common questions

No direct cargo routes operate between San Jose (SJO) and London. The two main options are via Madrid on Iberia, or via a US gateway (Miami, New York, or Houston) with an onward connection to London. The Madrid routing involves a single transit within the Iberia network and is generally the simpler option for live animal cargo.

The UK requires the titre test because Costa Rica is unlisted under UK pet travel rules, not because of Costa Rican requirements. The FAVN titre test (blood drawn at an APHA-approved lab, minimum result 0.5 IU/ml) and a 90-day waiting period are the UK’s conditions for accepting pets from unlisted countries. Source: GOV.UK, 2026.

16 to 20 weeks minimum. Microchip first, then vaccination, then 30-day wait before blood draw, then titre test (lab result takes 1-3 weeks), then 90-day wait. Add 4-8 weeks for SENASA permit, cargo booking, and the final health certificate. Starting 5 months before your intended travel date is advisable.

A SENASA-registered official veterinarian in Costa Rica issues and signs the health certificate. It must then be endorsed by SENASA (Servicio Nacional de Salud Animal) to be valid for UK border inspection. The certificate is issued within 10 days of travel and covers all required elements: microchip, vaccination, titre test, and tapeworm treatment for dogs.

No routine quarantine for dogs and cats from Costa Rica arriving with correct documentation. Penalty quarantine of up to 4 months is imposed if documentation is incomplete, the titre test is invalid, or an unapproved route is used. Source: GOV.UK.

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Pet Transport Costa Rica to UK: Titre Test, SENASA Permit and 2026 Requirements

The import process, in full

What your pet needs

Carriers on this route

What this route typically costs

Critical points

SENASA Costa Rica: what it covers and what you apply for

Routing from San Jose to London

Common questions

Move your pet

Airline guides

Breed guides

Get a free pet transport quote