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Pet Transport UK to Argentina: The SENASA Process and FCDO Apostille for 2026

Argentina's SENASA (Servicio Nacional de Sanidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria) manages live animal imports, and the UK-to-Argentina route requires more preparation than a standard EU …

4-6 wks
Preparation needed
None
Quarantine on arrival
Medium
Route complexity
Managed
Full door to door
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What's required
MicrochipISO 11784/11785 microchip required and …
Rabies vaccinationRequired. Administered at 12 weeks of …
Rabies titre testNot routinely required for dogs and cats …
QuarantineNo quarantine required for dogs and cats …
Import permitSENASA import authorisation required …
Health certificateAHC issued by APHA-authorised official …
Related routes
Pet Transport Argentina to UK→Pet Transport UK to Brazil→Pet Transport USA to Argentina→
Step by step

The import process, in full

1
Start of planning.
Confirm microchip is ISO-compliant and recorded on all vaccination documents.

Responsible: Your vet

2
Several weeks before travel.
Ensure rabies vaccination is current and was given at least 21 days before travel for primary courses.

Responsible: Your vet

3
Several weeks before travel.
Apply for SENASA import authorisation through the online system at senasa.gob.ar. A pet transport agent can manage this process.

Responsible: You or your agent

4
Within 15 days of the health certificate examination.
Arrange parasite treatment (internal and external) within 15 days before the health certificate issue date. Your vet records this on the AHC.

Responsible: Your vet

5
Within 10 days of travel.
Book APHA-authorised official vet to issue the AHC in Spanish or with certified Spanish translation.

Responsible: APHA-authorised official vet

6
Immediately after AHC is issued.
Obtain FCDO apostille on the AHC to authenticate it for SENASA. Allow several business days.

Responsible: You or your agent (via FCDO)

7
Several weeks before travel.
Book cargo space with British Airways or Iberia from Heathrow to Buenos Aires Ezeiza.

Responsible: You

8
Travel day.
Travel to Buenos Aires. SENASA inspectors check the apostilled AHC, import authorisation, and microchip at EZE.

Responsible: You and airline

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 and must be recorded on the health certificate. Source: SENASA, senasa.gob.ar.
Rabies vaccination
Required. Administered at 12 weeks of age or older, at least 21 days before travel for a primary vaccination. Must be current and within the manufacturer's validity period. Source: SENASA, senasa.gob.ar.
Rabies titre test
Not routinely required for dogs and cats from the UK entering Argentina as personal pets.
Quarantine
No quarantine required for dogs and cats from the UK with correct documentation.
Import permit
SENASA import authorisation required before travel. Apply through the SENASA online system at senasa.gob.ar. A pet transport agent familiar with SENASA can assist. Source: SENASA, senasa.gob.ar.
Health certificate
AHC issued by APHA-authorised official vet, apostilled by the FCDO, in Spanish or with certified Spanish translation. Issued within 10 days of travel.
Export permit
No formal UK export permit required. The apostilled AHC is the key document.
Health certificate
Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issued by an APHA-authorised official veterinarian. For Argentina, the AHC must then be apostilled by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to authenticate it for SENASA. The certificate must be in Spanish or accompanied by a certified Spanish translation. Source: APHA, UK government pet travel pages.
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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.

British Airways
British Airways operates from London Heathrow (LHR) to Buenos Aires Ezeiza International Airport (EZE). BA Cargo accepts pets as manifested cargo on the LHR-EZE route. This is the most direct UK-to-Buenos Aires pet cargo routing. Book well in advance, particularly for the November-to-February Southern Hemisphere summer.
Cargo Only
Iberia
Via Madrid Barajas (MAD) to Buenos Aires (EZE). Iberia Cargo accepts pets. The MAD connection is short and Madrid is a well-organised transit hub for South American routes.
Cargo Only
Air France-KLM Cargo
Via Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) or Amsterdam (AMS) to Buenos Aires. Air France-KLM Cargo has a South American network and accepts pets as cargo. Confirm availability and routing before booking.
Cargo Only
LATAM Airlines
Connections via Latin American hubs to Buenos Aires. LATAM Cargo has an established operation for the South American market. Confirm routing from UK gateways and cargo acceptance before booking.
Cargo Only
Costs

What this route typically costs

AHC from APHA-authorised official vet: GBP 150 to GBP 400
Certified Spanish translation of AHC (if required): GBP 50 to GBP 150
FCDO apostille: approximately GBP 30 to GBP 60
Pet transport agent fees (SENASA coordination, apostille): GBP 200 to GBP 500
International pet cargo (London to Buenos Aires): GBP 700 to GBP 2,000
IATA-compliant travel crate: GBP 60 to GBP 250 if needed
Total typical range: GBP 1,190 to GBP 3,360

Critical points

The apostille is the most common point of failure on this route. The FCDO apostille authenticates the AHC for Argentine authorities. Without it, SENASA will not accept the certificate. Ensure the apostille is obtained after the AHC is issued and before travel.

The AHC must be in Spanish or accompanied by a certified Spanish translation. An English-only certificate will not be accepted by SENASA.

Parasite treatment must be done within 15 days of the health certificate issue date, not 15 days before travel. The AHC records both the vet examination and the parasite treatment, so the treatment must fall within this window.

Argentine summers (November to February in the Southern Hemisphere) are the busiest period for Buenos Aires arrivals. Cargo space fills early on routes from London and Madrid. Book well in advance for this travel window.

The FCDO apostille: what it is and why SENASA requires it

An apostille is an international authentication used under the Hague Convention. Argentina uses it to confirm that foreign official documents are genuine. The AHC, issued by an APHA-authorised official vet, is a UK government document, and SENASA needs the apostille to confirm it is authentic.

The apostille for a UK-issued AHC is obtained from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Processing can be done by post or through a registered agent, and turnaround times vary. Allow at least a few days to a week when planning the timeline.

One agent who knows both the APHA system and the FCDO apostille process can handle the whole document chain. For a first-time UK-to-Argentina pet move, this is worth considering. The consequences of a missing or incorrect apostille are significant: the pet may be held at EZE pending resolution.

SENASA inspection and Buenos Aires arrival

Buenos Aires Ezeiza International Airport (EZE) is Argentina’s main international gateway, and SENASA inspectors are present at the cargo arrivals facility. On arrival, the apostilled AHC, SENASA import authorisation, microchip, vaccination records, and parasite treatment record are all checked.

For pets with complete and correctly apostilled documentation, the SENASA inspection is a review process rather than a detention. Pets do not go to quarantine if papers are in order.

British Airways from Heathrow is the most direct UK-to-Buenos Aires cargo option. Iberia via Madrid is the main European hub alternative, with a short transit at Madrid Barajas before the long Atlantic crossing to EZE.

FAQ

Common questions

Argentina is a signatory of the Hague Convention and uses apostilles to authenticate foreign government documents. The AHC is a UK government document, and the FCDO apostille confirms its validity for Argentine SENASA. Without the apostille, SENASA cannot verify the certificate is genuine and will not accept it. Source: SENASA, senasa.gob.ar.
Yes. SENASA requires the AHC to be in Spanish or accompanied by a certified Spanish translation. An English-only AHC is not accepted. Some vets who work with the Argentina route can issue bilingual certificates; otherwise, arrange a certified translation as part of the document preparation process.
Yes. A SENASA import authorisation for live animals must be obtained before travel through the SENASA online system at senasa.gob.ar. This is separate from the apostilled AHC. A pet transport agent familiar with SENASA procedures can apply on your behalf.
No routine quarantine for dogs and cats from the UK, provided all documentation is in order. The SENASA inspection at EZE is a document and health check, not the start of a quarantine period. Pets with complete, apostilled paperwork and a valid import authorisation are released after the inspection.
Dogs and cats must receive treatment for internal and external parasites within 15 days before the date the health certificate is issued. The treatment is administered by your vet and recorded on the AHC. Note that the 15-day window is from the certificate issue date, not from the travel date.
British Airways from Heathrow to Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) is the most direct UK option. Iberia via Madrid is a practical alternative. Air France-KLM via Paris or Amsterdam and LATAM connections are further options. All carry pets as manifested cargo only. Book well in advance for November-to-February travel.
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