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Pet Transport USA to Argentina: The SENASA Process for 2026

Argentina's SENASA (Servicio Nacional de Sanidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria) manages all live animal imports, and the process for a personal pet from the USA involves more steps …

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 strongly …
Rabies vaccinationRequired. Administered at 12 weeks of …
Rabies titre testNot routinely required for dogs and cats …
QuarantineNo quarantine required for dogs and cats …
Import permitArgentina requires a SENASA import …
Health certificateOfficial health certificate in Spanish …
Related routes
Pet Transport Argentina to USA→Pet Transport UK to Argentina→Pet Transport USA to Brazil→
Step by step

The import process, in full

1
Start of planning. Rabies vaccination must be current at travel time.
Confirm microchip is in place and recorded. Ensure rabies vaccination is current and given at least 21 days before travel for primary vaccinations.

Responsible: Your vet

2
Within 15 days of the health certificate examination date.
Arrange parasite treatment (internal and external) within 15 days before the health certificate is issued. Your vet records this on the certificate.

Responsible: Your vet

3
Within 10 days of travel.
Book USDA-accredited vet for health certificate in Spanish or with certified Spanish translation. Confirm the vet can prepare the certificate in SENASA-accepted format.

Responsible: USDA-accredited vet

4
Immediately after vet appointment.
USDA APHIS endorses the certificate. Allow two to five business days.

Responsible: USDA APHIS

5
After USDA endorsement. Allow several business days.
Obtain apostille on the endorsed certificate from the US Secretary of State (federal level). The apostille authenticates the USDA endorsement for Argentine authorities.

Responsible: You or your agent (via US Department of State)

6
Several weeks before travel.
Obtain SENASA import authorisation through the online system before travel.

Responsible: You or your pet transport agent

7
Several weeks before travel.
Book cargo space on American Airlines, LATAM, or Aerolineas Argentinas from your US city to Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE).

Responsible: You

8
Travel day.
Travel to Buenos Aires. SENASA inspects documents on arrival at EZE. Present apostilled certificate, microchip documentation, and SENASA authorisation.

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 strongly recommended and widely required. Must be recorded on the health certificate.
Rabies vaccination
Required. Administered at 12 weeks of age or older, at least 21 days before travel (for 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 USA entering Argentina as personal pets.
Quarantine
No quarantine required for dogs and cats arriving from the USA with correct documentation.
Import permit
Argentina requires a SENASA import authorisation for live animals. This is managed through the SENASA online system. A pet transport agent familiar with SENASA procedures can help obtain this before travel. Source: SENASA, senasa.gob.ar.
Health certificate
Official health certificate in Spanish or with certified Spanish translation, issued by a USDA-accredited vet, endorsed by USDA APHIS, and apostilled. Certificate issued within 10 days of travel.
Export permit
No formal US export permit required for dogs and cats. The apostilled, USDA-endorsed health certificate is the key document.
Health certificate
Health certificate issued by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and endorsed by USDA APHIS within 10 days of travel. Argentina's SENASA requires the certificate to be in Spanish or accompanied by an official Spanish translation. The endorsed certificate must then be apostilled by the US Secretary of State (federal level) to be valid for SENASA. Source: USDA APHIS, aphis.usda.gov/pet-travel/us-argentina.
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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.

American Airlines
American Airlines Cargo operates from US gateways to Buenos Aires Ezeiza Airport (EZE) via Miami (MIA) hub. American is one of the main carriers for the USA-Argentina route and accepts pets as manifested cargo. No cabin pets on international routes. Book cargo space well in advance for summer travel (November to February in the Southern Hemisphere).
Cargo Only
LATAM Airlines
LATAM Cargo connects from Miami and other US cities to Buenos Aires. LATAM has a well-established pet cargo operation in Latin America. Confirm breed eligibility and current policies directly with LATAM Cargo.
Cargo Only
Aerolineas Argentinas
Aerolineas Argentinas operates from New York (JFK) and Miami (MIA) to Buenos Aires (EZE). Aerolineas Cargo accepts pets. As Argentina's flag carrier, Aerolineas has good experience with the customs and SENASA process at EZE.
Cargo Only
Delta Air Lines
Delta Cargo from US hubs to Buenos Aires via connecting Latin American routings. Confirm pet cargo availability and routing before booking.
Cargo Only
Costs

What this route typically costs

USDA-accredited vet health certificate and examination: USD 100 to USD 300
USDA APHIS endorsement fee: USD 38
Certified Spanish translation of health certificate (if required): USD 50 to USD 150
Federal apostille (US Department of State): approximately USD 20 to USD 50
International pet cargo (USA to Buenos Aires): USD 700 to USD 2,200
IATA-compliant crate: USD 80 to USD 350 if needed
Pet transport agent fees (SENASA coordination, apostille management): USD 200 to USD 500
Total typical range: USD 1,190 to USD 3,600

Critical points

The apostille step is the most common point of failure for first-time USA-to-Argentina pet movers. The apostille must be at the federal level (US Department of State), not state level. SENASA will not accept a certificate without a valid federal apostille.

The health certificate must be in Spanish or accompanied by a certified Spanish translation. A certificate in English only 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 certificate records both the vet examination and the parasite treatment.

Argentine summers (November to February) are the busiest period for Buenos Aires arrivals. Cargo space fills early on popular routes from Miami and New York.

The apostille: what it is and why Argentina requires it

An apostille is an international authentication stamp recognised under the Hague Convention. Argentina uses it to verify that foreign official documents, including veterinary health certificates endorsed by USDA APHIS, are genuine. Without the apostille, SENASA has no way to confirm that the USDA stamp on your certificate is authentic.

The important point is that the apostille must be at the federal level, from the US Department of State, not from a state-level authority. USDA endorsement is a federal act, so the authentication must match. The US Department of State’s Office of Authentications handles apostilles for federally issued documents. Processing times vary, so build this into your timeline with at least a week or two of spare time.

Some pet transport agents specialising in South American routes can manage the apostille process on your behalf. Given the tight document chain involved in this route, using an agent who knows SENASA is worth considering.

The Buenos Aires arrival and SENASA inspection

Buenos Aires Ezeiza International Airport (EZE) is the main international gateway, and SENASA inspectors are present at the cargo arrivals facility. On arrival, your pet and all documentation are checked. SENASA confirms the apostilled health certificate, the SENASA import authorisation, the microchip, vaccination records, and the parasite treatment record.

Most pets that arrive with complete, correctly apostilled paperwork clear the SENASA inspection without issue. The inspection is thorough but not usually lengthy. Pets do not go to quarantine if documents are in order.

American Airlines from Miami, Aerolineas Argentinas from New York and Miami, and LATAM from Miami are the three main carriers for the USA-Argentina pet cargo route. The Miami hub is the most practical gateway for most US cities given the strong Latin American connections there.

FAQ

Common questions

Argentina, as a signatory of the Hague Convention, uses apostilles to authenticate foreign government documents. The USDA-endorsed health certificate is a US government document, and the apostille confirms its validity for Argentine authorities. SENASA will not accept the certificate without a federal apostille from the US Department of State. Source: SENASA, senasa.gob.ar.
Yes. SENASA requires the health certificate to be in Spanish or accompanied by a certified Spanish translation. A USDA-endorsed certificate in English alone will not be accepted. Some USDA-accredited vets who work with the Argentina route can prepare bilingual certificates. Otherwise, arrange a certified translation alongside the endorsement and apostille process.
No. Argentina does not impose routine quarantine on dogs and cats from the USA, provided all documentation is in order. The SENASA inspection on arrival is a document and health check, not the start of a quarantine period. Pets with correct paperwork are released to their owners after the inspection.
SENASA requires a prior import authorisation for live animals entering Argentina. This is applied for through the SENASA online system at senasa.gob.ar before travel. A pet transport agent familiar with SENASA procedures can apply on your behalf. Obtain the authorisation before booking your pet’s cargo space.
Allow four to six weeks from starting the process. The main time elements are: ensuring vaccinations are current, getting the health certificate done within 10 days of travel, obtaining the USDA endorsement (two to five business days), the federal apostille (several business days to two weeks), and the SENASA import authorisation. Starting early leaves room to resolve any issues.
American Airlines Cargo via Miami, Aerolineas Argentinas from JFK and Miami, and LATAM Cargo from Miami are the main options. Miami (MIA) is the dominant hub for South American pet cargo from the USA. Book cargo space several weeks in advance, particularly for the November-to-February South American summer season.
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