Pet Transport USA to Costa Rica: Direct Flights and SENASA Declaration in 2026
Moving a dog or cat from the USA to Costa Rica is among the more accessible international pet moves. Direct flights from Miami, Houston, Atlanta, and other US cities connect to San Jose, and American, …
Get your free quoteThe United States to Costa Rica import process
Responsible: Your US vet
Responsible: Your US vet
Responsible: You
Responsible: USDA-accredited vet and USDA APHIS
Costa Rica entry requirements
Every item below must be in place before your pet can enter. We verify and track each one.
Export requirements
What this route typically costs
Critical points
The SENASA online declaration must be completed before travel. This is Costa Rica's import clearance.
San Jose Juan Santamaria (SJO) is the main international cargo airport. Route your pet to SJO, not other Costa Rican airports.
The USA to Costa Rica pet move is one of the shorter international pet transport processes, given direct flights and no titre test requirement.
Approved carriers on this route
| Airline | Notes | Type |
|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | American Airlines operates from Miami (MIA), New York (JFK), Dallas (DFW), and Los Angeles (LAX) to San Jose Juan Santamaria (SJO). American accepts pets in the hold as checked baggage on many of these routes. The most frequent US carrier to Costa Rica. | Hold Baggage |
| United Airlines | United from Houston (IAH), Chicago (ORD), and Newark (EWR) to San Jose. United accepts pets in the hold on select routes. | Hold Baggage |
| Delta | Delta from Atlanta (ATL) to San Jose. Delta accepts pets in the hold on this route. Atlanta is a practical US gateway for Costa Rica. | Hold Baggage |
Miami, Houston, or Atlanta: direct US gateways compared
The USA to Costa Rica route has the advantage of multiple direct flight options. American Airlines from Miami is the most frequent, with several daily departures to San Jose. American also connects from New York, Dallas, and Los Angeles. Miami International (MIA) is the best-connected gateway for Latin American pet cargo from the US.
United from Houston and Newark and Delta from Atlanta are practical alternatives for owners not based near Miami. Both accept pets in the hold on their San Jose routes. Houston’s proximity to Central America makes United’s IAH-SJO service particularly efficient.
SENASA declaration and the USDA certificate: two steps that run in parallel
Costa Rica’s SENASA (Servicio Nacional de Salud Animal) requires an online health declaration to be submitted before travel via its portal. This is the import clearance mechanism and must be completed before you depart. It is a relatively quick process compared to the permit systems in other countries.
The USDA-endorsed health certificate is the second document, completed by a USDA-accredited vet and endorsed by USDA APHIS. The endorsement takes two to three weeks. Completing the SENASA declaration and starting the USDA endorsement simultaneously is the most efficient approach.
Common questions about this route
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