Bringing your pet to Argentina? We’ve handled countless pet exports to South America — let us help with yours.
Traveling to Argentina with your pet is generally straightforward, as your pet won’t be subject to rabies titers or quarantine stays. That said, certain airline restrictions on specific dog breeds and the need for properly documented pet health certificates can complicate things.
This guide covers everything you need to know about bringing your pet to Argentina, including breed considerations and documentation requirements. We also share when it may be wise to consult a professional pet shipper for a smoother journey door-to-door.
Eligible Pets and Country Restrictions
Argentina does not have a nationwide ban on specific breeds for pet imports, but breed restrictions may be in effect in individual provinces or municipalities. The airline you use to fly your pet to Argentina may also have breed restrictions in place.
Eligible Pets
While there is no federal ban on specific dog or cat breeds moving or traveling to Argentina, there may be restrictions on a local level.
Buenos Aires, for example, has breed-specific legislation in place targeting 17 breeds deemed potentially dangerous. The list includes most pit bull-type dogs, mastiffs, German shepherds, and the Dogo Argentino, a breed native to Argentina. These restrictions require special permits, registration, badges, and liability insurance for pet owners and their dogs.
Additional airline restrictions are also quite common. American Airlines and its cargo option, American PetEmbark, a popular option for travel to Argentina, won’t fly snub-nosed or brachycephalic breeds or dogs defined as “dangerous.”
Restricted dog breeds on their list include the following:
- Affenpinscher
- American Bully
- American Staffordshire Terrier
- Boston Terrier
- Boxer
- Brussels Griffon
- Bulldog
- Cane Corso
- Chow Chow
- Dogue De Bordeaux
- English Toy Spaniel
- Japanese Chin
- Lhasa Apso
- Mastiff
- Pekingese
- Pit Bull
- Presa Canario
- Pug
- Shar Pei
- Shih Tzu
- Staffordshire Terrier
- Tibetan Spaniel
Restricted cats include the following breeds:
- Burmese
- Exotic Shorthair
- Himalayan
- Persian
Avianca, an alternative option for travel to Argentina, also bans snub-nosed pets in cargo due to the added risk of breathing difficulties in the air. Unlike American Airlines, though, they will fly strong-jawed or dogs on most “dangerous” dog breed lists, but they’ll need to travel in a reinforced container.
If you’re unable to provide a metal-walled kennel to meet Avianca’s requirements, your dog needs to travel with a basket muzzle. At Tailwind, we can provide CR82-compliant crates made of more durable materials for dogs who need them.
Approved Countries
Argentina does not have restrictions on pet travel based on the country of origin. Pet import rules may differ depending on where you’re coming from, based on that country’s rabies risk, though.
If a pet arrives from a country or territory declared rabies-free by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), for example, it does not need to meet the usual rabies requirement.
Planning an international flight for your pet? We can help.
Microchip and Vaccinations
Argentina requires documentation of up-to-date rabies vaccines, but microchips are optional for traveling pets.
Microchip
Pets traveling to Argentina may do so under their name or microchip ID, so microchips are not required as part of pet imports. However, we always recommend getting your pet an ISO-compliant microchip. You’ll likely need it if you travel elsewhere, including back to the U.S.
Microchipping also makes it easier to identify them if they ever get lost, and ISO-compliant versions are readable by universal scanners.
Vaccinations
Cats and dogs over 3 months old must be vaccinated for rabies. The only exception is for pets arriving from countries that are rabies-free. In that case, their health certificate should clearly state that they’re coming from a WOAH-recognized rabies-free country or zone. The U.S. isn’t on that list, so pets coming from the U.S. will need to be up-to-date on their rabies vaccines.
If your pet is less than 3 months old, a USDA-accredited veterinarian will need to certify their age. They’ll also need to attest to the fact they haven’t been on any property with active cases of rabies in the 90 days before their trip.
It’s important to note here that the minimum age for pets to travel on most airlines is at least 3 months old, so it’s unlikely you’ll get a puppy that young to Argentina anyway.
Pets getting their first round of rabies vaccines must wait at least 21 days after getting their shots before traveling to Argentina. Your pet’s vaccination history is documented on their health certificate and then endorsed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Argentina accepts 3-year boosters as proof of rabies vaccinations.
Much like other South American countries, like Brazil, Argentina does not require any additional vaccines, but you and your vet may decide to add protection against the following for dogs:
- Canine distemper
- Infectious canine hepatitis
- Canine parvovirus
- Canine parainfluenza
- Bordetella bronchiseptica
- Leptospirosis
The following vaccines are recommended by most vets for cats traveling abroad:
- Feline rhinotracheitis
- Feline calicivirus
- Feline panleukopenia (enteritis)
Argentina is considered a low-risk country for rabies, so pets returning to the U.S. who have a history of rabies vaccines in the U.S. only need a CDC Dog Import Form to fly.
Blood Tests and Treatments
The National Service of Agri-Food Health and Quality (SENASA) does not require that pets arrive with rabies titer test results. They do require, though, that pets receive deworming treatments for both internal and external parasites within 15 days before the date their health certificate is issued.
The products used should be approved by the official veterinary authority of the country of origin. In the U.S., this would be the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).
Import Documents
Argentina does not require an import permit for traveling pets. You will need an International Veterinary Certificate (CVI) issued by an accredited vet within 10 days of your pet’s travel date. CVIs include evidence of a final health exam before your pet’s flight certifying that they’re healthy enough to travel and free of any parasites.
For pets coming from the U.S., CVIs must also have a USDA endorsement, but this can be done electronically through the Veterinary Export Health Certification System (VEHCS). Certificates are valid for 60 days, so in the case of a return trip to Argentina within that timeframe, you could use the same CVI.
Pet passports are an alternative document for pet owners who have them (e.g. an EU pet passport), but they must still be endorsed by an official governing body in your home country.
SENASA requires that one version of the CVI be either written in Spanish or accompanied by a Spanish translation that is officially certified or endorsed. This can be a bilingual USDA form presented to Argentine officials at your entry point.
Airline Options
Several airlines fly to major hubs like Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) in Buenos Aires or Córdoba Airport, but our preferred option at Tailwind is American Airlines. (Many american airlines, like Delta and United, no longer fly pets in cargo.)
Larger dogs can fly on their cargo arm, American PetEmbark, with several direct flights from Dallas, Miami, or New York, depending on the season. Pets cannot travel in the cargo hold on most airlines if the forecasted temperature is above or below a certain limit. With American Airlines, 45°F to 85°F is their safe temperature range.
Note: Travel in cargo is safe and our preferred mode of air transport for pets. It often results in fewer connections and more efficient routes.
Avianca is another option, especially if you’re shipping a dog on American Airlines’ “dangerous” breed list. The airline is also one of the few remaining that still accept emotional support animals (ESAs). Your ESA (dog) will need proof of their status in the form of a medical certificate issued by a mental health professional.
A downside is that air travel with Avianca requires more complex routing to get to your destination country. Expect a stop elsewhere on the continent, most likely Bogotá, Colombia. Copa Airlines flies through Panama City, but they have more limits on older dogs and jumbo-sized breeds.
Quarantine
There is no quarantine requirement for pets traveling to Argentina as long as they meet all entry requirements. However, if local authorities see any evidence of a contagious or high-risk disease, your pet may be forced to isolate to limit exposure.
Customs Clearance
Customs clearance looks different for pets traveling as accompanied baggage with their owners vs. pets traveling as cargo on a separate flight.
For pets arriving as accompanied baggage, they’re subject to a visual inspection by border officials and a review of their CVI. Pet owners are not required to obtain the kinds of documents that were once expected, like import/entry requests or prior notice.
Pets arriving as cargo will get the same visual and paperwork checks, with the addition of an entry permit for customs purposes to release your pet. The person responsible for shipping the pet, typically a customs broker, must give a notice of “Request for Intervention” at least 24 working hours before the pet’s arrival.
This is to alert SENASA personnel at the border that your pet is coming. While SENASA may not require a broker at this point, working with a professional on the other end alleviates the risk of unexpected fees. Unfortunately, reported fees at the border are inconsistent, in part due to the volatility of the Argentinian peso.
Miscommunication can also play a role. You should not expect that officials at the border speak English. A translator app may be necessary if you don’t speak the language or are not working with a broker.
How Tailwind Can Help
Flying a pet to Argentina might feel simple at first, but things can quickly get overwhelming once you start coordinating health certificates, airline rules, and border regulations.
At Tailwind, we’ve guided countless pet owners through every step of the process, and our experts are well-versed in even the most challenging situations. That includes breeds that need special handling, tight timelines, and complex logistics upon arrival.
Ready to get started? Each pet relocation situation is different, so to get an idea of the costs involved, fill out a quote request.
See What Our Clients Have to Say
“We sent out our pet dog over to Argentina the service was amazing! They were quick to respond to our emails and as well as giving us a quote on our pet. We had sent out many requests for our pet and many told us they couldn’t send her out Kennel Club LAX got the job done! Thank you very much for getting our pet to Argentina!”
– Leslie P.
“Flew our 9 year old Vizsla, Whisky, from LAX to LHR last summer. Great service from the veterinary requirements to the actual moving of the the dog. literally door to door service and a happy boy at the other end.
Fast forward to March 2024 and need to take him to South America.
Had the complete run around from the airline and UK providers trying to work out how best to do it; crate dimensions allowable; excess baggage or cargo? Called Brady who gave me chapter and verse. Great customer service! 🙂”
– Dr. W.
“I highly recommend Tailwind for pet relocation. I dropped off my big dog at the airport in Seattle, then a few days later she arrived at my new home in Argentina. There are a lot of companies out there that claimed to take care of everything, but none could actually do the job except for Tailwind. Brady was professional, communicative, and there were no surprises throughout the process. If you are looking for a company to make it easy on you (because an international move is already hard enough), this is the place!”
– Derek D.