Country entry guide · South America
Traveling to Argentina with your dog
Argentina welcomes dogs, and its entry rules are refreshingly uniform: the same procedure applies to a personal pet arriving from almost anywhere. SENASA (the national animal-health authority) asks for a single document — an International Veterinary Certificate (CVI) issued, signed and stamped by the official veterinary authority of the country you travel from, or a legalized official pet passport. It must show a health certificate, a valid rabies vaccination and internal and external antiparasitic treatment. There is no rabies antibody test, no import permit and no quarantine for a healthy pet travelling as accompanied baggage — SENASA simply inspects your dog on arrival. This guide explains exactly what to prepare, and the timing to respect, before you book your flight.
📋 At a glance
| Dogs allowed | Yes |
| Microchip | Not required (recommended for ID) |
| Rabies vaccination | Required |
| Rabies antibody test | Not required |
| Veterinary certificate (CVI or legalized passport) | Required |
| Antiparasitic treatment (internal & external) | Required |
| Quarantine | Not required for a healthy pet |
⏱️ Estimated preparation time
Times are indicative. The rabies antibody test alone adds a fixed 3-month wait.
⚠️ Important
- MyDogCanFly provides general information — not veterinary or legal advice.
- Only a veterinarian can confirm the exact procedure for your individual dog.
- Requirements depend on: the country of origin, previous travel history, identification, vaccinations, the itinerary and the travel date.
Always consult your veterinarian before booking your trip.
Find a flight to Argentina
🧭 How your dog's entry requirements are decided
The exact documents depend on three things — Argentina (your destination) is only the first.
- 1 Country of destination — Argentina★★★★★
Argentina applies its own SENASA scheme (Mercosur Res. GMC 17/15): one International Veterinary Certificate covering health, a valid rabies vaccination and antiparasitic treatment. No microchip, no antibody test and no quarantine are demanded.
- 2 Country of departure★★★★★
The CVI must be issued, signed and stamped by the official veterinary authority of the country you depart from, in Spanish (or a legalized official passport, where English is also accepted). Its timing drives your whole preparation.
- 3 Countries your dog recently stayed in★★★★☆
A dog coming from a country or zone declared rabies-free by WOAH can enter if the CVI states that condition. For puppies, recent residence matters: no urban-rabies case may have occurred where they lived in the last 90 days.
So read the requirements below as Argentina's framework, then confirm your dog's exact origin and history with your vet.
✅ Entry requirements
| Requirement | Required? | When | Exceptions | Official reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISO microchip | Not required | — | Argentina does not require a microchip for pet entry, but one is strongly advised for identification and for the return trip. | SENASA — Ingresos con perros y/o gatos |
| Rabies vaccination | Required | With a vaccine authorised in the country of origin and immunity still valid per the manufacturer. A first (primary) vaccination must be given at least 21 days before entry. | A dog from a country/zone declared rabies-free by WOAH may enter if the CVI states this. The original vaccination proof is not retained — it stays with the owner. | SENASA — Res. GMC 17/15 |
| Rabies antibody test | Not required | — | Argentina does not require a rabies antibody test for a personal pet from any origin. | SENASA — Res. GMC 17/15 |
| Health certificate | Required | Issued within the 10 days before the CVI is issued, by an authorised vet, stating the dog is clinically healthy, free of parasitosis and fit to travel. | Its content is embedded in the International Veterinary Certificate (CVI). | SENASA — Res. GMC 17/15 |
| International Veterinary Certificate (CVI) or legalized passport | Required | The CVI is issued, signed and stamped by the official veterinary authority of the country of origin/departure; one of its languages must be Spanish. Valid 60 calendar days from issue for entry. | A current official pet passport is accepted instead if it carries the same sanitary information and is endorsed by the origin's veterinary authority; English is then also accepted alongside Spanish. | SENASA — Ingresos con perros y/o gatos |
| Antiparasitic treatment (internal & external) | Required | Treatment against internal and external parasites within the 15 days before the CVI is issued (or before the passport is endorsed), with products approved in the country of origin. | — | SENASA — Res. GMC 17/15 |
| Advance notification / import permit | Not required (accompanied pet) | — | For a pet as accompanied baggage, no prior import request, no advance notice to the border post and no internment/landing permit are needed. Unaccompanied cargo requires 24 working hours' advance notice and an internment-permit fee. | SENASA — Ingresos con perros y/o gatos |
| Border check (SENASA inspection) | Required on arrival | At the border post SENASA staff carry out a documentary (CVI or passport), physical and identity verification of the dog. | For accompanied pets the verification is free of charge. | SENASA — Ingresos con perros y/o gatos |
| Puppies / minimum age | Special certification under 3 months | If the dog is under 3 months old, the veterinary authority must certify the animal's age and that it has not been on any premises where urban rabies occurred in the 90 days before shipment. | Airline age rules and your home country's return rules may be stricter. | SENASA — Res. GMC 17/15 |
| Quarantine | Not required | — | Only if the sanitary requirements are not met — SENASA may then apply whatever sanitary measures it deems appropriate, at the owner's expense. | SENASA — Ingresos con perros y/o gatos |
🌍 Rules according to your dog's origin
Standard scheme — CVI or legalized passport
For almost every origin the path is the same. Your dog needs an International Veterinary Certificate (CVI) issued, signed and stamped by the official veterinary authority of the country you travel from, with Spanish as one of its languages. It must show a health certificate (within 10 days), a valid rabies vaccination and internal & external antiparasitic treatment (within 15 days). A current official pet passport carrying the same information and endorsed by the origin's authority is accepted instead.
From a rabies-free country or zone
If your dog comes from a country or zone declared free of rabies by WOAH, it may enter when the veterinary authority states this condition on the CVI or passport. The rest of the scheme — health certificate and antiparasitic treatment — still applies, and there is no antibody test in any case.
Puppies & non-compliant arrivals
A puppy under 3 months needs the CVI to certify its age and that no urban-rabies case occurred where it lived in the previous 90 days. If a dog arrives without meeting the sanitary requirements, SENASA may apply the sanitary measures it deems appropriate to protect the country's animal-health status; the resulting costs and losses fall on the owner.
🛬 Arrival
What happens when your dog reaches Argentina depends on how it travels.
- As accompanied baggage (in cabin or hold, with you): SENASA staff at the border post carry out a documentary (CVI or passport), physical and identity check — free of charge.
- No prior import request, no advance notice and no internment/landing permit are required for an accompanied pet.
- As unaccompanied cargo (commercial or not): the transport agent must notify the border post at least 24 working hours in advance and pay the internment-permit fee.
- The CVI or legalized passport is valid for 60 calendar days from issue, provided the rabies vaccination is still valid on the day of entry.
- Keep the original rabies vaccination proof — it is not retained and must stay with you.
- If the requirements are not met, SENASA may apply the sanitary measures it considers appropriate; all resulting costs are borne by the owner.
🧳 Real traveller experience
No reliable documented traveller feedback available.
🚫 Restricted dogs
Argentina has no national breed-specific import ban. Federal law does not prohibit any dog breed from entering the country, and there is no national dangerous-dog list applied at the border. Some provinces and cities regulate 'potentially dangerous' dogs for ownership, not for import.
No banned category at entry: no breed is refused entry to Argentina on the basis of its breed, provided the SENASA sanitary requirements (CVI, rabies vaccination, antiparasitic treatment) are met.
Local ownership rules: cities and provinces set their own rules for potentially dangerous dogs. For example, the City of Buenos Aires (Law 4078/12) and the Province of Buenos Aires (Law 14107) list breeds — such as pit bull terrier, dogo argentino, rottweiler and others — that owners must register and handle responsibly (leash, muzzle, insurance). These are ownership obligations, not entry bans.
Because there is no national breed ban, focus on the SENASA sanitary rules for entry. If you will stay in a specific city or province, check its local ordinances for any registration, leash, muzzle or insurance requirements.
🛂 Airports in Argentina
Check where your dog can relieve itself at each airport — and whether it's before or after security.
🧾 Preparation checklist
- ☐International Veterinary Certificate (CVI) in Spanish, endorsed by the origin's official veterinary authority — or a legalized official passport
- ☐Health certificate issued within 10 days before the CVI (clinically healthy, parasite-free, fit to travel)
- ☐Valid rabies vaccination (primary shot at least 21 days before entry); keep the original proof with you
- ☐Internal & external antiparasitic treatment within 15 days before the CVI
- ☐For a puppy under 3 months: certification of age and no urban-rabies case where it lived in the last 90 days
- ☐Check the CVI/passport is used within 60 days of issue and the rabies vaccine is still valid on arrival
- ☐Airline reservation confirming your dog's travel option and a suitable IATA crate if in the hold
- ☐For unaccompanied cargo: arrange 24 working hours' advance notice to the border post
📚 Official sources
- SENASA — Entering with dogs and/or cats (Ingresos con perros y/o gatos)
- SENASA — Resolución GMC 17/2015 (Mercosur sanitary requirements for dogs & cats)
- SENASA — Everything you need to know to enter Argentina with dogs and cats
- SENASA — Pet entry FAQ (Preguntas frecuentes, PDF)
- SENASA — Bilingual model International Veterinary Certificate (CVI, PDF)
- SENASA — Resolución 580/2014 (service/assistance animals)