Country entry guide · South America
Traveling to Paraguay with your dog
Paraguay welcomes dogs, and its entry rules are refreshingly uniform: the same procedure applies to a personal pet arriving from almost anywhere. SENACSA (Servicio Nacional de Calidad y Salud Animal), the national animal-health authority, applies the Mercosur standard in force — Resolución GMC N° 20/2024 — and 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 current official passport endorsed by that authority. The CVI must show a clinical examination, a valid rabies vaccination and internal and external antiparasitic treatment. There is no rabies antibody test, no compulsory microchip and no quarantine for a healthy pet — SENACSA simply inspects your dog and its documents at the point of entry. This guide explains exactly what to prepare, and the timing to respect, before you book your flight.
📋 At a glance
| Dogs allowed | Yes (up to 5 as pets; 6+ is a commercial import) |
| ISO microchip | Not required for entry (ISO 11784/11785 if used) |
| Rabies vaccination | Required from 90 days of age (exemption from a rabies-free country/zone) |
| Rabies antibody test | Not required |
| Veterinary certificate (CVI or endorsed passport) | Required |
| Antiparasitic treatment (internal & external) | Required |
| Quarantine | Not required for a compliant, 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.
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🧭 How your dog's entry requirements are decided
The exact documents depend on three things — Paraguay (your destination) is only the first.
- 1 Country of destination — Paraguay★★★★★
Paraguay applies the Mercosur standard in force (Res. GMC 20/2024) through SENACSA: one International Veterinary Certificate covering a clinical exam, a valid rabies vaccination and internal & external antiparasitic treatment. No microchip, no antibody test and no quarantine are demanded for entry, and the original CVI stays with you — it is not retained at the border.
- 2 Country of departure★★★★★
The CVI must be issued, signed and stamped by the official veterinary authority of the country you travel from (or an official passport endorsed by that authority carrying the same data). Its timing drives your whole preparation: the clinical exam within 10 days before issue, deworming within 15 days before it, and the CVI valid 60 days.
- 3 Countries your dog recently stayed in★★★★☆
A dog from a country or zone recognised rabies-free by the WOAH (OMSA) may enter without rabies vaccination if the destination recognises that status and the CVI certifies it. For puppies under 90 days, recent residence matters: they must not have been in contact with any urban-rabies case in the last 90 days, and a dog previously diagnosed with Leishmaniosis may be refused entry.
So read the requirements below as Paraguay's framework, then confirm your dog's exact origin, age and history with your vet.
✅ Entry requirements
| Requirement | Required? | When | Exceptions | Official reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISO microchip | Not required for entry | — | Mercosur States reserve the right to define the identification method. If an electronic system is used, the microchip must comply with ISO 11784 and/or ISO 11785, and the CVI must state its anatomical location. Paraguay does not impose a microchip for entry, but one is strongly advised for identification and the return trip. | Mercosur Res. GMC 20/2024, Art. 17 |
| Rabies vaccination | Required from 90 days of age | Animals aged 90 days or more must enter vaccinated against rabies, with a vaccine authorised by the veterinary authority of the country where it was applied and immunity still valid. A first (primary) vaccination must be given at least 21 days before shipment; a pet not re-vaccinated before the vaccine expired is treated as primary-vaccinated. | A country or zone that meets the WOAH (OMSA) Terrestrial Code conditions to be declared officially rabies-free is exempt, provided the destination State recognises this condition beforehand and it is certified on the CVI. | Mercosur Res. GMC 20/2024, Art. 9, 10 & 12 |
| Rabies antibody test | Not required | — | Paraguay's published entry requirements (Res. GMC 20/2024) do not include a rabies antibody test for any origin. (A rabies antibody test is only demanded the other way round — for pets leaving Paraguay bound for the European Union.) | Mercosur Res. GMC 20/2024 (full resolution) |
| Clinical examination | Required | Carried out within the 10 days before the CVI is issued, by a registered veterinarian in the exporting country, certifying the animal shows no evidence of infectious-contagious or parasitic diseases and is fit for transport to the Mercosur States. | Its content is embedded in the International Veterinary Certificate (CVI). | Mercosur Res. GMC 20/2024, Art. 14 |
| Antiparasitic treatment (internal & external) | Required | Broad-spectrum treatment against internal and external parasites within the 15 days before the CVI is issued, using veterinary products approved by the origin's veterinary authority and following the manufacturer's recommendations. The CVI records the product, laboratory, active ingredient and date. | Unlike Uruguay, Paraguay does not require the internal product to contain praziquantel for its own entry — that is a Uruguay-specific add-on. | Mercosur Res. GMC 20/2024, Art. 13 |
| International Veterinary Certificate (CVI) or endorsed passport | Required | The original CVI is issued by the veterinary authority of the exporting country under Res. GMC 20/2024, and presented to the SENACSA veterinary inspector at the entry point. It is valid 60 calendar days from issue for entry, provided the rabies vaccination remains valid. | A current official passport, issued or endorsed by the origin's veterinary authority, may be accepted instead if it carries all the data required on the CVI. The original CVI is not retained — it stays with the owner. | Mercosur Res. GMC 20/2024, Art. 5, 6, 7 & 8 |
| Advance notification / import authorization | Not required for an accompanied pet | For up to 5 pets travelling with you, no prior import authorization is needed — you present the animal and the CVI to the SENACSA inspector at the entry point. From 6 animals, the shipment is treated as a commercial import of live animals and follows SENACSA import rules. | If the dog travels unaccompanied / as cargo, contact SENACSA in advance (Departamento de Certificación Sanitaria) to arrange the procedure, as additional handling applies. | SENACSA — Viajar con Mascotas (Ingreso/Egreso de Animales de Compañía) |
| Border check (SENACSA inspection) | Required on arrival | At the point of entry, a SENACSA veterinary inspector carries out a documentary check (CVI or endorsed passport) and a sanitary check of the animal before authorising entry. | The original CVI is not retained by the officials and continues in the owner's possession. | Mercosur Res. GMC 20/2024, Art. 5 & 7; SENACSA — Viajar con Mascotas |
| Puppies / minimum age | Special certification under 90 days | A dog under 90 days may enter without rabies vaccination when the exporting veterinary authority certifies on the CVI that the animal is under 90 days old and that it has not been in contact with any urban-rabies case in the last 90 days. A nursing litter under 90 days travelling with its mother is treated as one biological unit, and only the mother's health is certified. | Airline age rules and your home country's return rules may be stricter. | Mercosur Res. GMC 20/2024, Art. 11 & 16 |
| Quarantine | Not required | Paraguay's entry procedure sets no routine quarantine for a compliant, healthy pet; the dog is released after a satisfactory inspection at the point of entry. | If an animal fails to meet the requirements on arrival, the veterinary authority may apply the sanitary measures it deems appropriate — rejection, return to the country of origin, retention or another measure — with all resulting costs borne by the owner. | Mercosur Res. GMC 20/2024, Art. 18 & 19 |
🌍 Rules according to your dog's origin
Standard scheme — CVI or endorsed 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, under Mercosur Res. GMC 20/2024. It must show a clinical exam (within 10 days), a valid rabies vaccination and internal & external antiparasitic treatment (within 15 days). A current official passport carrying the same data and endorsed by the origin's authority is accepted instead. You present the dog and the CVI to the SENACSA inspector at the entry point; travelling with up to five pets needs no import authorization, and the original CVI stays with you.
From a rabies-free country or zone
If your dog comes from a country or zone that meets the WOAH (OMSA) Terrestrial Code conditions to be declared officially rabies-free, it may enter without the rabies vaccination — provided the destination State recognises this condition beforehand and it is certified on the CVI. Every other requirement (clinical exam and internal & external antiparasitic treatment) still applies, and there is no antibody test in any case.
Puppies, Leishmaniosis & non-compliant arrivals
A puppy under 90 days may enter without rabies vaccination when the CVI certifies its age and that it has not been in contact with any urban-rabies case in the previous 90 days. A dog previously diagnosed with Leishmaniosis may be refused entry. If a dog arrives without meeting the sanitary requirements, the veterinary authority may reject it, return it to the country of origin, retain it or apply another measure it deems appropriate; the resulting costs and losses fall on the owner.
🛬 Arrival
What happens when your dog reaches Paraguay centres on the SENACSA veterinary inspector at your point of entry.
- When you travel with your dog, present the animal and the CVI (or endorsed official passport) to the SENACSA veterinary inspector at the entry point for a documentary and sanitary check.
- Up to five pets travelling with you need no prior import authorization; from six animals, the entry follows SENACSA's commercial live-animal import rules.
- The CVI is valid for 60 calendar days from issue, provided the rabies vaccination is still valid on the day of entry; the original CVI is not retained and must stay with you.
- The clinical exam must be within 10 days before the CVI is issued, and deworming within 15 days before it — so time your veterinary appointments and departure carefully.
- If your dog travels unaccompanied or as cargo, contact SENACSA's Departamento de Certificación Sanitaria in advance to arrange the procedure.
- If documents are missing or invalid, or the dog is previously diagnosed with Leishmaniosis, SENACSA may reject, return or retain the animal; verify every requirement before you travel.
🧳 Real traveller experience
No reliable documented traveller feedback available.
🚫 Restricted dogs
Paraguay's published entry framework (Mercosur Res. GMC 20/2024, applied by SENACSA) sets no breed-specific import ban for dogs entering the country. The base resolution lets a Member State create a specific regime restricting 'dangerous' breeds — but only when formally established and agreed with the exporting country, and no such national import ban is documented for Paraguay's own entry procedure.
No banned category at entry: no dog breed is refused entry to Paraguay on the basis of its breed under the published SENACSA/Mercosur entry requirements, provided the sanitary requirements (CVI or endorsed passport, rabies vaccination, antiparasitic treatment, clinical exam) are met.
Important clarification: SENACSA's 'Viajar con Mascotas' page does list prohibited breeds (Pit Bull, Staffordshire, several mastiff/molosser types, etc.), but that list appears within the requirements for pets bound for the United Arab Emirates (a destination/export requirement), not within Paraguay's own import rules. Do not read it as a Paraguayan entry ban. Whether Paraguay maintains any separate national dangerous-dog import law is Unknown from official sources.
Because no national breed import ban is documented for entry, focus on the SENACSA/Mercosur sanitary rules. If your dog belongs to a molosser or 'dangerous' type, confirm directly with SENACSA before you travel, and check any local ownership rules that may apply once in Paraguay.
🧾 Preparation checklist
- ☐International Veterinary Certificate (CVI) under Mercosur Res. GMC 20/2024, issued, signed and stamped by the origin's official veterinary authority — or a current official passport carrying the same data and endorsed by that authority
- ☐Clinical examination within 10 days before the CVI (no infectious-contagious or parasitic disease, fit to travel)
- ☐Valid rabies vaccination for dogs 90 days or older (primary shot at least 21 days before shipment); keep the original proof with you
- ☐Internal & external antiparasitic treatment within 15 days before the CVI (product, laboratory, active ingredient and date recorded)
- ☐For a puppy under 90 days: CVI certification of age and no urban-rabies contact 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
- ☐A microchip is not required for entry but is strongly recommended (ISO 11784/11785) for identification and the return trip
- ☐Airline reservation confirming your dog's travel option and a suitable IATA crate if in the hold; for unaccompanied/cargo, contact SENACSA in advance
📚 Official sources
- SENACSA — Viajar con Mascotas (Ingreso/Egreso de Animales de Compañía)
- Mercosur — Resolución GMC N° 20/2024 (zoosanitary requirements for entry of domestic dogs & cats; full resolution PDF)
- SENACSA — Control de tránsito / Certificado Oficial de Tránsito de animales
- SENACSA — Trámites (SENACSA Digital, CVI procedures)
- Portal Paraguay (gov.py) — SENACSA: Ingreso y egreso de animales de compañía