Ever dreamt of packing up and living in another country? Or even just wanted to take an international vacation but felt it was impossible with your furry best friend in tow? Well, IT.IS.POSSIBLE. After months of navigating through a maze of Google searches, blogs, Reddit, consulate documents, government websites, YouTube, Facebook groups, and pet travel sites, I finally felt confident enough to take the plunge and booked the plane ticket.
Embarking on a journey to relocate myself and my four-legged companion to Buenos Aires, Argentina, I realized that gathering all the necessary information online was a daunting task. You don't know what you don't know until you're standing at customs, anxiously awaiting the verdict from the uniformed officer who holds the key to your fate. It's the moment when you might hear, "You're missing a crucial document, so now Fido must be quarantined and given more/duplicate vaccines." But once you successfully navigate through, and that sweet sigh of relief washes over you, it all becomes worth it!
Amidst my research, I noticed a gap — no one had shared their experience step by step, detailing the documents used at the time and recounting how the overall travel process unfolded. This blog chronicles my personal journey, along with my dog, on becoming Argentine expats. Join me as I discuss the trip planning process and reveal how it all played out.
STEP 1: Pre-Planning
I decided to start with researching pet friendly countries that I’m interested in living in and Argentina checked all those boxes. The goal is of course to find a place to call home, but on the off chance I didn’t fit the lifestyle of Argentina, I needed to also research getting my dog BACK into the US. So, not only do you need to work out the arrangements for getting fido to another country, you also need to make sure he/she can get back into the US.
Importing Pet into another country (specifically Argentina):
Requirements for Argentina: CVI/Health Certificate within 10 days of travel, Rabies Vaccine at least 21 days prior to entry in Argentina, Treatment against internal and external parasites within 15 days prior to CVI.
Importing Pet into USA:
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel/bring-pet-into-the-united-states/pet-travel-dogs-into-us
Currently there is a temporary suspension for dogs entering the US from high-risk rabies countries that is in effect until 31JUL2024. Make sure you verify the destination country is NOT on this list if you plan to bring your furry friend back to the US.
STEP 2: Planning Flights
I started with the most basic question: Is it even possible to get my dog to Argentina?
The answer overall is, yes! But each situation is going to be different depending on the dog and the human. Most airlines do not accept large breed dogs in the cabin, unless of course they are service dogs. Emotional support animals are no longer recognized as cabin eligible as of 2022, unless they are small enough to fit in a carrier comfortably under the seat – same goes for a non-ESA pet. Each airline has their own weight, height, carrier requirements. So, I went onto each US airline that was a candidate for our trip and looked at their pet policy page. Delta and American allow trained service animals only, unless the pet can fit securely under the seat in a carrier.. However, United allows for service dogs in training. Otherwise, you can look into flying your pup cargo or having them essentially shipped professionally through a company. Note: this is pricey $$$. My dog travels with me as my medical alert service dog, so most of the flight information will pertain to that and to the smaller dogs that can actually fit in a carrier under the seat. But I will list other websites for the non-SA traveler as well.
One additional thing I learned.. I uploaded my DOT forms into the AA portal about 4 weeks ahead of my trip just to give myself ample time for any unforseen circumstances. Two weeks passed and I hadn't heard anything, so I sent an email and 7 days passed, no response, sent another email, 5 days passed and nothing. So, I called.. The gal I talked to on the phone said that I needed to upload or email additional paperwork (microchip and rabies vaccine) in order to get my dog's travel ID. The very next day after my phone conversation I got an email with my dog's travel ID, at this point I had not uploaded or emailed the rabies/microchip paperwork. I emailed them back right away to verify if these papers were still needed and the response was that since my dog is only booked for a ONEWAY ticket I do not need any other forms filled out other than the DOT ones. If my dog was booked for a ROUNDTRIP ticket then I would need to submit the other documents. This is not listed anywhere on the website or in the instructions for uploading your documents, the only way I found out was through this annoying process of calls and emails. So, maybe just upload the microchip and rabies documents with the DOT forms right away to save yourself a headache.
Airline Policy Pages:
American Airlines - https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/special-assistance/pets.jsp
Delta Airlines - https://www.delta.com/us/en/pet-travel/overview
United Airlines - https://www.united.com/en/us/fly/travel/traveling-with-pets.html
We chose American Airlines, because flight miles! Also, it was the most direct route for our situation. When you are importing your dog to Argentina the only info I found was from a blog that mentioned having to fly into Ezeiea Inernational Airport (EZE) and NOT the Jorge Newberry airport (AEP). SENASA, the animal import agency, is only located inside the EZE airport. Argentina does not require an import permit, but other countries might and if you need one you should also be able to find that form on the airline websites.
**Someone mentioned that they HAVE in fact imported their cat into Argentina through AEP!! They stated that SENASA is not always there, which could be why I have struggled to find info on importing animals through AEP. However, they imported their cat from Brazil, not the US, but I did send some emails to SENASA to hopefully get this clarified!
**UPDATE: I got a response from SENASA:
"Estimada: usted puede ingresar por aeroparque o aeropuerto con la mascota. siempre y cuando ingrese con la documentaciòn correspondiente.
Saludos
Maria Laura"
Google translate: "Dear: You can enter through the airport or airport with your pet. as long as you enter with the corresponding documentation. Greetings Maria Laura"
The translate is not perfect because she specifies "aeroparque" and "aeropuerto" in her email. In my initial email I specified I would be importing my dog through the United States. So, it appears you can bring your dog through either EZE or AEP.
These are the 2 forms I filled out and submitted to American Airlines:
This form is the DOT form for SA air transport
This form is the relief attestation form required by the DOT if your flight is longer than 8 hours. https://www.aa.com/content/images/travel-info/special-assistance/service-animals/dot-service-animal-relief-attestation-form.pdf
If you have any questions or concerns you can email the service animal customer support. I experienced a hit or miss with them returning my emails and I eventually just ended up calling them, like I mentioned. However, my boyfriend previously emailed them and they responded right away.
+1 (800) 237-7976
Other things to note when booking a flight is:
How long each leg of your flight is
If they are in the cabin you must also plan for and document how you will sanitarily relieve your pet in flight (IE dog diaper, etc).
Each airline is going to have a “hub” airport that they leave the US from and get to Argentina. Flights out of Florida to South America are ultimately going to have less air travel time. MIA-EZE is the most direct flight and it was projected to take 9hrs 5 mins, but our flight actually took 8hrs 26 mins.
Layover lengths
Make sure you take into account how long you have to get from one plane to the next. Make sure you have enough time to get to your gate, water/feed/potty your pet, and of course time for any unplanned issues or oversights.
One stressor I had was in the MIA airport, the pet relief area was a tiny room with a tiny soggy patch of turf that must get sprayed with chemicals, so my dog absolutely REFUSED to pee before our 9 hr flight.
Do any of my connecting flights or destinations have a pet ban?
Just to give you an example United Airlines has a list of countries and states that prohibits pets flying to, from or even just passing through
Do I need a return flight?
Since you’re only allowed in Argentina for 90 days visa-free the most talked about online option is for Best Onward Ticket. You pay $28 and this site books you a return flight and then cancel it in 48 hours. So, basically the day before your travel day get a best onward ticket, show the customs agent that in 88 days you have a return flight that can be looked up, and then once you are in the country, the ticket gets cancelled. Unless of course you book a round trip vs a one-way. https://bestonwardticket.com/
Note: I did not have to show proof of a return flight, but this is a good website to keep in your back pocket!
STEP 3: Vet Appointment
How to find USDA approved vet
They are not always up to date so make sure you call the vet and get pricing and all the info.
Pricing also seems to vary exponentially! I had a vet in South Dakota that was going to be roughly $150 for exam, documents, and the parasite med. Plans changed and I had to switch to finding a vet in Florida and the price ranges from $515-$750!!!!! FOR THE SAME SHIT!!! Its criminal.
Also, figure out if the country you’re going to only has the capability of physical mailing of the CVI or if they are electronic and use the VEHCS system. Argentina is electronic.
Someone on one of the forums I read mentioned needing the hard copy to be in blue ink, I did not experience that due to it being electronic, but the returned copy was black ink. The only mention of blue ink is from a blog from 2005, so I think this is outdated info.
When I checked into the vet, the usual paperwork was filled out for “new patients”. I also gave the vet the 15 digit microchip and rabies documents. You will also need the address of where you are staying once you get to Argentina. I just printed off a screenshot of the Airbnb info I had already booked and brought a copy.
Side note – our original vet gave us a CDC rabies and microchip record instead of a “Rabies Vaccine Certificate”. This CDC document is what is needed if your pet gets vaccinated outside of the US, but it is an official document that can be used to get a CVI. https://www.cdc.gov/importation/pdf/cdc-rvmr-2023-508.pdf
Once it was time to see the vet, I handed the tech the bag of poop collected that morning to check for parasites. The vet was in the room for approx. 5 minutes, asked if I have any concerns, did a quick physical exam, and then took my money. The total cost was $211.95. The vet tech sent the paperwork to the USDA and then I got the paperwork returned the very next day to my email. Make sure you look over the returned document because there were some small errors that I had the vet correct, just in case SENASA, is picky. This vet also only included the negative parasite test on the CVI. When I asked about the need for parasite treatment as stated by the Argentine import website, the vet tech just told me “we only go off of what the USDA says and that is not required”. I give my dog HeartGard and K-9 Advantix once a month, so I asked if the vet would include that in my paperwork. They agreed. So, my paperwork reflects that he is negative for parasites and that he was given his Heartgard and K-9 Advantix (treated for internal/external parasites).
Vet Paperwork
This is the official CVI that the vet fills out and send to the USDA https://www.aphis.usda.gov/pet-travel/health-certificates/non-eu/argentina-dog-cat.pdf
I also had this pre-vet worksheet filled out the night prior. The vet office did not want it, but it definitely made me feel more prepared and more organized. It has a section for the address you will be staying at so you don't have to print off extra papers.
STEP 4: ENTRY
Once you land and disembark the plane, the first thing you will do is follow the walkway around to immigration (your pup will either be with you or you will have to pick the pup up).
This website gives some good info and resources on pets traveling as live cargo, but I have no experience with this so definitely deep dive before you commit to live cargo transport. https://www.pettravel.com. It also seems like airlines will not allow for pets to be put in cargo roughly May-September(ish) due to it being too hot in the Northern hemisphere, but you should be able to find all that info out on the airline websites.
PLEASE NOTE: there are no pet relief areas between disembarking the plane and getting outside the airport.
After human immigration you wind your way around to “declare your items” aka animal, don't go through the side that says "nothing to declare". The SENASA desk is through the "items to declare" side, just before you exit the airport on the right. SENASA is open 24hrs, however if you are there outside of “normal” business hours there is a bell you ring and someone will come assist you.
Note, that if you see someone outside of “normal” hours or on a holiday there will be a small fee. I paid 4168.66 ARS or just over $4USD at approx. 07:00am. No hours were posted anywhere.
If you have a service animal the law states that SENASA should not charge you for the entry fee. The law is 580/14.
The paperwork I gave to the desk was: the completed CVI, Rabies vaccine and microchip info (same paper – microchip not required), Treatment for parasite paper, my (the owner’s) passport. It did not seem as if he actually looked at anything other than the completed CVI and the my passport, it was actually very anti-climactic. But we made it none-the-less!
The SENASA employee gave me all my paperwork and passport back, along with a slip of paper with information on how to go about getting my pup back to the US.
Once you click this link you need to use the drop down and select your country. The United States may come up as "USA" or "EEUU" and it doesn't seem to be alphabetized. You can select any destination country and it gives you the requirements for exporting your dog out of Argentina and into destination country, along with an additional hyperlink specific to that country.
Note: I have not exported my dog from Argentina/Imported my dog back into the US yet, so be diligent with your research on that, but I will update this information when I personally experience doing it.
Contact info for SENASA:
These are from the SENASA website and translation is a little funky, but take these with a grain of salt. I have however received emails back from the ezeizaeq@senasa.gob.ar.
Province of Buenos Aires
location: SENASA veterinary inspection at EZE
phone: +54 11 4480-0317
email: ivse@senasa.gob.ar
Ezeiza Airport Baggage Area
location: Terminal A
phone: +54 11 4480-0582
email: ezeizaeq@senasa.gob.ar
SENASA veterinary inspection highlighted in the J. Aeropark. Newberry
location: AEP
phone: +54 11 4845-0017
email: none listed
responde@senasa.gob.ar - given to me from the chatbot on the SENASA website.
STEP 5: AIRPORT TO AIRBNB
I was told Uber and Cabify are the best apps. However, I could not get Cabify to work. Some mentioned that you need to get a local sim card in order for it to work. I went with the old “ask my Airbnb host tips on how to get from the airport to the bnb” method. She was able to give me a number to a trusted friend/cab driver that allowed pets so I messaged her on Whatsapp and coordinated the pickup. I paid 15,000ARS or $16USD for the 1 hr 20 min drive from EZE to Villa Crespo area. Some Airbnb hosts will offer pick up as well, so your best bet is to just message them a week or so prior to arriving and inquire.
Note: maps says the drive from the airport to CABA is approx. 40 mins. Expect traffic!!! expecially if you get in in the morning.
**UPDATE for traveling around with your dog..
Uber works great! I have been ordering an Uber and then messaging the driver after they accept my ride and just let them know I have a dog. I have not been turned down yet!
POST FLIGHT INFO
I also wanted to give a little information on what to potentially expect from your pup after the big trip.
The day we arrived we got to the Airbnb, napped, and then walked around. When my dog pooped on our walk there was some blood in it! As any normal pet parent does I googled and blew up my vet tech friends. Apparently, colitis is super common in dogs and it can happen with stress or big routine changes (like flying 9 hours to a strange country). I was advised to just watch it and that it should clear up by poop #3, which it did! My friend recommended mixing pumpkin in with his food if it continued longer than 3 poops. I did not have to change his diet because he really only had 1 bloody poop. However, here is a website you can read to get more familiar with colitis and obviously if you are concerned there are vets you can take your pup to.
BUEN VIAJE
So very informative, and excellent references, Thanks Tons!