Persons wishing to enter Argentina with domestic canines and/or felines (Canis lupus familiaris and Felis silvestris catus, respectively) must have the International Veterinary Certificate (CVI) or an official legalized passport.

•International Veterinary Certificate (CVI): issued, signed and stamped by the veterinary authority of the country of origin or provenance of the animal. One of the languages of the CVI must be Spanish.
Download an indicative model of CVI.

•Legalized official passport: it must be in force -with the required health information (anti-rabies vaccination, anti-parasite treatment and health examination)- and must be endorsed, visaed or validated by signature and stamp of the veterinary authority of the country of origin or provenance prior to shipment. English will be accepted as the only language.

Sanitary requirements
The CVI or legalized official passport must contain the sanitary requirements set forth in Resolution GMC 17/15.

1- HEALTH CERTIFICATE:
Issued within 10 (ten) days prior to the date of issuance of the CVI by an authorized veterinarian in the country of origin, certifying that the animal is clinically healthy, without evidence of parasitosis and that it is fit to be moved.

2- VACCINATION AGAINST RABIES:
Dogs or cats must be vaccinated against rabies with vaccines authorized by the veterinary authority of the country of origin and with immunity in force according to the term of validity granted by the vaccine manufacturer's laboratory.
In the case of animals vaccinated for the first time, the vaccine must have been applied at least 21 (twenty-one) days prior to entry into Argentina.

If the dog or cat is less than 3 (three) months old, the veterinary authority must certify the age of the animal and that the animal has not been on any property where a case of urban rabies has occurred in the last 90 (ninety) days prior to shipment.

If the animal comes from a country or zone declared free of rabies as established by the OMSA, it may enter if the veterinary authority issuing the CVI states this condition in said CVI or passport.

The original rabies vaccination certificate must not be retained and must remain in the possession of the owner/responsible for the animal.

3- DEPARASITATION:
Treatment against internal and external parasites within 15 (fifteen) days prior to the date of issuance of the CVI or passport intervention, with veterinary products approved by the veterinary authority of the country of origin/provenance.

Modes of entry
-Entry as accompanied baggage
Refers to dogs or cats as pets traveling accompanied by their guardians or persons in charge in the same means of transportation. In the case of air transport, it includes those traveling in the cabin or hold of the aircraft. Upon arrival in Argentina, Senasa
personnel at the border post will carry out a documentary (CVI or Passport), physical and identity verification of the dog or cat.

The owner or person responsible for the animal is not required to:
-the previous processing of an "Import / Entry Request" before Senasa;
-the "Prior notice or Request for intervention to the border post" where the animal is going to enter;
-the issuance by Senasa of the "Permission of Internment / disembarkation" for the release and entry of the animal into our country.

-Income as cargo for commercial or non-commercial purposes:
It refers to those dogs or cats that are subject to foreign trade operations and are subject to the customs regime or to those dogs or cats as pets that are shipped without the accompaniment of guardians or responsible persons in the same means of transport.

The freight forwarder or the person responsible for the cargo must give prior notice or Request for Intervention to the border post through which it is to be entered within 24 working hours.

Upon arrival in Argentina, Senasa personnel at the border post will carry out a sanitary (CVI or Passport), transport (air waybill, etc.), physical and identity verification of the dog or cat.

The owner or person responsible for the cargo is not required to submit an import/entry application to Senasa.

Non-compliance
Upon arrival at a point of entry into Argentina of a dog or cat that does not comply with the established sanitary requirements, the sanitary measures that Senasa considers appropriate may be adopted in order to safeguard the animal health status of our country. It is also established that expenses and losses resulting from non-compliance must be covered by the owner or person responsible for the animal.

Validity
The CVI or the legalized official passport is valid for 60 (sixty) days from its issuance or legalization to enter Argentina with your dog or cat, provided that the rabies vaccination is valid on the day of entry.
Return of the dog or cat to the country of origin

In order to return to the country of origin, a new CVI must be processed before Senasa with the sanitary requirements, unless the CVI that covered the entry includes specifically that it is valid for the return, expresses the maximum period allowed for it and is in force.

For the return of those pets that entered with a legalized official passport, the same is valid as long as the anti-rabies vaccination certified therein remains valid.

Authorization for the entry into Argentina of dogs or cats in international transit between third countries.

The transit of dogs and/or cats between third countries through Argentine territory must be contemplated in the certification of origin. The certification must include the additional sanitary requirements demanded by the country of destination, if applicable.

Cost of the procedure

•Entry as accompanied baggage
Upon arrival at the border post, pets entering as accompanied baggage are checked free of charge.

•Entry as cargo with or without commercial purposes
Upon arrival at the border post, for the verification of pets entering as cargo with or without commercial purposes, the entry permit fee must be paid.

Service/assistance animals
The terms of Senasa Resolution No. 580/14, which establishes that service animals or assistants belonging to national or foreign individuals or legal entities are exempt from the charge of any extraordinary service required for entry, exit or transit in the territory of Argentina, must be considered.

To take into account Resolution Senasa Nº 580/14:

ARTICLE 2° - Necessary documentation for the procedure. In order to process the exception regulated in Article 1° of this resolution, the natural or legal persons owning the animals must submit, together with the sanitary documentation required by the regulations in force for the movement of animals, the following documentation:

Item a) Proof of the identification of each animal and its assistance or service function, signed by a registered veterinarian.
Item b) Reliable accreditation of the disability status issued by the competent national authority or of the country of origin, if applicable.

ARTICLE 3 - Sanitary requirements. Without prejudice to the provisions of this resolution, the animals referred to in Article 1° must be transported in accordance with the sanitary regulations in force for the movement of pets (CVI or legalized official passport).

Regulations
Resolution 1354/1994
Resolution 295/1999 Senasa
Resolution 580/2014 Senasa
Resolution 727/2015 Senasa
Resolution 17/2015 GMC
Resolution 923/2019 Senasa
Resolution 1303/2023 Senasa

Inquiries
From Senasa's federal WhatsApp, online chat or by mail to responde@senasa.gob.ar during business hours from Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Frequently asked questions