Update – June 2021
The United States CDC has issued a temporary suspension on dogs entering the U.S. from countries that have a high-risk of dog rabies.
This list includes Guatemala!
List of the 113 high risk countries on the CDC website.
Also, on an extremely limited basis, CDC has the authority to issue advance written approval (CDC Dog Import Permit) to import a dog from a high-risk country.
Click for more information on applying for the CDC Dog Import Permit.
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The following information is not applicable at this time until further notice from the CDC.
Health Certificate
Your dog must have a health check exam from a licensed Guatemalan veterinarian.
Whether you are driving or flying out of Guatemala, the exam should be done no more than 15-days before your date of departure.
If you are driving out of Guatemala, north through Mexico, you have a 15-day window to cross the border into Mexico.
The dog must show no signs of contagious diseases and has been vaccinated with all the appropriate vaccine
What the health certificate must include:
Keep in mind there isn’t a specific form for the health certificate (such as in the U.S.).
Therefore, the doctor must type up the information on company letterhead paper and provide the following:
a) The address of where you are living now (in Guatemala) and the address of where you will be taking your dog – your destination.
b) Record/listing of all vaccines, dates administered and expiration dates. This includes the DHPP booster, respiratory complex intranasal, rabies, plus dates of the last heartworm test, fecal exam and annual exam.
c.) Confirmation the dog has been treated against ectoparasites and endoparasites.
– Ectoparasites are: fleas, ticks, mites, and lice. Products such as Bravecto or NexGard prevent ectoparasites.
– Endoparasites are: heartworms, roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and tapeworms. Interceptor is a product commonly used for this.
Note: Inside the boxes of NexGard and Interceptor are stickers. These stickers are what the veterinarian needs to attach to the health certificate.
So, don’t throw them away!
If you are traveling to Mexico, as we were, the health certificate must provide the date that NexGard and Interceptor were given to the dogs.
It had to be within 30 days of entering Mexico, in our case.
d) Also required is confirmation that the dog’s rabies vaccines are up to date and meet importing country and airline requirements.
e) A photocopy of the veterinarian’s license.
If you are flying out, the health certificate must have the Guatemala government’s required 9 M.A.G.A. stamps affixed to it. (seriously, 9!)
If you are driving out, you do not need the M.A.G.A. stamps on the health certificate. So much easier and less money to have to spend.
MAGA = Ministerio de Agracultura Ganaderia y Alimentación.
Each stamp costs about 50Q.
Rabies Certificate
If you brought your dog into Guatemala, you will have to provide the Guatemala veterinarian an original Rabies Certificate signed and stamped by the veterinarian who administered the rabies vaccine in the first place.
It’s always a good idea to ask your main veterinarian for several original copies of the rabies certificates before traveling.
M.A.G.A. Export Certificate
Note: This only pertains to pets flying out. You can skip this if driving out.
Next you will need an export certificate from the Guatemala Minister of Agriculture.
In order to receive this, all the above paperwork must be sent to the government agency M.A.G.A. in Guatemala City.
There is a fee for submitting the paperwork and must be deposited into the M.A.G.A. bank account at the Banrural Bank.
Proof of payment must accompany all the paperwork.
There are two ways to accomplish all thisa) Do it yourself and hire a “tramitador” or facilitator to do this step, as it involves waiting in long lines in Guatemala City and two trips on two different days.
b) Have a Guatemala veterinarian send in all the paperwork for you. Make sure the Vet is familiar with the entire process before hiring them.
Fortunately for us, the veterinarian we worked with in Xela (Dr. Miguel de Leon Regil of Zoo Mozcota Vet, email) was very familiar with the M.A.G.A. export certificate process as well as what Mexico required. His WhatsApp is: +502.5533.7938. Office: 502.7947.4343.
He took care of it all. One stop shop!
Olivia and Sofia had a heath check with him within 15 days of leaving Guatemala.
His office emailed all the paperwork to the M.A.G.A. agency plus deposited the fees for us.
We received all the officially stamped export certificates well within our departure date. We were good to go!
Note: make at least 3 photo copies of everything.
Airport Check-in with your dog
Fortunately, the airport in Guatemala City is not very big and there are a few grassy areas for your dog to use before heading into the building.
At the check-in counter the airline representative will ask for all the paperwork for your dog.
Then they will call over a government official (not airline official) to view the paperwork.
The export paperwork has a duplicate carbon copy.
They will take the top copy and leave you with the carbon copy.
Once it is determined everything is in order the airline official will make copies of all the documents and begin the check-in process.
I have heard stories of folks who did not get all the required paperwork for their dog and were not able to board the airplane with their pet.
It is important to be informed before you go!
Airlines flying to Guatemala that accept Emotional Support Animals (ESA)
Avianca: The transport in cabin of the service dogs, rescue dogs, guide dogs or emotional support dogs has no additional charge.
Aeroméxico – accepts emotional-support pets onboard their flights, in compliance with Air Carrier Access Act.
Volaris – ESAs can travel at no cost on flights within Mexico and from/to Central America only.
COPA – Emotional support dogs will only be accepted on routes where they are recognized in the country’s regulations: to or from Brazil, Canada, Colombia and Mexico.
Requirements for bringing your dog to the U.S.
Here is a link from the CDC about bringing your pet to US.
As always… Safe Travels!
Update on driving out of Guatemala with a dog
Editor Note about driving out of Guatemala to Mexico with a dog. I recently heard (May 2021) from a reader who was kind enough to write me back about her experience driving from Guatemala to Mexico with her dog.
She went to the border crossing at Tecun Uman/Ciudad Hidalgo.
When she arrived at the border she asked where she needed to show the health certificate in order to cross into Mexico.
The Guatemala border agents said they did not need to see the health certificate and that the Mexico border agents will take care of all that.
When she got to the Mexico border agents, she handed over the health certificate.
Her dog was examined by them. As she held the dog, they looked in her ears and at her teeth.
She said it was a very smooth and easy process.
You may also be interested in…
U.S. airlines no longer allow Emotional Support Animals. Read more and learn what other airlines do support ESAs.
Read about Pet Friendly Spanish schools in Guatemala
Crossing the border in Texas? Checkout this pet friendly (and kid friendly) road trip itinerary with cool places to visit and lodging suggestions. Pet Friendly Mexico Road Trip
Hello the phone number for the vet is incorrect it’s missing a digit. Do you perhaps have the correct number im in need of it. Thanks in advance
Thank you Natalie for catching that! Here is the correct WhatsApp number: +502.5533.7938. Office: 502.7947.4343.
Hello. I plan on taking my dog on a two week trip to Guatemala from the U.S. Will I still need to get a health certificate from a Guatemalan vet to bring my dog back in to the U.S?
Hi Lorena… even though you are only staying for two weeks, you still need to get a health certificate from a Guatemalan vet. You will also need the vaccine card or certificate from your US vet with all the up-to-date vaccine information.
If flying out, you will need an export certificate from the MAGA office. The vet will help you get that. It will be around Q1600 (USD $208).
If you are driving out, the health certificate has to have official seals/stamps on it. The cost is around Q400 (USD $52).
Enjoy your time in Guatemala!
I don’t know if you already took your trip, but if you haven’t brought your dog to Guatemla a yet, don’t! The CDC just issued a ban on dogs coming from Guatemala starting July 14th. I’m currently trying to get mine out before the ban takes effect.
THANK YOU so much Patricia for posting this information!
Here is the link from the CDC regarding this temporary ban on dogs coming from 113 countries into the United States:
https://www.cdc.gov/importation/bringing-an-animal-into-the-united-states/high-risk.html
Guatemala is on this list.
According to this CDC article you may be able to get advance written approval to bring a dog from a high-risk country. Patricia I hope you are able to pursue this avenue for getting your dog out of Guatemala and into the U.S.
I wish you the best of luck!
Hello from Chicago! I am planning to adopt a dog in Guatemala while I visit my family there. Thanks for the information.
Hola Maritza,
So happy to read you are going to adopt a dog from Guatemala! That will be a very lucky dog for sure. =8-)
I have a friend in Xela who helps some of the street dogs to become adoption worthy and then helps to find them homes back in the U.S.
Thank you for sharing your story! Safe travels to Guate!
Thanks again, I just looked them up! Interesting how I never knew about the animal rescues in Guatemala. Stay safe and be happy 😉