Lead time needed
5-8 weeks
Quarantine
None
Route complexity
Medium
Airlines
3 carriers on this route
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AU
SV

Pet Transport from Australia to El Salvador

Taking your dog or cat from Australia to El Salvador comes down to good timing and the right paperwork. Around 5-8 weeks is typical, with a straightforward sequence to work through. No routine quarantine applies as long as every requirement is met. You will …

In short: Preparing to move a pet from Australia to El Salvador typically takes around 5-8 weeks. There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets. A rabies titre test is not required.
Regulations checked
Step by step

The Australia to El Salvador import process

Every step must be completed in sequence. A single missed deadline can add months to your timeline. We own the entire process.

1
At least 10 working days before departure.
Lodge the Notice of Intent (NOI) with DAFF.

Responsible: Owner

2
Valid 30 days once issued, so time it close to the travel date if applied for in advance.
Book the MAG import authorisation, or plan to complete it at San Salvador on arrival.

Responsible: Owner or an El Salvador-side agent

3
Within 72 hours of departure.
Arrange the final DAFF-registered veterinary health and welfare examination.

Responsible: DAFF-registered vet

4
Once satisfied all conditions are met. The animal must leave Australia within 72 hours of issue.
DAFF issues the export permit and health certificate.

Responsible: DAFF

5
4-6 weeks before travel.
Book cargo space Melbourne or Sydney to San Salvador via a US or Central American hub.

Responsible: Owner or agent

6
Travel day.
Present documentation to MAG officials on arrival in San Salvador.

Responsible: Owner

Requirements

What your pet needs to enter El Salvador

Every item must be verified before your pet can board. We track each one against current standards.

Microchip
Not explicitly mandated by MAG's published import guidance, but strongly …
Rabies vaccination
A current vaccination record must accompany the pet, original or copy, alongside …
Rabies titre test
Not required by El Salvador for pets arriving from Australia.
Quarantine
No routine quarantine stated in MAG's published guidance for a pet arriving with …
Import permit
MAG import authorisation required in advance, or at the point of entry itself. …
Health certificate
The Australian-issued export health certificate, plus the completed MAG import …
Export permit
DAFF issues the export permit and companion health certificate only once …
Costs

What this route typically costs

DAFF Notice of Intent and export documentation: AUD 150-400
MAG import authorisation: USD 9.04
IATA-compliant travel crate: AUD 150-450
Airline cargo fee, Melbourne or Sydney to San Salvador via a US hub: …
Total typical range: AUD 2,600-5,300 over 6-10 weeks

Critical points

The DAFF export permit is only valid for 72 hours from issue. Book the flight before applying, not after, or the permit can lapse before the pet ever leaves the country.

There is no direct Australia-El Salvador cargo flight. Every routing transfers through at least one US or Central American hub, and a dog's booking on a US-connecting carrier can be affected by rules governing entry into that transit country, not just Australia's or El Salvador's own rules.

The MAG import authorisation cannot be reused for a return trip. If the move might reverse within a year, budget for a second application.

Airlines

Approved carriers for this route

Not all airlines accept live animals. We book only with carriers that handle live animal cargo correctly.

Qantas Freight
Handles the first sector out of Melbourne or Sydney to a US or Central American gateway. …
Cargo Only
United Airlines
Covers the middle sector, typically Los Angeles or Houston, where the pet transfers onto a …
Cargo Only
Avianca
Flies the final leg into San Salvador from Miami, Houston or Los Angeles. San Salvador is …
Cargo Only

Meeting El Salvador's entry requirements

Getting a pet into El Salvador is a middle of the road process. The rules are well defined, so most of the work is simply staying on schedule.

Advice worth following

Confirm live animal acceptance on every flight segment before booking. Not all aircraft or connections take pets, and cargo terms can differ leg to leg.

Keep every original document together and take copies. Border officials want originals, and a missing signature or date can hold up clearance.

Work backwards from your travel date and add a buffer. Fixed waiting periods mean a single slipped appointment can push the whole move back by weeks.

Check the airline’s crate size and labelling rules early. An undersized or wrongly labelled crate is a frequent reason pets are refused at check-in.

FAQ

Common questions

72 hours. The pet must leave Australia within that window, so confirm the flight booking before applying for the permit, not after. Source: agriculture.gov.au, checked 15 July 2026.
No. MAG does not require a rabies titre test for pets arriving from Australia. A current vaccination record, a health certificate and a MAG import authorisation are what the destination side actually asks for.
No. Every routing connects through at least one US or Central American hub, typically Los Angeles, Houston or Miami, before a final Avianca sector into San Salvador.
USD 9.04, valid for 30 days from issue and covering one entry only. It can be applied for in advance or completed at the point of entry in San Salvador on the day of arrival.
Airline guides
  • Qantas Freight
  • United Airlines
  • Avianca
Breed guides

Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.

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Move your pet to El Salvador.

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AU SVAustralia to El Salvador
International pet transport route
Lead time5-8 weeks
QuarantineNone
ComplexityMedium
Airlines3
ServiceDoor to door
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