Lead time needed
9-12 weeks
Quarantine
None
Route complexity
Medium
Airlines
3 carriers on this route
Start my quote
AU
GT

Pet Transport from Australia to Guatemala

Relocating a pet from Australia to Guatemala follows a clear path once you understand what Guatemala asks for. Allow around 9-12 weeks and follow the steps in order to stay on track. Pets with correct documentation skip quarantine entirely. A rabies titre test …

In short: Preparing to move a pet from Australia to Guatemala typically takes around 9-12 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 Guatemala 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
Start of planning.
Fit an ISO microchip if not already done, ahead of any rabies vaccination.

Responsible: Your Australian vet

2
6-8 weeks before travel.
Rabies vaccination given, at least one month before travel, dated clearly on the card.

Responsible: Your Australian vet

3
At least 10 working days before your planned departure.
Lodge the Notice of Intention to Export with your regional DAFF office.

Responsible: You, via DAFF

4
Before departure, sequenced after the NOI.
Complete the pre-export veterinary health and welfare inspection with your registered vet, then the certifying veterinary officer appointment.

Responsible: Your vet and a DAFF-certifying veterinary officer

5
6-10 weeks before travel.
Book the routing: Qantas or another carrier to a US gateway, then American, United or an interline partner on to Guatemala City.

Responsible: You or your agent

6
On arrival in Guatemala.
Present certificates for OIRSA inspection at the port of entry and pay the weight-based fee, roughly USD 14.

Responsible: You, at the port of entry

Requirements

What your pet needs to enter Guatemala

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

Microchip
Not explicitly required under MAGA's published general guidance for pet dogs and …
Rabies vaccination
Required. The vaccination card must be signed and stamped by a vet, confirming …
Rabies titre test
Not required for a pet entering Guatemala from Australia. This is purely a …
Quarantine
No quarantine described in MAGA's published general guidance for an animal that …
Import permit
No separate MAGA import permit process was found for Australian-origin pets, …
Health certificate
Health certificate signed and stamped by the Australian vet, recording the …
Export permit
A Notice of Intention (NOI) to Export Live Animals must be lodged with the …
Costs

What this route typically costs

DAFF export health certificate and pre-export vet inspection: AUD …
OIRSA port-of-entry inspection fee: approximately USD 14, scaled to …
IATA-compliant travel crate: AUD 150-450 if not already owned
Cargo Australia to Guatemala City via a US gateway: AUD 2,500-5,500 …
Specialist agent fees, recommended given the multi-leg routing: AUD …
Typical all-in total for a mid-size dog: AUD 3,300-7,300. Treat this …

Critical points

There is no direct flight from any Australian city to Guatemala City. Every routing runs through a US gateway, commonly Los Angeles or Dallas Fort Worth, adding a full extra sector and a long total transit, often 24 hours or more door to door.

DAFF will not process the export without 10 working days' notice via the Notice of Intention form. Owners who leave this to the last minute are the ones who miss their booked flight.

MAGA's detailed bilateral protocol, the one naming specific core vaccines and a parasite treatment, is documented for US-origin pets, not Australian ones. Confirm directly with MAGA that no additional conditions apply before you finalise dates.

Airlines

Approved carriers for this route

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

Qantas
Qantas has no service into Central America, so it only ever covers the first sector: …
Cargo Only
American Airlines
American Airlines Cargo (PetEmbark) operates the realistic second leg, connecting Dallas …
Cargo Only
United Airlines
An alternative routing via Houston (IAH), useful if American's Dallas or Miami cargo space …
Cargo Only

How Guatemala handles incoming pets

Guatemala has a clear set of import requirements that are manageable with some planning. Follow them in order and keep an eye on the dates that cannot move.

What experienced owners do

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.

Ask about temperature embargoes for your travel window. Summer and winter cargo restrictions can rule out certain routes and dates entirely.

Microchip before you vaccinate. The microchip must be in place before the rabies shot for the vaccination to count, and getting this order wrong is the most common and costly mistake.

Use an official, government-authorised vet for the health certificate, not just your usual clinic. Many destinations only accept certificates signed by an approved vet.

FAQ

Common questions

No. Guatemala’s published general import guidance does not require a rabies titre test from any origin country, Australia included. A current rabies vaccination given at least a month before travel and a vet-signed health certificate are the core requirements. Source: MAGA/VISAR and La Hora, 17 October 2024.
No. There is no direct passenger or cargo service from any Australian city to Guatemala City (GUA). Every routing connects through a US gateway, typically Los Angeles or Dallas Fort Worth, with a second carrier such as American Airlines Cargo completing the journey.
At least 10 working days for the Notice of Intention to Export, lodged with your regional DAFF office. The pre-export veterinary inspection and the certifying veterinary officer appointment both have to happen inside that window before the health certificate is issued. Source: DAFF, checked 15 July 2026.
MAGA’s published general guidance for pet dogs and cats doesn’t describe a routine quarantine for an animal arriving with correct paperwork. Confirm current practice directly with MAGA or OIRSA close to your travel date, since published guidance can lag actual border practice.
Airline guides
  • Qantas
  • American Airlines
  • United Airlines
Breed guides

Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.

Browse all breed guides →

Move your pet to Guatemala.

Get my free quote
AU GTAustralia to Guatemala
International pet transport route
Lead time9-12 weeks
QuarantineNone
ComplexityMedium
Airlines3
ServiceDoor to door
Get a free quote for this route
Chat with us