Getting a pet from United Kingdom to Bolivia is a step by step process, and each stage has its own timing. Allow around 8-12 weeks and follow the steps in order to stay on track. Pets with correct documentation skip quarantine entirely.
A …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from United Kingdom to Bolivia
typically takes around 8-12 weeks.
There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets.
A rabies titre test is not required.
Regulations checked
Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
Step by step
The United Kingdom to Bolivia pet import process
Each step must be completed in a precise sequence. Start early. We manage every stage and deadline.
1
Fit a microchip if your pet does not already have one, then confirm or administer the rabies vaccination.
Responsible: Your UK vet
8-10 weeks before travel.
2
Write to SENASAG (or via your agent) to confirm the exact vaccination window and documentation Bolivia currently expects, since published guidance is less precise than the UK's own rules.
Responsible: You or your agent
8-10 weeks before travel.
3
Apply for the Permiso Zoosanitario de Importación (form SENASAG-IMP-FOR-001) through SENASAG. This must be granted before your pet leaves the UK.
Responsible: You or your agent, on SENASAG's portal
6-8 weeks before travel.
4
Book the London Heathrow to Madrid leg, then the Madrid to Santa Cruz Viru Viru nonstop with Air Europa or BoA.
Responsible: You or a pet transport agent
6-8 weeks before travel.
5
Obtain the Export Health Certificate from an APHA-authorised Official Veterinarian.
Responsible: APHA-authorised Official Veterinarian
Within 10 days of travel, to match APHA's own issuing window.
6
Take the Export Health Certificate to the Bolivian Consulate in London for legalisation, and arrange a certified Spanish translation of the full document set.
Responsible: You or your agent
Immediately after the certificate is issued, before departure.
7
Arrive at the Bolivian port of entry with the original import permit and the legalised, translated paperwork for final SENASAG inspection and clearance.
Responsible: SENASAG inspector at the port of entry
Day of arrival.
Requirements
What your pet needs to enter Bolivia
Every item below must be in place before your pet can travel. We manage and verify each one.
Microchip
Recommended and, where fitted, the chip number must appear on every document in the file. Bolivia does not enforce a strict chip-before-vaccine sequencing rule the way the UK does, but fitting it first avoids any dispute at the border. Source: SENASAG import requirements.
Rabies vaccination
Current rabies vaccination required. Guidance published for pet owners moving to Bolivia generally puts this at a minimum of 30 days before arrival, and the certificate must not be more than 12 months old. Confirm the exact window with SENASAG or the Bolivian Consulate before you vaccinate, since this is not spelled out as clearly as the UK's own rules. Source: SENASAG, pet transport specialist guidance, 2026.
Rabies titre test
Not required. Bolivia does not ask for a rabies titre test from pets entering the country, regardless of country of origin. Source: SENASAG.
Quarantine
None for a pet that arrives with compliant paperwork. Bolivian regulation allows for quarantine on non-compliant animals, and in the most serious cases a pet can be returned to origin or euthanised, so getting the paperwork right before departure matters more than usual. Source: SENASAG import regulations.
Import permit
Permiso Zoosanitario de Importación de Animales de Compañía, form SENASAG-IMP-FOR-001. This must be granted before the pet leaves the UK, not applied for after arrival. Source: SENASAG, vuce.gob.bo.
Health certificate
UK Export Health Certificate, endorsed by APHA and then legalised at the Bolivian Consulate in London. All supporting paperwork must be presented in Spanish at the Bolivian port of entry.
Export permit (United Kingdom)
No UK export permit is needed to send a pet abroad. What you need instead is an Export Health Certificate (EHC), completed by an APHA-authorised Official Veterinarian, built to match Bolivia's specific import requirements rather than a generic template.
Costs
What this route typically costs
APHA-authorised Official Veterinarian consultation and EHC: GBP 150-300
Bolivian Consulate legalisation fee: GBP 30-80
Certified Spanish translation of the document set: GBP 60-150
SENASAG import permit application: minimal fee, paid in Bolivianos
IATA-compliant travel crate: GBP 60-250
Pet-hold fare London to Madrid to Santa Cruz: GBP 1,200-2,800 depending on crate size and season
Agent and handling fees at both ends: GBP 250-500
Total typical range: GBP 1,750-4,000
Critical points to read before you book
SENASAG's own guidance on the exact rabies vaccination window for pets entering Bolivia is less precise than UK gov.uk publishes for the reverse direction. Different sources give different day counts. Confirm the current figure directly with SENASAG or the Bolivian Consulate in London before you vaccinate, rather than relying on a fixed number here.
The import permit has to be granted before your pet leaves the UK, not on arrival. Leaving this until the final week is the single most common way this route goes wrong.
All Bolivian paperwork must be presented in Spanish. A certified translation is not optional at the port of entry, and getting it done in the final 48 hours before travel is a needless risk.
Airlines
Carriers approved for this route
Not all airlines accept live animals on this route. We know which carriers to use and how to book.
BRITISH
British Airways
Flies London Heathrow to Madrid several times daily, the first leg of the only practical routing into Bolivia. Confirm current pet-in-hold acceptance and any seasonal heat embargo before booking.
Passenger Hold
IBERIA
Iberia
An alternative Heathrow or Gatwick to Madrid connection, worth comparing on transfer time and pet acceptance policy against British Airways for this route.
Passenger Hold
AIR EUROPA
Air Europa
Operates the nonstop Madrid to Santa Cruz Viru Viru (VVI) sector jointly with Boliviana de Aviación on Boeing 787 aircraft, roughly 11 hours, the only long-haul leg of the whole journey.
Passenger Hold
BOLIVIANA DE
Boliviana de Aviación
Co-operates the Madrid to Santa Cruz nonstop and publishes its own international pet fee. Its policy excludes brachycephalic dogs and cats from the cargo hold entirely, so check your pet's breed against that list first.
Passenger Hold
How Bolivia handles incoming pets
Bolivia 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
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.
If this is your first international move, consider an IPATA-registered pet transport agent. They handle the documents, airline booking and crate sizing, and can troubleshoot problems.
Get your pet used to the travel crate weeks in advance. A calm, crate-familiar animal travels far better than one meeting the crate for the first time at the airport.
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.
FAQ
Common questions about United Kingdom to Bolivia pet transport
No. Bolivia does not require a rabies antibody titre test from any country of origin, which puts it in a much less demanding category than the UK’s own unlisted-country rules. A current rabies vaccination and the right paperwork are the core requirements instead.
Bolivia requires the Export Health Certificate to carry a further stamp from the Bolivian Consulate in London before it will be accepted on arrival, on top of the standard APHA endorsement. This step catches owners off guard because it does not apply to most other destinations. Book the consulate appointment as soon as the certificate is signed, since it typically only stays valid for a short window.
No. Every pet moving this route connects through Madrid, flying from Heathrow or Gatwick first, then on the long Air Europa or BoA sector into Santa Cruz Viru Viru International Airport. There is currently no shorter routing available.
Budget roughly GBP 1,750 to GBP 4,000 all-in. That covers the APHA vet consultation and certificate, consulate legalisation, a certified Spanish translation, the crate, the London to Madrid to Santa Cruz flight, and agent fees at both ends. Crate size and season both affect the final figure.
Airline guides
British Airways
Iberia
Air Europa
Boliviana de Aviación
Breed guides
Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.
Get a free, fully itemised quote for your United Kingdom to Bolivia pet move. Our specialists will map out the entire timeline and costs. No surprises.