Pet Transport from the United Kingdom to El Salvador
The journey from United Kingdom to El Salvador for a pet is straightforward to plan once the key dates are mapped out. Give yourself close to 6-10 weeks so none of the fixed waiting periods catch you out. Compliant pets are not held in …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from United Kingdom to El Salvador
typically takes around 6-10 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 El Salvador pet import process
Each step must be completed in a precise sequence. Start early. We manage every stage and deadline.
1
Confirm or implant ISO microchip
Responsible: Your UK vet
Before the export health certificate appointment.
2
Confirm current rabies vaccination
Responsible: Your UK vet
Before travel. Allow time to re-vaccinate if it has lapsed.
3
Apply for MAG import authorisation in El Salvador
Responsible: You or an El Salvador-side agent
Well ahead of travel; valid only 30 days once issued, so time it close to your travel date.
4
Book APHA-authorised vet appointment for Export Health Certificate 3946
Responsible: You
2-4 weeks before travel to secure the slot.
5
APHA-endorsed Export Health Certificate 3946 issued
Responsible: APHA-registered Official Veterinarian
Close to the travel date, per the certificate's validity window.
6
Book cargo or hold space on a routing to San Salvador
Responsible: You or your agent
4-6 weeks before travel.
7
Travel; present the export health certificate and MAG import authorisation to Salvadoran quarantine officials on arrival
Responsible: You
Travel day.
Requirements
What your pet needs to enter El Salvador
Every item below must be in place before your pet can travel. We manage and verify each one.
Microchip
Not explicitly mandated by MAG's published import guidance, but strongly recommended for identification and required in practice by most airlines and by the UK export process itself.
Rabies vaccination
A current vaccination record (cartilla de vacunacion) from the country of origin must accompany the pet, original or copy.
Rabies titre test
Not required by El Salvador for pets arriving from the UK.
Quarantine
No routine quarantine stated in MAG's published guidance for pets arriving with complete documentation.
Import permit
MAG import authorisation required in advance. Apply in person at MAG headquarters in Santa Tecla, online, or at the point of entry (international airport, land border, or port). Fee USD 9.04. Valid 30 days, single entry only, and cannot double as an export authorisation for a later return journey.
Health certificate
Official health certificate from the country of origin (the APHA-issued UK Export Health Certificate 3946) plus the completed MAG import application form.
Export permit (United Kingdom)
No general UK export permit for pet dogs and cats. The APHA-issued Export Health Certificate is the operative document for this route.
Costs
What this route typically costs
APHA vet appointment and Export Health Certificate 3946: GBP 150-350
Airline cargo or hold fee, London to San Salvador via a connecting hub: GBP 500-1,100 depending on routing and pet size
Total typical range: GBP 700-1,700
Critical points to read before you book
The MAG import authorisation is valid for 30 days only and cannot be reused for the return journey. Time the application to sit close to, but before, your actual travel date.
There is no direct London-San Salvador flight. Every routing involves at least one connecting hub, and pet cargo acceptance on that connection needs checking with the specific carrier and season.
Export Health Certificate 3946's guidance notes were last updated 2 February 2024. Confirm with APHA that no newer version has been published before relying on the specimen format.
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.
AVIANCA
Avianca
No direct London-San Salvador service. Standard routing connects via a European or North American hub onto Avianca's San Salvador network. Avianca launched a seasonal Madrid-San Salvador passenger route on 15 June 2026 (four times weekly, Airbus A330, wet-leased from Wamos Air); cargo pet capability on that specific service is unconfirmed. Avianca does not accept brachycephalic breeds as checked baggage or cargo.
Cargo Only
BRITISH
British Airways
No direct Heathrow-San Salvador service. Used for the outbound leg to a connecting hub (Miami, Houston, or Madrid). Pet cargo handled by IAG Cargo under IATA Live Animal Regulations; snub-nosed breed acceptance assessed case by case.
Cargo Only
AMERICAN
American Airlines
Routing via Miami (MIA). Confirm current cargo pet acceptance and any seasonal heat embargoes on the Miami-San Salvador leg before booking. This embargo concern applies mainly to dogs travelling into the US, not to a UK-origin pet transiting onward to El Salvador, but it is still worth checking given the same aircraft and route network is involved.
Cargo Only
El Salvador import rules, explained
El Salvador keeps its requirements reasonable, though a few steps have fixed timing. Map those out first and the rest falls into place.
Practical tips for this move
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.
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.
FAQ
Common questions about United Kingdom to El Salvador pet transport
No. El Salvador does not require a rabies titre test for pets arriving from the UK. You need a current rabies vaccination record, the APHA-issued Export Health Certificate 3946, and a MAG import authorisation obtained in advance. Source: mag.gob.sv, checked 13 July 2026.
It is the APHA export certificate written specifically for exporting cats and dogs from Great Britain to El Salvador. It is applied for online through APHA’s export health certificate service and must be signed by an APHA-registered Official Veterinarian. Guidance notes were last updated 2 February 2024.
MAG’s pet import authorisation costs USD 9.04. It is valid for 30 days from issue and covers one entry only, so it cannot be reused for a return trip to the UK.
No. As of July 2026, no airline operates London to San Salvador direct. Routing typically connects via Miami, another North American hub, or possibly via Madrid on Avianca’s new seasonal service that started in June 2026. Confirm current pet cargo acceptance with the carrier before booking.
Airline guides
Avianca
British Airways
American Airlines
Breed guides
Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.
Get a free, fully itemised quote for your United Kingdom to El Salvador pet move. Our specialists will map out the entire timeline and costs. No surprises.