US
United States
✈️
GT
Guatemala
Pet Transport from the United States to Guatemala
6-9 weeks
Typical preparation
None
Quarantine on arrival
Moderate
Route complexity
✓ Managed
Full door-to-door service
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from United States to Guatemala
typically takes around 6-9 weeks.
There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets.
A rabies titre test is not required.
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Overview
The journey from United States to Guatemala for a pet is straightforward to plan once the key dates are mapped out. Give yourself close to 6-9 weeks so none of the fixed waiting periods catch you out. Compliant pets are not held in quarantine on arrival.
No rabies titre test is required. Work through the steps below in order and you will arrive in good shape.
Step by step
The United States to Guatemala process
1
6-8 weeks before travel.
Contact MAGA directly to open the import permit process. This has to be resolved before embarkation, so start it early rather than treating it as a formality.
Responsible: You
2
At least 30 days before travel.
Confirm the rabies vaccination and the additional core vaccines (distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus for dogs; the equivalent feline set for cats) are current.
Responsible: Your USDA-accredited vet
3
Timed to your vet's recommendation ahead of the certificate appointment.
Administer the internal and external parasite treatment required under the bilateral protocol, and get it recorded on the certificate.
Responsible: Your USDA-accredited vet
4
4-6 weeks before travel.
Book cargo or cabin space, confirming the carrier accepts live animals into Guatemala City and checking any Miami or Houston temperature embargo against your dates.
Responsible: You or your agent
5
Within the certificate's validity window before travel.
Get the International Health Certificate issued by a USDA-accredited vet and endorsed through APHIS eFile or VEHCS.
Responsible: USDA-accredited vet, endorsed via APHIS
6
On arrival in Guatemala.
On arrival, present certificates and the MAGA import permit for OIRSA inspection at the port of entry, and pay the weight-based inspection fee.
Responsible: You, at the port of entry
Checklist
Guatemala: entry requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Microchip | Not explicitly required in MAGA's general pet guidance, but the US export certificate needs a microchip reference anyway, so fit one regardless of what Guatemala's own paperwork asks for. |
| Rabies vaccination | Required, given between 30 days and 12 months before arrival, under the bilateral protocol MAGA documents specifically for US-origin pets. Source: MAGA/VISAR, referenced via APHIS export guidance and La Hora, 17 October 2024. |
| Rabies titre test | Not required for a pet entering Guatemala from the US. This is a Guatemalan import rule and applies regardless of the pet's country of origin. |
| Quarantine | No quarantine described in MAGA's published general guidance for a pet arriving with the correct paperwork. No source confirms a guaranteed zero-quarantine outcome, so confirm current practice with MAGA or OIRSA close to your travel date. |
| Import permit | A MAGA import permit must be arranged before departure, not after. See the export requirements above; this is the single clearest procedural difference for US-origin pets compared with pets arriving from countries where no equivalent bilateral protocol is documented. |
| Health certificate | The USDA-endorsed International Health Certificate, translated into Spanish if not already bilingual, functions as the entry document at the Guatemalan side. |
Leaving United States of America
Export requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Export permit | No general US export permit for pets. What Guatemala actually needs is a MAGA-endorsed International Health Certificate, processed on the US side through USDA APHIS. |
| Health certificate | International Health Certificate for dogs and cats, issued by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and endorsed through the USDA APHIS eFile system or the Veterinary Export Health Certification System (VEHCS). Electronic signature and digital endorsement are both accepted. The endorsement fee runs to roughly USD 38 per certificate. Source: aphis.usda.gov/pet-travel/us-to-another-country-export/pet-travel-us-guatemala, last modified 30 July 2025. |
Costs
What this route typically costs
| 1 | USDA APHIS eFile or VEHCS endorsement fee: approximately USD 38 per certificate |
| 2 | USDA-accredited vet appointment, vaccinations and parasite treatment: USD 150-350 |
| 3 | MAGA import permit processing: fees not published; budget time more than money here, and confirm current cost directly with MAGA |
| 4 | OIRSA port-of-entry inspection fee: approximately USD 14, scaled to the animal's weight |
| 5 | IATA-compliant travel crate: USD 80-300 if not already owned |
| 6 | Flight, US gateway to Guatemala City direct: USD 700-2,000 depending on airline, cabin or cargo, and crate size |
| 7 | Agent fees: USD 250-600 |
| 8 | Typical all-in total for a mid-size dog: USD 1,200-3,300. Treat this as a planning estimate; confirm current figures with an agent before booking. |
Critical points
Read before you book
⚠ MAGA requires the import permit to be secured before the pet leaves the US, not arranged on arrival. This is the one step on this route that catches owners out, because it isn't the kind of same-day paperwork most international pet moves involve.
⚠ The bilateral MAGA-APHIS protocol names specific core vaccines and a parasite treatment for US-origin pets. A generic health certificate that only covers rabies is not enough; make sure your vet works from the full US-Guatemala list.
⚠ United's cargo pet service is currently suspended for regular customers and Delta's is restricted to military and State Department staff, so a larger dog needs to go through Avianca or American Airlines Cargo, not the other two carriers.
Carriers
Airlines on this route
Avianca
Runs direct services from Miami, New York JFK, Los Angeles and Washington Dulles into Guatemala City (GUA). Small pets travel in the cabin under 10kg combined weight; larger animals go as cargo in an IATA-compliant crate. Confirm current acceptance and any brachycephalic breed restrictions before booking.
American Airlines
Flies Miami (MIA) direct to Guatemala City, with cargo handled through American Airlines Cargo (PetEmbark). An 85F (29C) ground-temperature embargo applies at Miami, so check it against your departure date.
United Airlines
Connects Houston (IAH) to Guatemala City. United's cargo pet service is currently suspended for regular customers, so this is a cabin-pet option only; a large dog will need Avianca or American.
Delta Air Lines
Serves Guatemala City from Atlanta (ATL). Delta's cargo service is currently restricted to active US military and State Department staff with PCS orders, so most owners will use this route for cabin pets only.
Guatemala import rules, explained
Guatemala 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
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.
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.
FAQ
Common questions
Yes. MAGA documents a requirement for US-origin pets to hold a valid import permit secured before the animal leaves the United States. Contact the Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganaderia y Alimentacion directly during its published office hours to start this well before your travel date.
The APHIS eFile or VEHCS endorsement fee runs to roughly USD 38 per certificate, issued by a USDA-accredited vet. Vet fees for the appointment itself, plus any vaccination or parasite treatment needed, typically add USD 150-350.
No. Guatemala’s import rules do not require a titre test for pets arriving from any origin country, including the US. A current rabies vaccination, given between 30 days and 12 months before travel, is what’s required instead.
OIRSA, the regional agricultural health body, inspects pets at the Guatemalan port of entry and charges a weight-based fee of approximately USD 14, paid on arrival. This applies to every pet entering Guatemala regardless of origin country, so a US-origin pet pays the same fee as one arriving from anywhere else.
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