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Bringing a dog or cat from the United States to Guatemala is straightforward if you start the paperwork at least 30 days before travel. There is no quarantine for healthy pets, but the timing of the vet visit, the USDA APHIS endorsement, and the airline booking has to line up perfectly. This guide walks the full pipeline using 2026 rules from USDA, MAGA Guatemala, and the major US carriers.

Who writes this: We’re Guatemala Life, a Guatemala-based team. The rules below come from the agencies’ and airlines’ own published pages (USDA APHIS, MAGA-VISAR, and each airline’s pet page), listed under Official sources, with the date we read each one.

Paperwork on arrival: MAGA’s rules have you hand over a copy of the health certificate and of the vaccination record at the SEPA/OIRSA inspection, so travel with printed copies as well as the originals.

Quick summary: Vaccinate against rabies at least a month before travel, get a health certificate (MAGA accepts either the bilateral US-Guatemala export certificate or a certificate signed and sealed by a practising vet), have the documents in Spanish or bilingual, book the airline with pet capacity, and clear SEPA/OIRSA inspection on arrival, which costs $14.00 per animal. The rest of the cost depends on the airline, the pet’s size and whether it flies in cabin or cargo.

Cost breakdown

ItemCost (USD)Notes
Veterinary visit + health certificateSet by your vetUSDA-accredited vet only; each vet sets its own fee
USDA APHIS endorsement$101Per certificate when no lab tests are required (Guatemala requires none); the same fee on VEHCS or on paper (APHIS cost-to-endorse page, read 24 September 2026)
Airline pet fee — in cabin$125 (Copa, plus taxes, per flight) to $200 (Delta, each way)Each airline’s figure is in the airline table below (pet pages read 30 September 2026)
Airline pet fee — hold / cargoAvianca from $250; American PetEmbark quoted at bookingUnited ships pets as cargo only for certain active-duty military or State Department employees; Delta Cargo only for active-duty US military or Foreign Service staff with permanent change of station orders
SEPA/OIRSA inspection on arrival$14.00 per animalMAGA-VISAR pet-import sheet (read 23 September 2026)

Required documents

Bring physical printed copies: MAGA’s rules have you hand over copies of the health certificate and the vaccination record at the inspection.

  1. Health certificate — MAGA accepts, for dogs and cats from the US, either the two-page bilateral Certificado de Salud para la Exportación de Perros, Gatos de los Estados Unidos a Guatemala (available on MAGA-VISAR’s website) or a health certificate signed and sealed by a practising veterinarian, describing the pet, stating it was examined and found healthy, and listing vaccines and deworming. The USDA-endorsed APHIS route below is the common way US families produce it.
    • Spanish translation — MAGA requires documents written in a foreign language to be translated into Spanish.
  2. Current rabies vaccination certificate — vaccine must be at least 30 days old and not expired (1-year or 3-year vaccine accepted).
  3. Proof of additional vaccines (recommended but not formally required): DHPP for dogs, FVRCP for cats.
  4. Microchip number — printed on the health certificate (recommended).
  5. Airline confirmation showing the pet is booked on the same flight.
  6. Your passport — MAGA inspectors may ask for owner ID.

Step-by-step process

1. 60-90 days before travel — verify rabies status

Confirm your pet’s rabies vaccine will be valid on the date of travel and was administered at least 30 days prior. If you need to vaccinate, do it now — Guatemala counts the vaccination from the date of administration.

2. 30-45 days before travel — book the airline pet slot

Pet capacity per flight is limited and set by the airline. How you book differs: United adds the pet online when you book on united.com (not in the United app), Delta asks you to contact Delta Reservations, and Copa takes cabin-pet bookings through its sales offices or call center up to 48 hours before the flight.

3. 14 days before travel — schedule the vet visit

Find a USDA-accredited veterinarian at the USDA APHIS accredited vet locator. Not every vet is accredited; the accreditation is what gives them authority to issue the export health certificate that USDA endorses.

4. Shortly before travel — vet visit and health certificate

Your accredited vet performs a physical exam, verifies vaccinations, scans the microchip, and completes the Guatemala dog-and-cat export health certificate (APHIS’s Guatemala page links it; it is not the generic Form 7001). Many vets now submit the form digitally through the VEHCS (Veterinary Export Health Certification System) which speeds up the next step.

5. Before travel — USDA APHIS endorsement

The health certificate is endorsed by USDA APHIS Veterinary Services. Two paths:

  • VEHCS digital endorsement (recommended): Vet uploads to VEHCS, USDA endorses electronically, you print at home. Fee: $101 (no lab tests).
  • Paper mail-in: Vet completes paper form, you ship it to your USDA APHIS Endorsement Office, USDA endorses and ships back. Fee: the same $101. Allow for the mail in both directions.

Check with your airline whether it wants the USDA endorsement. On the Guatemalan side, MAGA’s published requirements accept either the bilateral export certificate or a veterinarian’s health certificate, together with the rabies vaccination record and the $14.00-per-animal inspection.

Correction (23 September 2026): this step previously said an un-endorsed APHIS 7001 will be rejected at the airport, and the page listed no inspection fee and no translation rule. MAGA-VISAR’s pet-import sheet (read 23 September 2026) accepts either certificate, charges $14.00 per animal for the SEPA/OIRSA inspection, and requires foreign-language documents to be translated into Spanish. See our corrections policy.

Correction (24 September 2026): USDA’s fee to endorse a dog or cat health certificate with no lab tests is $101, on VEHCS or on paper (APHIS cost-to-endorse page, read 24 September 2026). This page previously listed $38 digital / $173 paper and called the certificate APHIS Form 7001; for Guatemala, APHIS uses the bilateral dog-and-cat certificate.

6. Day of travel — airport check-in

Allow extra time. Airlines have a separate pet check-in process. Bring a printed copy of every document plus the pet itself (in carrier).

7. Arrival in Guatemala City (GUA) — MAGA-OIRSA inspection

After landing at La Aurora International Airport, follow signs for OIRSA / Sanidad Animal. Inspectors review the health certificate and vaccination record, scan the microchip if present, and stamp the certificate.

MAGA’s pet-import sheet does not give inspection hours at La Aurora. If your flight lands late at night, ask MAGA-VISAR or your airline before booking how a pet arriving at that hour is handled.

Airline-by-airline pet rules

Read on each airline’s own pet page on 30 September 2026. Capacity, fees and breed rules change; reconfirm at booking.

AirlineIn cabinHold / cargoIn-cabin feeCabin carrier limits
AviancaDogs and cats, pet + container up to 10 kgYes, pet + crate up to 70 kg; from USD 250From USD 170 between North America, Central America and the Caribbean (up to USD 20 more in high season when bought at points of sale, the contact center or agencies)10 kg combined
UnitedCats and dogs; up to 2 per person on most flights (the second needs its own seat)No PetSafe; cargo only for certain active-duty military or State Department employees$150 each waySoft-sided 11 x 18 x 11 in; hard-sided 9 x 17.5 x 12 in
AmericanCats and dogs, one carrier per passengerChecked pets only for active-duty US military and State Department Foreign Service staff on official orders; other pets through American PetEmbark (American Airlines Cargo), fee quoted at booking$150 per kennel (United States to Central America)Soft-sided 18 x 11 x 11 in; hard-sided 19 x 13 x 9 in (mainline) or 16 x 12 x 8 in (American Eagle)
DeltaDogs and cats outside the contiguous US, with the destination’s documentsDelta Cargo, until further notice only for active-duty US military or State Department Foreign Service staff with permanent change of station orders$200 each way (international)Recommends soft-sided 18 x 11 x 11 in; the maximum depends on the aircraft
CopaDogs and cats, pet + carrier up to 10 kg, one per passengerPets over 10 kg or that do not fit under the seat go through Copa Mascotas (cargo)USD 125 plus taxes, per flight (so a connection through Panama counts twice)Soft-sided 18 x 11 x 11 in

Breed rules: Delta’s pet-shipping page says brachycephalic (snub-nosed) dogs, cats and their mixes are not permitted on Delta or Delta Connection flights. Other airlines publish their own lists; check yours before booking.

Temperature limits: these are set by each airline. American will not carry a checked or cargo pet if the current or forecast temperature is above 85°F (29.4°C) at any location on the itinerary, and pets not in the cabin cannot travel to, through or from Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas or Palm Springs from 1 May to 30 September. Delta Cargo does not ship pets when the temperature exceeds 80°F (27°C) or falls below 20°F (-7°C) while the animal is on the ground at any point during travel.

Carrier (kennel) requirements

For pets in the hold, Delta requires a crate that complies with Container Requirement #1 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations and lets the pet stand, sit upright, lie down and turn around without touching the top or sides. American’s checked-kennel rules include:

  • Large enough for the pet to stand, turn, sit and lie down in a natural position without touching any side or the top
  • Made of wood, metal, plastic or similar materials, with a door of welded or cast metal
  • Ventilation on at least 3 sides for domestic US travel and 4 sides for international travel
  • Separate food and water dishes attached securely inside the kennel
  • Clean, with absorbent material (no straw, hay or wood shavings)
  • Combined pet and kennel weight of 100 lbs / 45 kg at most

In-cabin carriers must fit under the seat in front of you; each airline’s maximum is in the table above.

Bringing more than one pet

In the cabin, Copa allows one pet per passenger and American one pet carrier, while United allows up to 2 pets per person on most flights if you buy a second seat next to yours. One health certificate can list several animals (the Guatemala form has a total-quantity field). Two pets can share a kennel only on the airline’s terms: American requires the same species, a similar size, under 20 lbs each and an age between 8 weeks and 6 months; Delta allows 2 pets of the same breed and size between 8 weeks and 6 months if they fit.

Delta Cargo requires international customers to use a pet shipper approved by IPATA (the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association). Shippers quote each move separately; we have no sourced price range, so ask several for quotes.

Common mistakes

  • Vaccinating the rabies booster too late. MAGA’s rule is a rabies vaccination given at least one month before travel; count back from your flight date.
  • Using a non-USDA-accredited vet. Only USDA-accredited vets can sign the export health certificate USDA endorses. Confirm before scheduling.
  • Mail-in endorsement under a tight timeline. A paper certificate travels by mail to the endorsement office and back; VEHCS avoids the mail.
  • Assuming a budget airline takes pets. Pet rules differ by carrier; confirm the current policy before booking. (Spirit, once a low-cost option to Guatemala City, ceased operations on 2 May 2026.)
  • Skipping the carrier sizing check. American, Delta and Copa require the pet to fit comfortably inside its carrier, and United, American, Delta and Copa require the carrier to fit under the seat; measure against your airline’s published maximum before you buy.
  • Not checking breed rules. Delta, for one, does not carry snub-nosed breeds; check your airline’s list.

After arrival in Guatemala

  • Vet records: Bring the physical health certificate to your first Guatemalan vet visit. Many local vets keep the original on file.
  • Vaccinations: Continue the rabies and DHPP/FVRCP schedule on the Guatemala calendar.
  • Pet supplies: Local veterinary supply stores in Zonas 10, 14, and 15 of Guatemala City stock the main premium brands (Royal Canin, Hill’s, Pro Plan). Look for pet-supply stores in the major malls and veterinary pharmacies attached to clinics.
  • Emergency vets: Guatemala City has 24-hour veterinary hospitals; find one near your new home and save its number before you need it.

From what we see locally on pet transitions: dogs arriving from the US adjust to Guatemala’s altitude and dryness faster than owners expect — Guatemala City sits at ~1,500m, Antigua at ~1,530m, the highlands higher. Short-nosed breeds (pugs, bulldogs, boxers) occasionally need a few weeks of lower-intensity activity while they acclimate. Fleas and ticks are year-round here, not seasonal like in parts of the US, so keep the preventive treatment consistent from day one rather than waiting for dry season.

How we verified this

Last verified: USDA endorsement fee 24 September 2026; MAGA-VISAR pet-import sheet 23 September 2026; airline pet rules (Avianca, United, American, Delta, Copa) re-read on each airline’s pet page on 30 September 2026. Capacity and fees shift, so always reconfirm at booking. If you hit a discrepancy, email us and we’ll correct it.

Corrections & updates

Government processes change. If you encountered something different — a new USDA fee, an airline embargo, a MAGA procedure update, or a closed OIRSA counter — email us and we’ll update within 48 hours. We maintain a log of corrections to every page.

Correction (29 September 2026): the FAQ on exotic pets said birds, reptiles and ferrets fall under CITES rules as a group and listed a set of permits and a 60-90 day timeline. CITES applies to the species listed in its appendices, not to whole classes of animal, and we had no source for that permit list or timeline. The answer now gives the Guatemala-side rule we did capture: CONAP’s collections Normativo makes the import of any wild specimen subject to CONAP authorisation (Art. 36), and a live wild animal kept in captivity needs CONAP’s prior authorisation (Art. 8). The FAQ answers on total cost, cabin weight and which airlines carry pets, the $300-$1,500 total in the summary, description and cost table, and the Spirit / Frontier airline row and budget-airline tip no longer state figures or airline policies we had not sourced; Spirit ceased operations on 2 May 2026 and has been removed from the airline table.

Correction (30 September 2026): the airline table and cost table gave fee ranges, routes and cargo options we had not sourced, and some were wrong: United ended its PetSafe program and now flies pets in cargo only for certain active-duty military or State Department employees, and Delta Cargo ships pets only for active-duty US military or Foreign Service staff with permanent change of station orders; American’s cabin fee is $150, not $125; Delta’s international cabin fee is $200. The 85°F temperature rule is American’s own (Delta Cargo’s limit is 80°F), and the 17-19 inch carrier size was not any airline’s figure. Every airline row now comes from that airline’s pet page (read 30 September 2026). We removed the vet, rabies-vaccine, carrier, broker and $1,500-$5,000 relocation-service price ranges, the claim that American discontinued most pet cargo in 2021, and our statements about late-night inspection staffing and pets held overnight, none of which we could source.

Official sources

Airline pet rules verified 30 September 2026; USDA and MAGA figures as dated above. USDA fees, airline pet policies, and MAGA procedures change — verify with each agency before booking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Guatemala quarantine pets from the USA?

No. Guatemala does NOT impose a quarantine on healthy pets that arrive with an accepted health certificate and a rabies vaccination given at least one month before travel. For dogs and cats from the US, MAGA accepts either the bilateral US-Guatemala export health certificate or a health certificate signed and sealed by a practising veterinarian. Animals are inspected by SEPA/OIRSA on arrival, and MAGA charges $14.00 per animal for that inspection.

How long is the USDA health certificate valid?

For Guatemala, APHIS points US vets to the bilateral dog-and-cat export health certificate (not the generic APHIS Form 7001), and neither that certificate nor MAGA’s published requirements sets a validity window (checked 24 September 2026). Airlines set their own windows, so plan the vet visit around your airline’s rule.

What does it cost to bring a dog from the USA to Guatemala?

It depends on the airline, the pet’s size and whether it flies in cabin or cargo. Two fees come from the agencies’ own published pages: the USDA endorsement is $101 per certificate when no lab tests are required, and MAGA charges $14.00 per animal for the arrival inspection. The cost table below itemises the rest; confirm the airline fee at booking.

Can my dog fly in cabin to Guatemala?

Yes, if it fits the airline’s under-seat carrier rules, which each airline sets (Copa and Avianca cap pet plus carrier at 10 kg). A pet too big for the cabin is harder. On their pet pages (read 30 September 2026), United takes pets as cargo only for certain active-duty military or State Department employees, and Delta Cargo only for active-duty US military or State Department Foreign Service staff with permanent change of station orders; American accepts checked pets only from that group and sends other pets to its American PetEmbark cargo service; Avianca carries pets in the hold up to 70 kg including the crate; and Copa refers pets over 10 kg to its Copa Mascotas cargo department.

Do I need a microchip for my pet?

Microchips are NOT formally required by Guatemala for entry, but they ARE strongly recommended and are increasingly requested by airlines. ISO 11784/11785 (15-digit) microchips are the international standard.

What about wild or exotic animals, such as parrots or reptiles?

For a wild species, native or exotic, CONAP’s rules apply on the Guatemala side. CONAP’s collections Normativo (Art. 36) makes the import of ‘cualquier especímen silvestre’ (any wild specimen) subject to authorisation by CONAP’s Executive Secretariat, and once the animal is here, keeping it alive in captivity is a private wildlife collection that needs CONAP’s prior authorisation (Art. 8). Whether a particular species is CITES-listed is decided species by species, so check the species with CONAP before booking anything. Registration, the Q250 fee and the legal-origin documents CONAP accepts are on our CONAP page on wild animals as pets.

Which airlines actually allow pets from USA to Guatemala?

Avianca, United, American, Delta and Copa all publish in-cabin pet rules for dogs and cats; the table below gives each one’s fee and limits as read on its own pet page on 30 September 2026. Policies change, so confirm at booking; Delta and American each cap how many pets travel on a flight, and United takes cabin pets only if there is space available.

Do I need to apostille my pet's vaccine records?

MAGA’s published pet-import requirements do not ask for an apostille. They do require that documents written in a foreign language be translated into Spanish, so bring Spanish versions of the health certificate and the vaccination record (bilingual forms avoid the problem).