Pet import requirements for Guatemala
What Guatemala asks for before a dog or cat can enter — the microchip, the rabies work, the permit and the paperwork — and how far ahead you need to start. We handle all of it on a move we arrange.
Import rules change, and they change without notice. Last verified 2025-04-15 by the country-profile service Furry Freight uses; profile last updated 2025-09-15. Confirm every requirement with the authority named below, or with us on (424) 421-1650, before you book a flight or start any vet work.
Guatemala at a glance
| Requirement | For Guatemala |
|---|---|
| Microchip Not required | Not required |
| Rabies | Dogs and cats: rabies vaccine not less than 30 days and nor over a year of travel |
| Import permit | Import permit is issued during the customs clearance process |
| Minimum age to travel | No age limit |
| Customs clearance | Strongly advised |
| Agent at destination | Strongly advised |
Where this fits in the timeline. The order matters more than the effort: a rabies vaccination given before the microchip was implanted does not count in most regimes, and a titer test drawn too early restarts a waiting period. On a move we handle, we check your pet's existing dates against these rules on the free consultation before anything is booked.
The detail
No age limit. Central America. Arrival airports noted for this destination in clude GUA.
Import requirements
No age limit.
- International health certificate issued by the State Vet in the country of origin
- Rabies Vaccination
- Internal & external parasite treatments.
- Information On Health Certificateand Import.
5.
Other Animals:
Guatemala's Ministry of Agriculture (MAGA) requires a valid import permit prior to the embarkation and importation of animals.
Contact Information:
Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganadería y Alimentación
Teléfono: 2413-7000
Atención de lunes a viernes de 8:00 a.m a 4:30 p.m.
https://visar.maga.gob.gt/
Personal Pet Move only for pets traveling in the cabin. Contact the airline for guidance.
All pets arriving under an airway bill follow cargo customs procedures and payment of import duties.
Identification and microchip
Not required but recommended.
Rabies and vaccinations
Dogs and cats: rabies vaccine not less than 30 days and nor over a year of travel
Rabies more than 30 days less than one year for dogs and cats
Tests and treatments
None
Internal and external treatment reqired. Products in formation should be provided on Health Certificate.
Health certificate and permits
Original in ternational health certificate issued by the State vet in the country of departure (bilingual or with Spanish translation).
Information On Health Certificate
Import permit is issued during the customs clearance process
Restrictions and banned breeds
None
Customs, agents, and airports
Highly Recommended.
GUA airport
Airports listed on this destination file: GUA.
For pets traveling in the cabin, contact your airline. For pets traveling as cargo, the process is complex. Contact a broker to assist with the clearance. If you prefer to do it by yourself, contact MAGA and CUSTOMS.
Export notes
Extremely recommended to use a broker if a pet is traveling as cargo out of Guatemala.
Private vet health certificate issued by a license vet
Official export permit from MAGA
Vaccine records in cluding rabies, multiple vaccine, in ternal and external parasite treatments.
NOTE: Exporting pets out of Guatemala is very complex if owners are not present during the process
Other pets / CITES / extra rules
2008 NYC Conference
- PowerPoint
- Handouts
Presented by Rafael Golon, Cargo, S.A.
Official contacts
Ministry of Agriculture and Animal (MAGA)
Tel: +502 2413-7000
Current as of February 2024
Disclaimer
Import rules change without much warning. Confirm every vaccine date, test, permit, and crate routing with the destination veterinary authority before you travel. This page is a planning brief for Furry Freight customers, last checked against the IPATA country profile dated 2025-04-15.
Next: measure your dog, find the kennel size, then get a free travel quote. Moving on military orders? PCS moves. Going to Hawaiʻi instead? Hawaiʻi has its own regime.
Other destinations: Anguilla · Antigua and Barbuda · Argentina · all destinations
Official sources for Guatemala
- Information On Health Certificate visar.maga.gob.gt
- Guatemala's Ministry of Agriculture (MAGA) visar.maga.gob.gt
- www.maga.gob.gt maga.gob.gt
- Email Contact maga.gob.gt
Questions about moving a pet to Guatemala
Does my dog or cat need a microchip for Guatemala?
Not required
From the country profile, last verified 2025-04-15.
What rabies vaccination does Guatemala require?
Dogs and cats: rabies vaccine not less than 30 days and nor over a year of travel
Do I need an import permit to bring a pet into Guatemala?
Import permit is issued during the customs clearance process
How old does a puppy or kitten have to be to travel to Guatemala?
No age limit