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Case Study – Flying to Costa Rica With A Guide Dog

Updated as of July 16, 2024

In  this entry, we explore traveling with a service animal to and from Costa Rica on American Airlines. Even if you are traveling by air with a guide dog to another country or on a different airline, the information below provides a good starting place for determining what steps you need to take for the trip. As always, please reach out to the Bridges Helpdesk anytime for information or support.

U.S. Government Regulations

U.S. Department of Transportation

The U.S. Department of Transportation requires U.S. airlines to recognize and transport services animals so long as several requirements are met. The individual who uses the service animal must complete a U.S. DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form (attesting to the health, behavior, & training of the service animal). American Airlines requires this form to be submitted at least 48 hours prior to the flight.

Please note that all U.S. airlines are permitted to deny transport to a service animal if any of the following are true about the service animal:

  • Violates safety requirements – e.g., too large or heavy to be accommodated in the cabin;
  • Poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others;
  • Causes a significant disruption in the cabin or at airport gate areas; or
  • Violates health requirements – e.g., prohibited from entering a U.S. territory or foreign country.

Airlines may also deny transport to a service dog if the airline requires completed DOT service animal forms and the service animal user does not provide the airline these forms.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

When re-entering the United States, the service animal user must provide more information. So long as travel into the U.S. will be completed by July 31, 2024, the following rules apply:

  • In addition to the forms required to leave the U.S., there is an additional requirement because Costa Rica is NOT free from Screwworms:
    • Dogs traveling from countries or regions where screwworm is known to exist may enter the United States if they’re accompanied by a certificate signed by a full-time salaried veterinary official of the region of origin (official government veterinarian) stating:
      • The dog has been inspected for screwworm within 5 days before shipment to the United States, and
      • The dog is either free from screwworm, OR
      • The dog was infested with screwworm, held in quarantine, and treated until free from screwworm, before leaving the region.
  • For reference, please find this printout of the USDA Country Disease Status for Costa Rica

Costa Rican Government Regulations

Disability rights legislation

Costa Rica has legislation that provides strong protections for individuals with disabilities. According to my research Costa Rica protects the rights of disabled individuals to enter public places and be free from discrimination (Ley 7600 and Article 176 of its implementing regulations: “ARTICULO 176.- Perro guía: La persona ciega o deficiente visual que utilice el perro guía como apoyo a su movilidad, lo podrá ingresar a toda edificación pública, privada de servicio público y medio de transporte público.”).

Travel to Costa Rica with a dog

Regarding entry into the country, Costa Rica requires the following (as reported on the International Travel Service Dog Regulations web page on the Service Dog Certifications web site):

“To enter into Costa Rica with your Service Dog, you must have;

  • Rabies vaccination must have been given between 21 days to one year of entering Costa Rica. They will also accept a 3-year rabies vaccination. The dog must enter into the area at least 30 days prior to the vaccination’s expiration date.
  • The Veterinary Certificate for Costa Rica must be filled out within 14 days of entry. An alternate copy translated into Spanish is also required. The certificate must then be endorsed by the State USDA office (United States) or the CFIA office (Canada).
  • If you are traveling from the United States, you must also obtain a USDA health certificate for your Service Dog which has been endorsed by the USDA office.
  • An import permit from your flight
  • Internal and external parasite treatment within the last 15 days

Your Service Dog does not need to be microchipped to enter into Costa Rica.”

Thus, in order to travel to Costa Rica with any dog, the owner must provide the following:

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Requirements

Until July 31, 2024, the CDC can issue a CDC Dog Import Certificate allowing dogs to be imported from countries deemed as high-risk for rabies. Luckily, Costa Rica is not one of these countries (please reference the CDC’s High-Risk Countries for Dog Rabies web page for a current list), so this travel will likely not require a CDC Dog Permit. According to the CDC, for all travel into the U.S. until and including July 31, 2024, “Dog from Countries Without High Risk of Dog Rabies

Dogs that have NOT been in a high-risk country in the past 6 months may enter the United States through any port of entry, and importers are NOT required by CDC to present rabies vaccination documentation. However, when your dog enters the United States, you must provide a written or verbal statement your dog has NOT been in a high-risk country for rabies within the past 6 months or since birth if under 6 months of age. There is no limit to the number of dogs you can import.” From the CDC’s What Your Dog Needs to Enter the United States until July 31, 2024 web page.

For entry into the U.S. on August 1, 2024, or later, ALL dogs (including service dogs) must have a CDC Dog Import Permit. For more information, please reference the CDC’s From August 1, 2024, Onward: What Your Dog Needs to Enter the United States web page.

American Airlines Requirements

American Airlines does not impose any additional fees on passengers traveling with a service animal, but it does require submission of a completed U.S. DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form to be “to the Special Assistance Desk at least 48 hours before your flight. We’ll notify you as soon as your document is approved.” From the American Airlines’ Service Animal web page. This notice may be completed online “When you book or manage your trip online, choose ‘Add special assistance’ on the passenger details page.” or via telephone at 800-237-7976. From the American Airlines’ Special Assistance web page.

Oddly, American Airlines states that, for flights to the U.S.: “Only service dogs with an approved CDC Dog Import Permit, or that meet CDC U.S. vaccination and microchip requirements may fly on American.” From the American Airlines’ Service Animal web page. This is a HIGHER standard than what the CDC requires.

  • If the dog DOES meet the CDC vaccination and microchip requirements (be at least 6 months old, have an ISO-compatible microchip, have a rabies vaccination), ask the veterinarian to complete a CDC Rabies Vaccination and Microchip Record for the dog and submit that document to American Airlines.
  • If the dog is not microchipped, we recommend that the travel contact the American Airlines Special Assistance Desk (at 800-237-7976 or online via the Contact American web page) for clarification on this matter.

Conclusion

On the ground and in the air, animals that are verified as service animals (including guide dogs) are afforded greater rights than are pets. However, in the process of entering a country (either the U.S. or Costa Rica), guide dogs face the same requirements as pets.

In order to prepare for a trip to Costa Rica, a guide dog user will need to complete several forms, some of which must be completed by a USDA-certified veterinarian. As soon as possible, begin  completing these steps:

For more information on preparing for international air travel with your guide dog, please contact the Free Bridges Helpdesk.

Contact the Bridges Helpdesk for More Information

This unique project is being coordinated through The IMAGE Center of Maryland, a center for independent living in Towson, and it is funded by a grant from the Maryland Department of Education Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services.

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