Bringing a dog or cat to Paraguay: requirements, process, costs

The official requirements at a glance

For importing a dog or cat as a companion animal, Paraguay requires a fixed set of documents. They depend on each other in terms of timing, so the order matters more than any single requirement. The following points count as the official rule:

• →ISO microchip: 15-digit transponder to ISO 11784/11785, mandatory and the basis for the entire identification.
• →Rabies vaccination: valid, administered between 30 days and 12 months before entry.
• →Minimum age: the animal must be at least 90 days old at the first vaccination.
• →Waiting period: after a first vaccination, wait 21 days before starting the trip.
• →No rabies titer test: unlike in many countries, no blood test for antibodies is required.
• →No import permit for companion animals: only commercial imports need a permit.
• →Veterinary health certificate: issued within 10 days before entry, then certified and legalized (see separate section).
• →No published breed list and no quarantine, provided all requirements are met.

Rabies vaccination, age and waiting period

The core of the import is the rabies vaccination, and this is where the most common source of error lies. At the time of entry, the vaccination must be between 30 days and 12 months old. If it is younger than 30 days, the immunity is considered not yet sufficiently built up; if it is older than 12 months, it is no longer valid for entry.

For very young animals, two additional conditions apply: the animal must be at least 90 days (about 3 months) old at the first vaccination, and after this first vaccination a 21-day waiting period must be observed before starting the trip. A puppy can therefore meet the travel requirements at roughly four months old at the earliest.

Alongside the mandatory rabies vaccination, the usual protective vaccinations are advisable. They are not a requirement for entry, but they are part of a complete vaccination record and are recommended for Paraguay.

• →Dogs: distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis and parvovirosis.
• →Cats: rhinotracheitis, panleukopenia and feline leukemia virus.

Health certificate, certification and legalization

Besides the vaccination record, the animal needs a veterinary health certificate. The certificate must be issued within 10 days before entry, so it must not be prepared too early. A vet examines the animal, confirms fitness to travel and state of health, and enters the details of the microchip and rabies vaccination.

Then comes the step many underestimate: the certificate must be certified by the state veterinary authority of the country of origin and afterwards legalized at the responsible Paraguayan consulate. In Germany the official confirmation is a matter for the responsible veterinary authority, after which the document goes to the consulate for legalization. Because the certificate may be issued only 10 days before entry, this window is tight and needs to be organized in advance.

SENACSA check at Silvio Pettirossi airport

Entry with an animal runs through Silvio Pettirossi international airport in Asunción. The responsible authority is SENACSA, the state animal health authority. On arrival it carries out the zoosanitary check: an official vet reviews the documents, matches the microchip and examines the animal.

If the documents are complete and consistent, there is no quarantine. The cost of the check on arrival is borne by the importer, meaning you as the animal's owner. There is no published list of banned breeds; the classification is based on the health and vaccination status, not on the breed.

The flight: airlines, routes and the heat embargo

In practice the transport is the real challenge, not the entry itself. According to real-world reports, there is no Lufthansa passenger connection to Asunción. The only EU nonstop connection is Air Europa from Madrid to Asunción. Anyone departing from Germany, Austria or Switzerland therefore either travels to Madrid first or picks a connecting route.

For transport in the cabin, Air Europa experience values are roughly 155 to 181 USD, and roughly 310 to 361 USD for the cargo hold (in early July 2026 the rate was about 6,076 Gs. per USD; the USD amounts are rough bands and can change seasonally). In the cabin, animals up to roughly 10 kg including the carrier are allowed; in the cargo hold up to roughly 50 kg including the crate; in business class it is not possible to bring an animal. The seasonal heat embargo is important: between June 15 and September 15, animals are not carried on connections via Madrid during the hot hours of the day (according to the provider, about 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.).

Anyone who does not want to or cannot fly via Madrid uses connecting routes via São Paulo or Buenos Aires. Pure cargo solutions via specialized pet transport agencies often cost 200 to 600 EUR and more according to real-world reports, before agency fees are added. In any case, register the animal with the airline at least 72 hours before departure, otherwise you risk no space being reserved.

Timeline: when to start with what

Because several deadlines interlock, it pays to plan backwards from your intended flight date. The critical path is the rabies vaccination with its 21-day waiting period and the health certificate with its tight 10-day window before entry.

• →Early: have the microchip implanted (if not already present) and plan the rabies vaccination so that it is between 30 days and 12 months old at entry.
• →After the first vaccination: observe the 21-day waiting period before starting the trip.
• →About 2 to 3 weeks before: arrange the certificate appointment with the vet as well as certification by the veterinary authority and legalization at the consulate, and inform the airline.
• →At least 72 hours before: register the animal with the airline as a firm booking.
• →Within 10 days before entry: have the health certificate issued, then complete the certification and legalization.