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Bringing a Dog from the USA to Honduras: Requirements

Simple for one or two pets — no permit, just current vaccines and a report at the border — but confirm the exact vaccine timing with Honduras, and note the harder trip home for dogs.

Rules last verified against official sources: 2026-07-24

Planning for a cat instead? See the cat version of this route →

Pick your travel date to get a dated, backward-planned checklist. (This tool needs JavaScript; the full requirements are listed below either way.)

Honduras keeps it light for one or two pets: no import permit — you present an export veterinary certificate (APHIS does not endorse certificates for Honduras) and the pet's vaccination card with current vaccines, then report to the Quarantine (Cuarentena) authority at the port of entry and pay a small fee. Three or more pets need a Permiso Zoosanitario plus a private-vet home-quarantine attestation.

One honesty note: Honduras publishes its exact rabies age and timing rules in a vaccine annex rather than online, so this page shows the verified essentials and links the official source — confirm the specifics with Honduras SENASA/INFOAGRO before travel. And the return is the hard part: Honduras is on the CDC's high-rabies-risk list.

Minimum lead time: about 0 months (0 days). For 1–2 pets there's no import permit: an export vet certificate, a current vaccination card, and a report to Quarantine at the port of entry. Honduras publishes the exact vaccine timing in an annex — confirm it with SENASA before you fly.

The requirements, in order

Order matters — several steps are only valid if the earlier ones were done first. This is the same sequence the planner above turns into dated deadlines.

  1. Current vaccinations (rabies + species panel)
    Your pet must arrive with a vaccination card showing current, valid vaccines — rabies plus the canine or feline panel Honduras lists in its import annex. Honduras doesn't publish the exact minimum age or timing windows online, so confirm them with Honduras SENASA (INFOAGRO) before travel.
    Bringing a dog back to the US? Microchip it BEFORE the rabies shot — Honduras is CDC high-risk, so an out-of-order shot won't count for US re-entry.
    Official source ↗
  2. Export veterinary certificate (no USDA endorsement)
    A US veterinarian issues the export health certificate; APHIS does not endorse certificates for Honduras. Honduras doesn't publish a specific exam-to-travel window online — plan a recent pre-travel exam and confirm timing with Honduras SENASA.
    Official source ↗
  3. Report to Quarantine at the port of entry
    On arrival, report to the Quarantine (Cuarentena) authority with your export certificate and vaccination card, and pay the entry fee (Lps. 525 for 1–2 pets). Three or more pets require the Permiso Zoosanitario and a private-vet home-quarantine attestation, filed via the SENASA platform.
    Official source ↗

The return trip is the hard part (for dogs)

Because Honduras is CDC high-risk, a dog returning to the US needs a microchip implanted before its rabies shot, to be 6+ months old, a CDC Dog Import Form, and US-documented rabies (or a titer). Arrange the microchip and rabies before you go. Cats are exempt.

At the border

Report to Quarantine with your export certificate and vaccination card, and pay the entry fee (Lps. 525 for 1–2 pets). Bringing three or more pets moves you into the permit process — plan that well ahead.

Official sources

These are the only authorities on this route. If anything here disagrees with them, they win — and please tell us.

FAQ

Do I need an import permit for Honduras?
Not for one or two pets — you just present an export vet certificate and current vaccination card and report to Quarantine at the port of entry. Three or more pets need the Permiso Zoosanitario.
What are the exact rabies timing rules?
Honduras publishes these in a vaccine annex rather than online, so confirm the exact age and timing with Honduras SENASA (INFOAGRO). Keep vaccinations current and carry the vaccination card.
What about bringing my dog back to the US?
Honduras is CDC high-risk, so plan ahead: microchip before the rabies shot, dog 6+ months old, a CDC Dog Import Form, and US-documented rabies or a titer.
Is it different for cats?
The Honduran process is the same for cats; only the return leg differs — cats skip the CDC requirements. Use the cat toggle in the planner.

Other dog routes

Disclaimer: Preflight Pet is a planning aid, not legal or veterinary advice. Import rules change; airlines add their own requirements. Always confirm every step with the official government sources linked on this page, and with your airline and accredited veterinarian, before booking travel.