Each country has its own requirements for the entry of companion animals into its territories. Compliance with these requirements is verified by a document called the International Veterinary Certificate (CVI), which in Argentina is issued by the National Agri-Food Health and Quality Service (SENASA).
The process for obtaining it is very simple and offers different management modalities for users to choose from. However, there is a common denominator in the process: the importance of anticipating and consulting the destination's requirements on the SENASA website.
● Find out the requirements of the destination country at mascotas.senasa.gob.ar and check the cost of the procedure.
● Visit your trusted veterinarian. Bring them the list of requirements and deadlines (rabies vaccine, health certificate, and others depending on the destination) and gather all the documentation.
● Choose how to process the CVI. There are several modalities, detailed below.
● Travel with the CVI. Carry it with you along with the original rabies vaccination certificate.
If you are traveling to Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, or Uruguay (destinations that account for around 90% of demand during high season), or by land to Tierra del Fuego passing through Chile, you can do everything online through the Pet System with the Digital CVI: first, the documentation is uploaded, then payment is made, and the user receives the certificate by email, ready to download and print. It is not necessary to go to an office or bring the pet, nor are intermediaries needed. The application can be initiated any day, 24 hours a day, although it is processed on business days.
Appointments can be self-managed through the Pet System, up to 30 days before the trip, at authorized offices. There, the user uploads the data of the person, the pet, and the destination, chooses the modality and the office, generates the vouchers, and pays the cost of the procedure before attending. On the day of the appointment, the traveler must present themselves with the original and copy of the documentation and with the pre-certificate number. It is also not necessary to bring the pet.
An important detail: if the documentation has errors or missing information, the deadlines may be extended. In addition, the CVI has a limited validity (60 days for round trips, as long as the rabies vaccine is still valid), so it is not advisable to process it too early or too late.
● Choose only one modality when starting. Managing it through different channels can hinder the application.
● Each certificate covers only one pet: if traveling with more than one, a separate application must be made for each.
● Review the documentation before uploading it to avoid repeating the process.
To receive guidance on the matter, users can write to responde@senasa.gob.ar, contact via WhatsApp at +54 11 3585-9810, or visit SENASA offices.
