Route guide
São Paulo → Buenos Aires
São Paulo to Buenos Aires is a straightforward South American crossing: both countries ask for a rabies vaccine and a standard health certificate, with no titer test, import permit, or quarantine on either end. LATAM and Avianca both offer cabin, checked-baggage, or cargo travel, so most owners can choose whichever suits their pet’s size. Forty days of lead time is more than the paperwork actually requires, since the main task is simply getting Brazil’s export certificate endorsed before travel. Buenos Aires entry is routine for a vaccinated, documented pet.
What this route involves
Flying from São Paulo to Buenos Aires means clearing Argentina entry rules on arrival and meeting your airline’s own conditions on departure. Below are both, plus the order to do them in.
Leaving Brazil
The certificate is endorsed on arrival by VIGIAGRO. Give yourself time — the endorsement chain from your vet to the government authority cannot be rushed at the airport.
See full entry rulesEntering Argentina
Entry to Argentina turns on a single document: an international veterinary certificate signed by your vet and endorsed by the official animal-health authority in your country. The rabies vaccination must be current and recorded on that certificate. No import permit is needed and there is no quarantine for compliant animals, although SENASA inspects every arrival. Allow roughly five weeks.
See full entry rulesAirlines on this route
Airline rules stack on top of the country rules above. Confirm both before you book.
Your chronological checklist
Work backwards from your travel date. Start the earliest step first — some cannot be rushed.
- 1 Implant an ISO 11784/11785 microchip22 days before travel
It has to come first: every later certificate references this number, and a rabies shot given before the chip usually does not count.
- 2 Rabies vaccination21 days before travel
Must be given after the microchip and be valid on the day you travel. Most destinations also require a minimum of 21 days between the shot and entry.
- 3 Book the flight and reserve the pet slot30 days before travel
Airlines cap how many animals travel per flight. The pet slot runs out well before the seats do.
- 4 Health certificate and official endorsement2 days before travel
Issued by an accredited vet close to departure, then endorsed by your government authority. This endorsement cannot be done at the airport.
- 5 Travel dayTravel day
Carry the originals plus copies of everything, arrive early, and keep the crate documents attached to the crate.