If you're like us, you prefer traveling with your dog vs. leaving them behind at home. But when you’re planning an international trip, like heading to beautiful Belize, there are essential steps and requirements to make sure both you and your dog can travel hassle-free. From vaccines to import permits, this guide breaks down everything you need to know to travel to Belize with a dog and get back safely to the USA.
Note: Always refer to the official USDA website for the most up to date information regarding traveling internationally with a dog. This article is not legal or medical advice only my amateur research and personal experiences!
Yes and no. In our experience we found that patios at restaurants were dog friendly and that most Belizeans liked dogs. However, we struggled finding dog friendly hotels (especially four and five start options) in Belize. That's not to say that high-end dog friendly hotels don't exist (checkout Turtle Inn in Placencia), there are just fewer of them than in other countries we've traveled with a dog to.
I will say that street dogs are a lot less common in Belize than in neighboring Mexico and even Guatemala. Coming to Belize straight from months in Mexico we found walking our dog around Belize to much easier and more enjoyable.
Something else to consider is that most activities in Belize will not allow dogs. This includes snorkeling (obviously), scuba diving (of course), wildlife tours including the baboon sanctuary, Mayan ruins, and more.
One last note about how dog friendly Belize is: the weather is hot and humid! If you have a dog that does not respond well to the heat, don't bring them. Many places in Belize (including many hotels and Airbnbs) don't even have air conditioning so your dog will get hot even in your hotel room.
When we traveled to Belize with our dog we arrived via the Mexico-Belize land border in our truck camper. It was a part of our Pan-American Highway roadtrip and if we're being completely honest I was a bit nervous (I'm not sure why though!). Most people traveling to Belize with a dog will arrive via plane at the Belize City airport (BZE) which (in my opinion) is generally a breeze.
We've flown with our dog on multiple airlines to multiple continents over the years and we've always had positive airport experiences when arriving in a new country. Since we arrived by land I can't vouch for what the Belize airport experience is like, but generally there will be people in customs directing your where to go.
Note: We have an entire blog post dedicated to traveling internationally with a dog which includes a lot more information about how to transport dogs to different countries. You can checkout that article here.
Our personal favorite is Delta because the process for bringing a dog in cabin is a breeze. Not to mention that most flight attendants love dogs and will also come by to make sure our dog is comfortable and doing okay during the flight. We've also had wonderful flying experiences with or dog on Alaska Airlines and American Airlines.
Most of our audience here is American and the flights from the lower 48 to Belize are relatively short (3-4 hours on average). However, if you're coming from farther away (say Europe) you'll need to consider and abide by your airline's long haul flight rules for pets. Generally this will include filling out a form saying that your dog will not go to the bathroom on the plane. Airlines will have very clear information on their website regarding dog size restrictions and protocol for long haul flights with pets.
Thankfully our dog, Kramer, is small enough to travel in cabin with us. Because of this we've never had to check him as luggage on the plane (thank goodness). While I can't personally say what it's like to have your dog travel with luggage on a plane, I've heard its very loud and can even be very dangerous (although my vet told me recently that airlines are being held to higher standards now). Even still, I'd only recommend traveling to Belize with a dog if your pet is small enough to travel in cabin since the airport tarmacs in Belize are almost always dangerously hot for dogs in the luggage section of the plane which aren't as climate controlled as the human cabins.
Like all countries around the world, Belize has a set of health requirements that your dog must meet before traveling with you. Belize is pretty straightforward and certainly one of the easier countries to travel to with your dog.
Your dog must have a rabies vaccination at least 30 days prior to travel. Make sure the vaccination is updated and documented on an official certificate from your veterinarian. Also be sure that your dog's rabies vaccine will not expire before you make it back to the USA otherwise you'll have issues going through customs in the USA.
Important note: Veterinarians in the USA often encourage the three year rabies vaccine but unfortunately much of the world does not. While Belize does accept the three year rabies vaccine option, if you plan to travel to other countries with your dog we'd recommend getting the annual booster instead.
These are standard vaccines in most dog health protocols in the USA and are required for many international pet travel regulations. While Belize doesn't require them, I would highly recommend them!
Tropical climates are ideal for ticks and fleas, so make sure your pup is treated with a reliable preventive medication. While tick and flea treatment isn't listed as required for pet travel to Belize on the USDA website, when we crossed the border into Belize the agricultural inspection officer asked us when he was last treated as did our vet when we got his international health certificate. Wait and give your dog his tick and flea protection treatment for when you're at your vet's office getting the health certificate because some vets want to witness you administering it.
Mosquitoes can carry heartworms, especially in warmer climates, so continue heartworm preventatives while in Belize is a must. We get the ProHeart 12 annual vaccine for our dog to protect him every year. Rather than giving him a monthly heartworm preventative pill (which can be easy to forget), we opt to have him vaccinated annually when he receives all his other booster shots.
To cross international borders with your dog, several documents are required. Failing to have these might result in your pup being denied entry, so it’s crucial to get it all right.
Your veterinarian must issue an International Health Certificate stating your dog is vaccinated and free of infectious diseases. This document must be signed and stamped no more than 14 days before you arrive in Belize. The process of getting a health certificate from your vet is super easy for Belize since Belize doesn't require it to be endorsed by the USDA. All you have to do is book an appointment with your vet for no more than 14 days before arrival in Belize and your vet will inspect and sign off on your dog's good health.
In the USA these international health certificates that are not endorsed by the USDA generally cost somewhere between $50-125 USD. However, since we were crossing the border from Mexico we paid a Mexican veterinarian for everything and it cost us about $35 USD.
Separate from the health certificate, you’ll need an official certificate proving your dog’s rabies vaccination. Make sure it includes essential details such as the date of vaccination, batch number, vaccine brand, and veterinarian's signature. From our vet this was a simple paper with all the necessary information on the office's official letterhead and signed by the veterinarian who administered the vaccine.
Alright, this is where I messed up BIG TIME traveling to Belize with my dog. In all the travels we've done with Kramer we've never actually needed to apply for an import permit. I was familiar and aware that many countries did require them, but in the chaos of everything else with driving through Mexico and crossing the border I got sloppy and didn't check myself. Also, the veterinarian in Mexico didn't say anything about needing an import permit which he should have since it was technically his job to help meet the requirements. Our veterinarian in the USA always goes above and beyond to help us cross all the t's and dot all the i's and I've gotten a bit spoiled leaning on her for help.
So, learn from my mistake: Belize requires an Import Permit for pets entering the country. You can’t skip this document, so follow the instructions in the next section carefully. If (like me) you forget to apply for the import permit and touchdown in Belize without permission, you'll have to pay a pricey fine. I can't remember the exact number but I know it was over $100 USD but think it was closer to $150. Ouch.
Because import permits for pets traveling to Belize must be applied for at least seven days in advance, we only had two options:
Honestly, going back to Mexico wasn't even really an option because the agricultural inspection was the very last step we had to go through when entering Belize. Our vehicle had already been exported out of Mexico and imported it Belize, and we had already had our passports stamped in and out of each country, too. Huge lesson learned. Do as we say and not as we do (did) this time!
The Import Permit is issued by the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) and is a legal requirement for bringing pets into Belize. Follow these steps to apply:
Reach out via email animalhealth@baha.org.bz to request an import permit application form. They're generally very responsive.
Provide details about your dog, including breed, weight, age, and vaccination history. Some applications may also ask for information about your intended stay (e.g., length of visit and accommodations).
Currently Belize will send your import permit on to your port of entry with a stamp that says "pay upon arrival." Credit cards were accepted when we paid our BAHA fees, but do note that oftentimes wi-fi is down in Belize which means credit card machines are down, too. Make sure you arrive in Belize with some US dollars ($25 USD should be enough but it doesn't hurt to have extra).
Once approved and paid for at the port of entry (airport), you’ll receive the permit that says your dog has been approved to enter Belize. Hang on to this form and keep at on you at all times when you're out with your dog in Belize because you can be asked to show proof of importation. (Side note: we were told we would be asked to show proof of importation while we were in Belize but not a single person ever did.)
Prior to 2024, returning to the USA with your dog after traveling internationally was a breeze. All you needed was their vaccine records and the customs officer would quickly check your dog upon entry. However, now there are a couple of new requirements for bringing your dog back to the USA due to some concerns of dog diseases spreading from breeders rapidly importing dogs (at least this is the reason we were told).
Now dogs are required to be microchipped and they must have a specific health certificate by the CDC signed off on by your veterinarian. The form required for returning to the USA is good for the entire life of your pet's vaccines so we'd recommend going ahead and getting your vet to complete this form at your animal's annual check up appointment.
Here are the items required for bringing your dog back to the USA:
Here’s a foolproof timeline to help you stay on top of everything:
I'm claiming this as the best veterinarian even though it's the only one we visited because our experience was so good.
Quick story: While in Belize our dog got dangerously sick with a parasite. We had never seen him this sick ever before and we were terrified. When he became suddenly ill we were camping off the grid in Belize and it was at night on a federal holiday so most vet offices were closed. We found this veterinarian with emergency care in Belize City and booked it to get our dog there to have him seen by the vet ASAP. While having our dog admitted to the hospital for two nights was scary, the care he received from the veterinarians and assistants was wonderful! They were thorough and recognized he was a member of our family, not just a dog which really helped.
In the off chance your dog gets sick while in Belize we'd highly recommend this veterinarian in Belize City!
Animal Medical Center
Address: Belama Ph II, Michael DeShield Ln, Belize City, Belize
Phone: +501 223 3781
Regular office hours: Sunday: closed, Monday-Thursday 7:30 AM-6:00 PM, Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM, Saturday 8:00 AM-2:00 PM
Emergency office hours: I'm not sure of their exact emergency office hours, but we were told if we wanted our dog to be seen that night we had to have him there by 10:00 PM. Call in advance and ask if someone can see your pet. There's always someone on property and generally they can see you in an emergency.
Yes, you can now bring your dog on the ferry to San Pedro, Belize! I was told this is a recent change so this is good news for people like us. Keep in mind that dogs must rain in an approved crate the entire duration of the ferry ride (~1 1/2 hours from Belize City). If you're dog arrived in Belize in a crate on a plane then that crate should suffice. If for some reason you do not have a crate with you then you can rent one from the ferry company. We'd recommend reserving your dog's kennel in advance if you'll need to rent one.
No, Belize does not require your dog to be microchipped but the USA does. Therefore if you plan to bring your dog back to the USA then you'll need to have them microchipped by your vet at home prior to departure.
Yes! Your dog can go on vacation to Belize with you.
Traveling with a dog to Belize may take some preparation, but it’s worth it for the incredible memories you’ll make together. From playing in crystal-clear water to exploring vibrant market towns, Belize can be paradise for furry adventurers and their humans alike. Just ensure you plan carefully, follow all required steps, and give your pup extra belly rubs along the way!
Now that you’re in the know, it’s time to start your preparations. Have you taken your pup on an international trip before? Drop your tips in the comments below!
