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Hello, I am shipping my 2 dogs on a United Airlines cargo flight on April 21st and they’ll be arriving in San Jose on the 22nd at the same time my husband and I will be arriving in San Jose. I was told I need to hire a customs broker for the process of getting them into the country. Does anyone have an English speaking broker in mind that they could recommend? Also, I know there will be customs fees for this whole process, can anyone tell me an average amount to expect? I read that they can charge around 24% of the “market value” of your dog, my dogs are mixed rescue dogs so I assume their “market value” is on the lower side since they aren’t full blooded, expensive dogs, correct?
Thanks so much for any input!
Sarah
Hi Sarah,
We recently brought our two American bull dogs in and we did not use a broker. We just made sure all their paper work was in order and the vet letter had the official US stamp on the header. It can not be older than 10 days before they travel. Their Rabies shot has to be 30 days before they travel.
Good luck, our dogs Love it here!![quote=”marianneleyh”]Hi Sarah,
We recently brought our two American bull dogs in and we did not use a broker. We just made sure all their paper work was in order and the vet letter had the official US stamp on the header. It can not be older than 10 days before they travel. Their Rabies shot has to be 30 days before they travel.
Good luck, our dogs Love it here!![/quote]Thanks, that sounds easy! Did you ship your dogs on a cargo plane or were they on a plane with you? I read that it’s a lot easier to get them through customs if they come on the same plane with you.
The dogs flew with us but we booked their space right away as they only take so many animals on a flight.
When flying United, unless you have a ‘in cabin’ pet, they fly [url=http://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/travel/animals/petsafe.aspx]’Petsafe'[/url] not so with all other airlines where they can be considered ‘excess baggage’.
Traveling as ‘cargo’ on other airlines, [i]usually[/i] is because the animals are over 100lb including kennels, plus additional expenses since you are not on the same flight.
Expect the brokers fee to be in $$$’s.[quote=”costaricafinca”]When flying United, unless you have a ‘in cabin’ pet, they fly [url=http://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/travel/animals/petsafe.aspx]’Petsafe'[/url] not so with all other airlines where they can be considered ‘excess baggage’.
Traveling as ‘cargo’ on other airlines, [i]usually[/i] is because the animals are over 100lb including kennels, plus additional expenses since you are not on the same flight.
Expect the brokers fee to be in $$$’s.[/quote]Yes we had to fly them as cargo because one of my dogs is a boxer mix and american airlines (who we had already booked our flights with) doesn’t allow snub nose dogs to fly with them. We didn’t want to separate our 2 dogs so they’re both flying petsafe through united. I’m just trying to figure out how to get a hold of a customs broker to arrange their entry into the country.
Always helpful costirica finca–when I am ready to move there my dogs are little rescue twerps. I’ll use United and book way in advance so one can travel with me and one with my son.
Keep us posted on how things go for your babies and their trip coming up.
[quote=”costaricafinca”]When flying United, unless you have a ‘in cabin’ pet, they fly [url=http://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/travel/animals/petsafe.aspx]’Petsafe'[/url] not so with all other airlines where they can be considered ‘excess baggage’.
Traveling as ‘cargo’ on other airlines, [i]usually[/i] is because the animals are over 100lb including kennels, plus additional expenses since you are not on the same flight.
Expect the brokers fee to be in $$$’s.[/quote]We bring our dog down to Costa Rica every year for the winter.
The first year (2012) we came on United to San Jose and our dog had to travel Cargo because that’s United’s policy for dogs in the baggage dept.
For the last 3 years we travel on American because they don’t consider dogs in the baggage dept as cargo unless you are not on the flight with them. (Cargo is just a designation – the pet travels in the same place whether he’s defined as cargo or excess baggage.) Since he is considered excess baggage, we do not need a broker and American Airlines charges $175 (each way). Now he is out with the baggage before we are through Customs.
With Cargo he had to go through some Import process (which they said included a vet checking him out but the plastic ties on the kennel were not removed so if a vet looked at him it was through the kennel).
This process took at least 2 hours (after we were through Customs) and we had to go pick him up with the broker in some warehouse near the airport.
United charged about $350 each way (our dog and his kennel weigh about 50 pounds) and we paid the broker about $100 each way.
Whether he travels cargo or baggage you need a valid rabies certificate, and the USDA certificate of good health (make sure it has the raised seal).
I will say that after the first trip by cargo, we have flown in and out of Liberia with American (not San Jose), not that the process would be any different, just an easier airport.
3 years ago they wouldn’t accept brokered dogs in Liberia because of they were staffed for the import process but that could have changed.
Delta will not ship pets as [url=http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/agency/news-for-travel-professionals/june-2014/delta-amends-pets-as-checked-baggage-policy-for-liberia–costa-r.html]’Baggage’ into LIR[/url]
LIR still does not have cargo service or allow any pets to fly into this airport without the owner on the same flight …[url=http://www.petmovingservice.com/pet-travel-services/pet-travel-information/move-a-pet-to-costa-rica/]so none accepted as cargo.[/url]
Check with your airline!!
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