The guide
USA to Honduras with your dog
Written by a Bay Islands resident who has made this trip more than once. Every requirement, in order, so nothing gets missed at the airport.
Verify before you fly.
- 01
Required vaccinations
Your dog needs a full standard vaccination series plus a Leptospirosis vaccine — this one is frequently overlooked and is a hard requirement for entry into Honduras.
- Heartworm antigen test
- Bordetella
- DHPP — Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza & Parvo
- Rabies — first shot 30+ days before arrival, no more than 1 year prior
- Leptospirosis vaccine
Recommended but not required: Simparica Trio and a fecal exam, for peace of mind.
- 02
USDA approved health certificate
Required for entry. Must be signed by a USDA-approved vet. As of July 2026 Honduras does not require the additional USDA office endorsement on the health certificate itself — but confirm before you travel. Valid for 30 days from the issue date.
📍 Find a USDA-approved vet near you: use the official USDA APHIS search tool — search by state or zip code.
- 03
CDC Certification of U.S.-Issued Rabies Vaccination
This is a newer requirement and it catches people out — including us. Alongside the health certificate, your vet must complete the CDC Certification of U.S.-Issued Rabies Vaccination form and submit it to the USDA. It certifies that your dog's rabies vaccine was issued in the United States.
Ask for it by name at the same appointment as your health certificate — one visit, both documents. Your vet submits it through the USDA's VEHCS system; you keep the endorsed copy with the rest of your paperwork.
Ask your vet for this by name. It is easy to complete while you are still in the US and a headache to sort out afterwards. If your vet has not come across it, CDC publishes instructions for USDA-accredited veterinarians. - 04
International microchip
Your dog must have an ISO-standard 15-digit microchip meeting ISO 11784/11785 — about the size of a grain of rice. HomeAgain is a solid brand: it includes a 24/7 lost pet helpline and travel assistance. You do not need a HomeAgain chip to use their services.
- 05
Arriving in Honduras
Before you exit baggage claim — visit the SEPA office inside the airport. Present your shot records, USDA health certificate, rabies certificate and microchip documentation.
Processing takes a few minutes. You receive a Certificate of Inspection with an approval stamp and a receipt.
💳 Fee: L.525 (~$25 USD) — card only, no cash accepted. Worth knowing before you are standing at the counter. - 06
Returning to the USA
To re-enter the USA you need an exit health certificate from a local Honduran vet. This takes several days — contact a vet well in advance. There is a promissory note option where the vet delivers the documents to the airport after you have left.
Recommended provider
Del Bosque Veterinary Clinic
Dixon Cove, Roatán — minutes from the airport
Currently the recommended clinic for exit health certificates. 24/7 emergency services, clinical lab, X-rays and ultrasound on site.
Free printable checklist
Download the checklist, and hear about it when the rules change
A one-page PDF with all 13 items, what each one costs, and the phone numbers you will actually need. Print it, tick it off, take it to the airport. Yours straight away — no waiting on an inbox.
We'll also email you when the requirements change. They do change — the CDC rabies certification appeared with no announcement most owners ever saw, and we found out about it the hard way. If something moves before your trip, you hear it from us.
