Traveling with a dog beyond Europe is always a bit trickier than moving around within the EU—especially when it’s South America and a long intercontinental flight. Paraguay doesn’t come up often among people traveling with dogs, but with the right preparation it’s a very manageable destination. It also has plenty to offer when you’re on the road with a dog—waterfalls, shorter treks, and city parks.
In this guide, we cover the official requirements for traveling with a dog from the EU to Paraguay, explain what you need to sort out before departure and when returning to Europe, and add our personal experience of the flight from Madrid to Asunción, which we took with our dog Ibo. That trip taught us it can be wise to carry more paperwork than the rules strictly require.
Paraguay from a dog-travel perspective
Paraguay is not a member of the European Union and, under veterinary regulations, is considered a third country outside the EU. In practice, the EU’s pet free-movement rules don’t apply, and both entry and return are subject to set requirements.
The good news is that, compared with some other South American countries, Paraguay has relatively clear and manageable entry requirements. The key is thorough preparation before you fly.
Preparing your dog for a trip to Paraguay
Before flying to Paraguay we had to complete a few tests and administrative steps so we could set off on such a long journey with peace of mind.
The key ones were:
- the dog had to be identified by a microchip,
- a valid rabies vaccination,
- Leishmaniasis test – for an insect-borne disease present in South America.
- Rabies antibody test (titer) – essential for a smooth return to the EU.
- Stool test for parasites – to confirm the dog’s health.
- Final veterinary check before departure, during which the vet confirms the dog is fit to fly.
- an international veterinary certificate confirming the dog’s health.
These checks require some lead time, so start preparing a few months before your planned departure. The results must be verified by the state veterinary authority. The results are recorded in the international veterinary certificate, and their accuracy is confirmed by the state veterinarian with an official round stamp. We recommend having this form officially translated into the destination country’s language—in Paraguay’s case, Spanish.
Interested in this destination? Would you like to visit it with your dog? Check the entry requirements directly in BorderCooler®.
Our personal experience: flying from Madrid to Asunción with a dog
We flew from Madrid to Asunción to get to Paraguay. It was a long intercontinental flight, and our dog Ibo traveled with us.
Before departure we had all the required paperwork in order—veterinary certificates including the rabies antibody test (titer), leishmaniasis test, stool test, EU Pet Passport, confirmations from the state veterinary authority, and documents required by the airline. Even with careful preparation, it’s a moment that comes with natural stress—especially when your dog is flying such a long distance for the first time.
The flight itself went smoothly. After landing in Paraguay, we went through veterinary and customs checks focused mainly on the completeness of our documents. This is where we hit an unexpected snag: the officer asked us to hand over all the documents we presented. As we planned to continue from Paraguay to Bolivia with Ibo, we didn’t want to give up the originals. Fortunately, Iva had wisely made a complete set of copies before we left. In the end, the official accepted the copies and we kept the important originals. Everything was handled without drama and only minor delays—delays that likely wouldn’t have happened without the language barrier between us and the officer.
Another important takeaway is the major difference in how long a rabies vaccination is considered valid in the EU versus most of South America.
Within the European Union, a rabies vaccination is generally considered valid for 3 years if the vaccine is approved for multi‑year validity and you follow the manufacturer’s schedule. In Paraguay and most South American countries, rabies vaccination is typically recognized only for 12 months, regardless of the vaccine type.
In practice, this means a dog with a valid three‑year EU vaccination may be considered unvaccinated in South America if the jab wasn’t administered within the last 12 months. Keep this in mind, especially for longer stays and when planning your return to Europe.
Returning to the EU: what’s key
When returning from non‑EU countries, including Paraguay, you have to meet stricter conditions than, say, when coming back from the Balkans.
The crucial piece is the rabies antibody test (titer), which must be done before leaving the EU or during your stay in Paraguay at an approved laboratory. You can return to the EU no sooner than three months after the blood draw.
If you don’t meet this requirement, your dog may be refused entry to the EU or be placed in quarantine.
We didn’t meet this last requirement 100%. Ibo did have the rabies antibody test before flying out of Slovakia, but it was—albeit just barely—less than three months before our return. Luckily for us, nobody checked this on reentry to the EU. The only step during the inspection was scanning Ibo’s microchip.
Practical tips at a glance
- Start preparing several months in advance.
- Check the latest entry requirements with your vet, the embassy, and the airline.
- Keep all documents both printed and stored digitally.
- An official Spanish translation of your documents can save a lot of time.
- Don’t skimp on the health checks—they’re there for the authorities and for your dog’s safety.
- Expect the return to the EU to be administratively more demanding than entering Paraguay.