There have been a few recent posts asking how to travel with a dog to Belize. Rules have changed since I last updated a thread with details. It is VERY important you meet all requirements or they will deny you from boarding your flight.

In October the airline recalled my checked bags and refused me from the flight. Was stuck trying to get back to BZ for two days!

Purchase your ticket and make sure the airlines know you are traveling with your pet.

Many airlines do not allow dogs to be checked with luggage. The two airlines to Belize that accept pets to be checked are American and Continental.

-Must have a clear bag of dog food tapped to the top of the kennel with instructions should there be an emergency or delay.
-Must have a water bottle (the gerbil type) that fits on the outside of the kennel door whether your dog knows how to use them or not.
-Must have airport approved kennel large enough for pet to stand up and turn around. I suggest bringing extra nuts/bolts that fit the kennel as they often pop off the kennels. The airline will also cable tie the dog in the kennel. Please make sure your dog has comfort and you provide some type of pillow or comfy blanket.
-Must label kennel 'LIVE ANIMAL' on each side of kennel with name of dog
-If temperatures are predicted less than 45 degrees at any place of travel you MUST have a vets letter stating dog can travel in temperatures as low as 20 degrees F. No exceptions on airlines without this letter!


After purchasing your airfare
Submit your import permit application via fax or email to BAGA Belize. This import permit is required by Belize and usually issued upon arrival when you pay. It is not a requirement to leave the US, however
REQUEST A COPY BE FAXED OR EMAILED TO YOU BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE US. LAST TIME I WAS ASKED FOR A COPY BY THE AIRLINES AND DENIED BOARDING TO MY FLIGHT! I was stuck at 4am and couldn't get to Belize for another day!
Baha will do this for an additional $35 and will charge when you arrive.
Tel: 501-822-0818 or 501-822-1378
alternate number for pet import 822-3084
Fax: 501-822-0271
Email: if emailing for permit, send to both
baha@btl.net and animalhealthbz@gmail.com Ms.Nadine Hegar

Required information
Your name
Dogs name
Breed
Age
Sex
Weight
Color
Address in US (or where you are coming from)
Intended address upon arrival in Belize
Estimated date arriving
Port of entry(Phillip Goldson Int. Airport).
Days and Hours

Every day of the week 8-5pm (in past was only M-F)

Required information upon entry
All records of current vaccinations and valid rabies shot. They now also ask for proof or a statement that the pet is free of ehrlichiosis (disease from ticks)

Fees
Now $75BZ ($50 BZ to enter and $25 BZ inspection and which is them looking at your dog for 30 seconds.)

BAHA Belize is very helpful when applying and upon arrival. The process is easy.
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GETTING TO THE ISLAND
I highly recommend the water taxi. Though it takes longer it is well worth it for the dog. It is much easier on the dog (and the person with the dog) in my opinion. My dog personally hated getting out of her kennel after traveling so long from the states to then be put back into her kennel for the flight to the island.

Water Taxi
Allow one and a half hours after arrival to determine which water taxi you will take
20-30 minutes for customs and bags
15-20 minutes at BAHA to import your pet and pay your fees
10 minutes to load up your cab with luggage and pet
20 minute for cab ride to water taxi and to purchase your water taxi ticket upon arriving at terminal
$10 US one way
Caye Caulker Water Taxi departures (Belize City-San Pedro)
10:30am, 12pm, 1:30pm, 3:00pm, 4:30pm
There is also a new San Pedro Water Taxi which is 1 hour direct however they charge $20 for the dog and CC Water Taxi the dog is free like luggage.

Flying
Tropic charges three seats for the dog=$165 US each way. Plus your ticket= $55 US which is over $200 US. If you have a very large kennel at times they do ask for you to purchase four seats for the dog!!!!

Maya Island Air charges only one seat for the dog= $55 US each way. Plus your ticket= $55 US totaling only $110 US.
YOU MUST NOTIFY MAYA ISLAND AIR IN ADVANCE SO THEY HAVE THE APPROPRIATE PLANE TO TAKE THE DOG

There is also a new "dog passport" for those who travel multiple times a year with animals. This will allow you to travel to/from Belize and the US without reapplying and paying for the import permit each time. Info to be added when I find out how to obtain the passport.

Great information!

--Lan Sluder

Thanks Lan! Seems they update and change the info from time to time and Karmin the labrador is a world traveler.

I see more and more people traveling with pets these days, so good info to know. I was really thinking about bringing home a potlicker this time, but decided against it.

Monday afternoon, in DTW ( when I SHOULD have already been home here in ME for 15 hours), I saw a pilot getting on board with his golden retriever, straight to the flight deck!

Was it his seeing eye dog????

LOL

klc, long trip home?

LM, if so inclined I could write the TR from Hell, along with a screenplay for a remake of Planes, Trains & Automobiles



(funny now, but wasn't then)

I hear ya, but at least it happened on the way home!

KLC, they treat OLD people like that, never happened to me,

E - that would be cuz you are SOOOOOOOOOOOOFRIGGINGOLDANDUGLY, they have some sense of pity

LM - true and not even related to the BZ trip - this was a separate T'day long weekend trip

Thanks so much for this information on traveling with pets. I've gone to several sites and gathered much of this information, but your first hand info makes me feel more confident in making the arrangements now! We arrive in January and leave in May each year, and our new gal dog Bridget wil be able to travel with us.

Thanks again!

Beware Tropic Air and traveling with a crate. They refused us boarding with the crate (there was plenty of room, we just got an ornery pilot) so we had to switch at the last minute to a boat, THAT was the trip from hell. And it didn't help when Continental smashed the original crate on the way down (thank goodness the dog wasn't in it) and couldn't find us a replacement. So much went wrong, on both ends, all due to to simple laziness and/or incompetence and a bad attitude though I think in the end I was more traumatized than the doggy. We did everything to fit the requirements but airlines, staff, check-in, customs, etc. were so disorganized. Maybe we just had bad travel luck. Others have had easier times....

I too had a broken crate years ago, it happens. As for your ordeal with Tropic if you booked your pet in advance they reserve the correct type of plane and charge you in advance for your pet's "seats" Shouldn't have gone that way but regardless it is much less stressful on the dog (and free) to take the water taxi.

What would be different for flying with a small dog that travels in the cabin rather than as baggage? Anything?

I was going to bring my little guy with me when I come down for a couple of weeks in June, but may opt not to after reading this...feels like it might not be worth it. Any thoughts?

Thank you!

If your dog is a "little guy" and is leashed and you keep him on your lap then. I have traveled on flights where the little pooch is simply on his owners lap - not in a cage.

But is there a fee for bringing him in? And if so, where in the process, and to whom, do you pay that fee?

Bring the pooch, Foxy loves to fly !

yes, $80-150 depending on the airline. Same regulations apply as far as paperwork and health certificates if they are flying in cabin. They are required to fly in a cage no matter what size they are and if you see them on their owners laps it is because the flight attendants working were being kind.

Thanks for the update. I frequently travel with my pet in the States, and was actually trying to find out about the fee ($75BZE I read above) to bring him on my trip with me to Belize, and who I pay that to. Is it at Customs? Somewhere else? I don't know who BAHA Belize is.
Thanks so much for the help!

BAHA is Belize Agriculture Health Authorities. You can google about it or go to the site http://www.baha.bz/

After customs you go into a small BAHA room and pay them. They direct you to the location after getting your bags.

I was also 'kicked off' my midnight flight last night (Continental) because I didn't have the 'approved' application from BAHA with me. Their interpretation of the BAHA website is that you have to have that before they will allow you to travel with your pet.

Also be cautious about which agency needs what documentation!

Last year on my way back to the states to get my dog, I stopped by the airport animal immigration section to make sure they had all of my approvals from BAHA (I couldn't seem to get the faxed approvals from directly). They did but could not give me a copy of the paperwork (said I would not need it as they were the approving authority).

However, American Airlines would not allow my dog to travel without the BAHA paperwork and were delayed (I will skip the drama that followed) until the employees in Belize presented to work, answer the phone and fax the documents (AA refused to accept a verbal approval from them) long distance (which I agreed to pay). What a fiasco! I am still not sure who was right about what, however, I would suggest getting the approvals in hand prior to travel.

I think my little one will be staying home this trip. Way too much drama all the way around. I'll stop and talk to BAHA when I arrive this time and get things lined out for our next trip down. Don't want to have to drag him through this again or risk another delay to our trip. Very annoying.

Just as an aside/rant, I must say I find it a bit outrageous to pay $125 each way to bring my pet on board and have it count as my carry on. Haven't figured out what that money goes toward since again, it is my one carry on. Plus a $50 health certificate for each and every trip as they are only good for 7 days. Bit of a scam as they know our pets are like kids to a lot of us, and we'll pay it.

On the BAHA form, does anyone know who the 1) Importer and 2) Exporters are? And what the 1) Procedence is?
Thank you

The BAHA form is a general use form for the importation of live animals and animal feed.

You are the importer.

There is no exporter.

Procedence is probably a typo. Depending on the context you should be able to figure it out. If you call BAHA they can help you figure out the form.

We have helped many of our clients bring in their pets and haven't ever had any major problems.

You do need to have the permit prior to travel and arrival in Belize.

The BAHA site is somewhat helpful but if you call the office they are just lovely people to work with.

Gave them a call and got it all worked out.
Thanks for all the great help.