Importing a pet into the United States can be challenging, especially if you’re coming from a country at high risk for rabies. Add navigating airline requirements to the list, and planning your pet’s trip can become quite stressful.

This guide covers the basics and key steps of traveling to the U.S. with a pet, including when to ask for help for complex itineraries that come with extra obstacles.

Necessary Documentation

Pets no longer need import permits for travel into the U.S. The required documentation from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the government authority in charge of pet import requirements, depends on your pet’s origin point.

Guidance also varies on the type of pet you’re importing. Travelers with cats should ensure their cat is healthy enough to travel. If they exhibit evidence of a zoonotic disease, they may be denied entry. The CDC doesn’t require rabies vaccination certificates for cats, but they do recommend it.

We’ll detail requirements for dogs next but refer to the CDC’s animal import requirements for all other live animals.

For simplicity’s sake, we’ll be talking about the continental U.S. here. Note that pets arriving in Hawaii face quite a few additional requirements, such as rabies titers and certificates sent to Honolulu’s Animal Quarantine Station.

If your dog has only been in rabies-free countries or low-risk countries for rabies in the last 6 months, you’ll need to complete the CDC Dog Import Form. You’ll receive a receipt via email and show this to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) upon arrival.

The CDC official website recommends filling it out 2-10 days before your pet’s travel date. The form is free, available online, and valid for up to 6 months ahead of travel.

The airline may have additional requirements for traveling pets to show that your pet is healthy enough to fly. This can be done with a health certificate from a licensed veterinarian, but certain U.S. states may want to see that your pet meets additional health-related requirements.

Previously, all health certificates had to be endorsed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), but this is no longer a requirement on the CDC website.

Check with the airline about their specific requirements, especially those on international flights. Many airlines still want to see that certificates are USDA-endorsed for traveling bringing dogs from another country.

Travel and customs clearance for dogs traveling from countries identified as high-risk countries for rabies is more complicated, and requirements vary depending on vaccination history.

For dogs with a history of U.S. vaccinations, you need:

A CDC Dog Import Form receipt.
A Certification of U.S.-issued Rabies Vaccination form OR
An export health certificate endorsed by the USDA.

For dogs without a history of U.S. vaccinations, you need:

A CDC Dog Import Form receipt.
A Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form. This must be filled out by the examining vet and certified by an official government veterinarian in the exporting country.
A rabies serology titer report from a CDC-approved lab (if not already included in the form above).
A confirmation letter for your appointment at a CDC-registered Animal Care Facility (ACF). We’ll get into the details about this step in a bit.

Dogs without valid titer test reports will need to complete a 28-day quarantine at an ACF upon arrival. They won’t be allowed to enter the U.S. at all if they arrive without a history of rabies vaccinations from a high-risk country for rabies.

Required Vaccinations

You may not need to provide a rabies vaccination history for your dog if you’re traveling from a country at low risk for rabies to fill out your import forms.

You may be asked for that information by the airline, though, so always double-check on vaccine requirements with your carrier at booking and again before your flight.

Talk to your vet about additional vaccine recommendations. The following are generally recommended for dogs, especially if they may be facing a quarantine stay upon arrival:

Canine distemper
Infectious canine hepatitis
Canine parvovirus
Canine parainfluenza
Bordetella bronchiseptica
Leptospirosis

Again, the CDC doesn’t require rabies vaccination for cats imported into the U.S., but it’s highly recommended.

That said, the state you’re traveling to may have rabies requirements in place for all pets. Check with your airline about additional requirements for traveling cats, or do your due diligence about the state you’re traveling to if you’re unsure about vaccination requirements.

There are no additional vaccination requirements for cats, but the following are always recommended for traveling cats:

Feline calicivirus
Feline panleukopenia (enteritis)
Viral rhinotracheitis
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV)

What Else Is Needed for Entry

All dogs flying into the U.S., even those traveling for resale or rehoming, should have microchips that can be detected with universal scanners. Generally, this means their microchip should be International Standards Organization (ISO) compatible.

Your vet can help you make sure that your pet’s microchip number is ISO-compliant, and it’s always best to double-check. If officials aren’t able to scan your pet upon arrival, your pet may be barred from entry into the U.S.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has additional requirements for dogs arriving from countries affected by foot and mouth disease or screwworm. This may include visual inspections and treatments before and after arrival.

CDC requirements state that dogs should be at least 6 months of age at the time of travel to the U.S. From there, your carrier may have additional entry requirements based on your pet’s country of origin, health history, and even your dog’s breed. For example, some dogs may be banned from travel altogether or require specialized travel crates.

CDC Rabies Import Program

We’ve already provided information about the forms needed to meet the CDC’s updated import requirements for traveling dogs. For those coming from high-risk countries for rabies and having proof of rabies vaccinations from those countries, the ACF piece can feel intimidating.

Proof of reservation with an ACF is a requirement for dogs traveling under these circumstances. While some facilities can take dogs closer to their travel date, we recommend making your booking at least 30 days in advance to ensure a spot is available.

It’s important to note that there are only 6 possible points of entry for dogs traveling from high-risk countries for rabies without a history of U.S. rabies vaccinations. LAX is one option.

Looking for a CDC-approved partner for importing your pet from a high-risk rabies country? We’re one of the 7 CDC-approved animal care facilities in the U.S., and we can plan your pet’s trip from booking to post-arrival release.

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Upon arrival at their destination, representatives from the ACF where you’ve made an appointment will collect your pet and take them to the facility. At the ACF, the dogs get an exam and are revaccinated for rabies. These are safe, modern facilities with staff on hand to handle all pet-related emergencies.

If the vet notices any parasites or other issues, your pet may receive additional treatments. (In rare cases, dogs may be denied entry if something went unreported as part of the import process, like a tapeworm infection.)

Dogs that get a clean bill of health from the facility’s staff are submitted for clearance to the CDC through U.S. Customs. This process generally requires an overnight stay.

If your dog arrives on a holiday, weekend, or after 5pm on a weeknight, the wait time before you’re reunited with your pet may be longer.

Flying Versus Driving

If you’re close enough to the U.S. border and want to drive across from Canada and Mexico with your pet, you’ll follow the same rules as for flying pets.

For dogs that haven’t been outside of Canada and Mexico (neither is on the list of high-risk countries for rabies), you only need the CDC Dog Import Form. That form is good for 6 months, so you can use it for multiple entries as long as your departure country on the form doesn’t change.

If your dog has been in a country at high risk for rabies over the last 6 months, you’re not allowed to enter at a land border crossing with your dog. You’ll need to arrive by air at a port of entry with a CDC-registered ACF and follow the stated rabies vaccination requirements.

Tailwind Is Here to Help

We’ve covered a lot here, but we also know that having all of the information doesn’t always mean it’s easy to navigate U.S. import regulations. At Tailwind, we know your pets are family, and we treat them like our own.

We work with pet owners from start to finish to ensure no step is missed for the safest, most efficient travel itineraries and relocations to the United States. If you’re coming from an origin point that warrants extra attention, we can handle it. It’s what we do.

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FAQ

Are there any airline policies I should be aware of when importing my pet to the USA?

Airlines’ policies may differ from those provided by the CDC. For starters, assume they will want a health certificate from a vet showing that your pet is healthy enough to fly. You should always check with the airline about additional requirements at booking.

How can I find the latest pet import requirements for entering the USA?

The latest pet import requirements are available from the CDC. Working with a professional pet shipper, especially if you’re traveling from a high-risk country for rabies, is a good way to ensure your pet has what it needs for a smooth arrival. A pet shipper can even give you tips on navigating long journeys with anxious pets.

Requirements for Importing a Pet to the USA