United States pet travel requirements

Microchip your dog

Your dog needs a microchip that a universal scanner can read; any brand works. If the number doesn't start with 9, ask your vet to confirm it can be read. Every document must show the microchip number.

Dogs · Except when all of these apply: (Journey remains within the United States under CDC rules) · Except when all of these apply: (Customs clearance during a foreign connection has not been established) · Except when all of these apply: (Departure countries/regions: UM)

If the chip can't be read on arrival, a dog that has been in a high-risk country may be refused entry.

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Rabies vaccination

The rabies vaccine must be given after the microchip is implanted, when the dog is at least 12 weeks (84 days) old, and at least 28 days before the dog enters the US. Shots given before 12 weeks of age are not accepted, whatever the vaccine label says.

Dogs · Origin group: High-risk country for dog rabies (CDC) · Not: Current rabies vaccination given in the destination country · Except when all of these apply: (Journey remains within the United States under CDC rules) · Except when all of these apply: (Customs clearance during a foreign connection has not been established) · Except when all of these apply: (Departure countries/regions: UM)

If the chip and the vaccine were given on the same day, the chip must have gone in first.

We count the vaccine as valid for 1 year unless you enter the 'next vaccination due' date from the certificate.

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Rabies antibody (titer) test at a CDC-approved lab

Your vet draws blood at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination and sends it to a laboratory on CDC's approved list. The result must be at least 0.5 IU/mL. A passing result stays valid for the dog's life as long as the rabies vaccination never lapses and the lab stays on the list.

Except when all of these apply: (Journey remains within the United States under CDC rules) · Except when all of these apply: (Customs clearance during a foreign connection has not been established) · Except when all of these apply: (Departure countries/regions: UM) · Entry pathway: Valid titer: exam and revaccination on arrival

CDC says 28 days before 'entry' in one place and before 'travel' in another; we use the stricter one, before departure.

The report must come directly from the approved lab, not through another lab.

Below 0.5 IU/mL: revaccinate and test again; CDC suggests at least 14 days between the two.

If the dog has had boosters since the blood draw with no gap, enter the vaccination given before the draw and the current 'valid until' date.

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Book a CDC-registered animal care facility at your arrival airport

A dog vaccinated outside the US that has been in a high-risk country needs a reservation at a CDC-registered animal care facility at the airport where it lands. The reservation covers an exam and a US rabies revaccination, plus a 28-day quarantine if there is no valid titer. The facility reviews your documents before it confirms. Carry the confirmation: the airline checks it at boarding and CBP on arrival.

Except when all of these apply: (Journey remains within the United States under CDC rules) · Except when all of these apply: (Customs clearance during a foreign connection has not been established) · Except when all of these apply: (Departure countries/regions: UM) · Entry pathway: Valid titer: exam and revaccination on arrival / No titer: 28-day quarantine

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Foreign rabies vaccination and microchip certificate, endorsed by an official vet

Your vet completes CDC's Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip (typed, not handwritten), and an official government veterinarian of the exporting country endorses it. Hand signatures need an official wet seal. With a titer, the official vet also certifies that the result is from a CDC-approved lab and at least 0.5 IU/mL. The form can be used once. Carry it in English or with a certified translation; CDC suggests two copies.

Except when all of these apply: (Journey remains within the United States under CDC rules) · Except when all of these apply: (Customs clearance during a foreign connection has not been established) · Except when all of these apply: (Departure countries/regions: UM) · Entry pathway: Valid titer: exam and revaccination on arrival / No titer: 28-day quarantine

Leave time for the lab's titer report before the official vet's endorsement.

Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Submit the CDC Dog Import Form

Fill in CDC's free online form for each dog and keep the emailed receipt; the airline and CBP ask for it. List every country the dog has been in during the 6 months before arrival. After a high-risk country, the receipt is good for one entry on the arrival date and at the airport you give, and dogs under one year need a photo taken within 15 days before travel. From a low-risk country, the receipt is valid for 6 months. If your dates or airport change, submit it again.

Dogs · Except when all of these apply: (Journey remains within the United States under CDC rules) · Except when all of these apply: (Customs clearance during a foreign connection has not been established) · Except when all of these apply: (Departure countries/regions: UM)

For low-risk trips, the same receipt can cover multiple entries for 6 months only while the country of departure stays the same. A new departure country needs a new receipt, even if the old receipt has not expired.

CDC Dog Import Form

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Rabies vaccination given in the US

The vaccine was given in the US by a USDA-accredited vet, after the microchip and at 12 weeks of age or older. It must still be valid when the dog comes back.

Except when all of these apply: (Journey remains within the United States under CDC rules) · Except when all of these apply: (Customs clearance during a foreign connection has not been established) · Except when all of these apply: (Departure countries/regions: UM) · Entry pathway: Vaccinated in the US, with a USDA-endorsed certificate

US vaccines count for 1 or 3 years by the label, but the first one after the microchip counts for 1 year. Enter the expiry date from your certificate.

If the US vaccination lapses while the dog is abroad, the US certificate no longer covers it and the rules for dogs vaccinated abroad apply.

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Certification of U.S.-Issued Rabies Vaccination, endorsed by USDA before leaving the US

A USDA-accredited vet completes this form at least 28 days after the vaccine, and USDA endorses it before the dog leaves the US; it cannot be issued afterwards. It can be reused for re-entry while the vaccine is valid. USDA export health certificates issued after July 31, 2025 are not accepted instead.

Except when all of these apply: (Journey remains within the United States under CDC rules) · Except when all of these apply: (Customs clearance during a foreign connection has not been established) · Except when all of these apply: (Departure countries/regions: UM) · Entry pathway: Vaccinated in the US, with a USDA-endorsed certificate

CDC also accepts a USDA-endorsed export health certificate issued by a USDA-accredited veterinarian no later than 31 July 2025 if it is viewable in USDA’s database and records the dog’s age (at least 6 months), microchip and still-valid US rabies vaccination given after the microchip. Newly issued export certificates are not this exception.

Certification of U.S.-Issued Rabies Vaccination

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Screwworm certificate signed by an official government vet (USDA)

Dogs coming from a country or region affected by screwworm must carry a certificate stating that the dog was inspected within 5 days before shipment to the US and is free of screwworm, or was quarantined and treated until free before leaving. It is signed by a full-time salaried official government veterinarian of the region of origin. For Mexico, APHIS allows a clinical veterinarian trained and authorised to sign on behalf of the official government veterinarian. APHIS has no mandatory template: a standalone certificate or a statement in the export health certificate can be used. The certificate is reviewed and the dog inspected at the US port.

Dogs · Departure countries/regions: AE, AO, AR, AW, BD, BF, BH, BI, BJ, BN, BO, BR, BW, BZ, CD, CF, CG, CI, CM, CN, CO, CR, CU, DO, EC, ER, ET, GA, GF, GH, GM, GN, GQ, GT, GW, GY, HK, HN, HT, ID, IN, IQ, IR, JM, KE, KH, KW, LA, LK, LR, LS, ML, MM, MO, MR, MW, MX, MY, MZ, NA, NG, NI, OM, PA, PE, PG, PH, PW, PY, QA, RW, SA, SG, SL, SN, SR, SV, SZ, TG, TH, TL, TT, TW, TZ, UG, UY, VE, VN, YE, ZA, ZM, ZW

Ask the exporting country’s competent veterinary authority how it certifies the required statement. For Mexico, check SENASICA’s current directory of authorised clinical veterinarians.

The plan counts shipment day as day 0; agree the actual inspection/shipment date and time with the certifying veterinarian.

Source: USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Clean coat and bedding, bath after arrival (foot-and-mouth disease)

Dogs from a country with foot-and-mouth disease need no documents, but their fur and bedding must be free of excess dirt, hay or straw. Bathe the dog as soon as you can after arrival and keep it away from all livestock for 5 days.

Dogs · Departure countries/regions: AE, AF, AG, AI, AL, AM, AO, AR, AW, AZ, BA, BD, BF, BG, BH, BI, BJ, BN, BO, BQ, BR, BT, BW, BY, CD, CF, CG, CI, CM, CN, CO, CU, CW, DE, DJ, DM, DZ, EC, EG, ER, ET, FK, GA, GD, GE, GF, GH, GM, GN, GP, GQ, GW, GY, HK, HU, ID, IL, IM, IN, IQ, IR, JO, KE, KG, KH, KM, KN, KP, KR, KW, KY, KZ, LA, LB, LC, LK, LR, LS, LY, MA, MD, ME, MG, MK, ML, MM, MN, MO, MQ, MR, MU, MW, MY, MZ, NE, NG, NP, OM, PE, PF, PH, PK, PY, QA, RO, RS, RU, RW, SA, SD, SK, SL, SN, SO, SR, SS, ST, SX, SY, SZ, TC, TD, TG, TH, TJ, TL, TM, TN, TR, TW, TZ, UA, UG, UY, UZ, VC, VE, VG, VN, XK, YE, ZA, ZM, ZW

The CSV includes partly free countries such as Argentina and Brazil as affected. The country-level plan keeps the conservative hygiene steps; ask APHIS about a recognised free subregion rather than assuming an exemption.

For a German-origin dog, APHIS’s current pet CSV conflicts with its 6 March 2026 lifting bulletin and regional table. These precautions are retained from the specialized pet table pending clarification; they are not a claim that Germany still has an active outbreak.

Source: USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), official GovDelivery bulletin · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Confirm pet processing with your US port of entry

CBP recommends contacting the anticipated port of arrival before importing a pet to reduce delays. Confirm where to present the animal and documents, especially for an unusual species or a route needing a CDC animal care facility. At selected ports the CBP Link app can facilitate pet importation; it does not replace the required permits, certificates or inspection.

Dogs / Cats / Rabbits / Ferrets

Source: US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Complete five days away from livestock after US entry

Keep the dog separate from all livestock for 5 days after entering the United States. This follows the clean-coat/bedding and prompt-bathing precautions for a dog from an FMD-affected country or region; no FMD entry document is required.

Dogs · Departure countries/regions: AE, AF, AG, AI, AL, AM, AO, AR, AW, AZ, BA, BD, BF, BG, BH, BI, BJ, BN, BO, BQ, BR, BT, BW, BY, CD, CF, CG, CI, CM, CN, CO, CU, CW, DE, DJ, DM, DZ, EC, EG, ER, ET, FK, GA, GD, GE, GF, GH, GM, GN, GP, GQ, GW, GY, HK, HU, ID, IL, IM, IN, IQ, IR, JO, KE, KG, KH, KM, KN, KP, KR, KW, KY, KZ, LA, LB, LC, LK, LR, LS, LY, MA, MD, ME, MG, MK, ML, MM, MN, MO, MQ, MR, MU, MW, MY, MZ, NE, NG, NP, OM, PE, PF, PH, PK, PY, QA, RO, RS, RU, RW, SA, SD, SK, SL, SN, SO, SR, SS, ST, SX, SY, SZ, TC, TD, TG, TH, TJ, TL, TM, TN, TR, TW, TZ, UA, UG, UY, UZ, VC, VE, VG, VN, XK, YE, ZA, ZM, ZW

For a German-origin dog, APHIS’s current pet CSV conflicts with its 6 March 2026 lifting bulletin and regional table. These precautions are retained from the specialized pet table pending clarification; they are not a claim that Germany still has an active outbreak.

Source: USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), official GovDelivery bulletin · Checked Nov 12, 2026

This journey remains within the US for CDC dog-import purposes

CDC says travel within the United States, including states and territories, does not require its dog-import formalities when the journey remains domestic. The five inhabited territories are American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. This includes a direct Guam-to-mainland journey even when the dog has earlier high-risk-country history: earlier history does not make this domestic movement a new foreign entry. If a foreign connection is involved and the dog clears foreign customs, CDC re-entry rules apply; the planner uses the stated clearance fact for this journey. USDA, state, territory and carrier requirements remain separate.

Dogs · Journey remains within the United States under CDC rules

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Exam and US rabies revaccination at the animal care facility

The airline takes the dog to the facility; owners can't go along, except with service dogs. A vet examines the dog and revaccinates it with a US-licensed rabies vaccine. The dog is released once everything is done and CDC authorizes it; until then it can't take a US domestic flight or travel on.

Except when all of these apply: (Journey remains within the United States under CDC rules) · Except when all of these apply: (Customs clearance during a foreign connection has not been established) · Except when all of these apply: (Departure countries/regions: UM) · Entry pathway: Valid titer: exam and revaccination on arrival

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

28-day quarantine at the animal care facility

Without a valid titer, the dog is examined, revaccinated and quarantined for 28 days at the facility, at your cost. A shorter quarantine (prospective serologic monitoring) is possible only for personal pets with records of at least 2 rabies vaccines given on a US schedule, if CDC approves.

Except when all of these apply: (Journey remains within the United States under CDC rules) · Except when all of these apply: (Customs clearance during a foreign connection has not been established) · Except when all of these apply: (Departure countries/regions: UM) · Entry pathway: No titer: 28-day quarantine

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Declare the animals to CBP on arrival

Declare live animals when you enter the US: on the CBP Declaration Form 6059B, answer "Yes" to question 11. Pets that are refused entry are sent back to the country they came from at the owner's cost.

Source: US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) · Checked Oct 21, 2026

Source: US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Check health and the applicable arrival inspection

For a foreign import, pets must look healthy on arrival; an animal showing a disease transmissible to people can be refused entry, and an ill or injured animal can need veterinary examination, tests or treatment at the owner’s cost. A dog on a journey remaining within the United States does not need CDC dog-import processing merely because it moves between a territory and a state. Separate CBP, USDA, state and carrier requirements must still be checked for the actual route. CDC does not require a general health certificate for a foreign pet import, but a state or airline may require one.

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) · Checked Oct 21, 2026

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Checked Nov 12, 2026