Red Tape Travel

Bringing a pet into United States

USA: Federal rules for pets entering the US mainland. Each state can add its own entry rules.

Last verified Applies to dogs and cats24 primary sources

Entry permitted: no quarantine when compliant

A dog from a dog rabies-free or low-risk country needs a CDC Dog Import Form receipt and a microchip, and must be at least 6 months old and appear healthy when it arrives. A dog from a country under APHIS foot-and-mouth disease conditions must have clean fur and bedding, and is kept away from livestock for 5 days after it arrives. A cat must appear healthy on arrival. It needs no proof of rabies vaccination.

Quarantine
NoneIf a rule is missed: An animal refused entry after a flight is returned by the airline to the country it left, on the next available flight and at the importer's expense.
Titer required
Not required
Cabin entry
AllowedA dog may fly to the United States in the cabin, as checked baggage in the hold, or as cargo.
Banned breeds
None in our sources

Requirements, in the order they must happen

StepRequirementTiming ruleFails if
BirthThe dog is at least 6 months old on the day it arrives.Dogs only; Only: Dog rabies-free or low-risk country (CDC)at least 6 months before arrivalDone less than 6 months before arrival.
Import formThe importer submits a complete CDC Dog Import Form before the dog arrives; it can be filled in on the day of travel.Dogs only; Only: Dog rabies-free or low-risk country (CDC)on or before arrivalDone after arrival.
Import formThe receipt is valid for 6 months from when it is issued, so the form is submitted no more than 6 months before the dog arrives. A visit to a high-risk country, or to a different low-risk country, in that time needs a new form.Dogs only; Only: Dog rabies-free or low-risk country (CDC)within 6 months before arrivalDone more than 6 months before arrival.
RequirementThe dog has a microchip that a universal scanner can read.Dogs only; Only: Dog rabies-free or low-risk country (CDC)—No microchip, or one a universal scanner cannot detect.
RequirementThe dog must appear healthy on arrival and is inspected at the port of entry.Dogs only; Only: Dog rabies-free or low-risk country (CDC)—Signs of a communicable disease when the dog is inspected on arrival.
NoteThe regulation also tells airlines to refuse boarding unless the importer shows documentation that the dog is over six months old, has a microchip and has been only in low-risk or rabies-free countries for the last six months. CDC's own pages name the Dog Import Form receipt as the only document required.Dogs only; Only: Dog rabies-free or low-risk country (CDC)——
NoteCDC strongly recommends a rabies vaccination, but the extra rules for dogs from high-risk countries do not apply.Dogs only; Only: Dog rabies-free or low-risk country (CDC)——
RequirementThe dog's fur and bedding are free of excessive dirt, hay or straw. On arrival it is bathed and kept away from all livestock for 5 days. No document is needed.Dogs only; Only: Under APHIS foot-and-mouth disease conditions for dogs—Fur or bedding with excessive dirt, hay or straw.
RequirementThe cat must appear healthy on arrival and may be inspected at the port of entry.Cats only—Signs of a disease that can pass to people.
NoteA cat needs no proof of rabies vaccination to enter the United States, but CDC recommends it, and the US destination may ask for more.Cats only——
NoteCDC does not require a general health certificate, but some states and airlines do.——

Routes into United States

Leaving United States with a pet

To Great Britain

StepRequirementTiming ruleFails if
Vet signs the health certificateA USDA-accredited vet completes and signs the Great Britain pet health certificate. It is valid for 30 days after signing.within 30 days before arrivalDone more than 30 days before arrival.
Health certificate issued or endorsedAPHIS endorses the certificate in ink within 10 days before the pet arrives in the UK. The original travels with the pet.within 10 days before arrivalDone more than 10 days before arrival.
FeeAPHIS endorsement fees start at $101 per certificate. APHIS does not say which fee tier a Great Britain certificate is in.——

To Northern Ireland

StepRequirementTiming ruleFails if
Vet signs the health certificateA USDA-accredited vet issues the non-commercial health certificate and submits it through VEHCS for USDA endorsement. It is valid for 30 days after the vet issues it.within 30 days before arrivalDone more than 30 days before arrival.
Health certificate issued or endorsedUSDA endorses the completed certificate, signing and embossing it in ink, within 10 days before the pet arrives. A printed copy of the endorsed certificate travels with the pet.within 10 days before arrivalDone more than 10 days before arrival.
RequirementThe owner or designated person completes and signs the Declaration on the certificate's final page. It travels with the pet and the certificate.—No signed Declaration travelling with the certificate.
Tapeworm treatmentAn accredited vet gives the tapeworm treatment and records it in the Anti-Echinococcus treatment table of the certificate. It can come before or after USDA's endorsement.——
NoteThis assumes a non-commercial move: the owner travels with the pet on the same flight, or a designated person travels with it no later than 5 days after the owner, and five or fewer pets travel together.——
NoteNew non-commercial health certificates take effect on October 1, 2026. An old certificate already in process can be endorsed on or before September 30, 2026.——
FeeAPHIS endorsement fees start at $101 per certificate. APHIS does not say which fee tier a Northern Ireland certificate is in.——

To European Union

StepRequirementTiming ruleFails if
Vet signs the health certificateA USDA-accredited vet issues the non-commercial health certificate and submits it through VEHCS for USDA endorsement. It is valid for 30 days after the vet issues it.within 30 days before arrivalDone more than 30 days before arrival.
Health certificate issued or endorsedUSDA endorses the completed certificate in ink within 10 days before the pet arrives in the EU. A printed copy of the endorsed certificate travels with the pet.within 10 days before arrivalDone more than 10 days before arrival.
RequirementThe owner or designated person completes and signs the Declaration on the certificate's final page.—No signed Declaration with the certificate.
Tapeworm treatmentAn accredited vet gives the tapeworm treatment and records it in the Anti-Echinococcus treatment table of the certificate. It can come before or after USDA's endorsement.——
NoteThis assumes a non-commercial move: the owner travels with the pet on the same flight, or a designated person travels with it no later than 5 days after the owner, and five or fewer pets travel together.——
NoteNew non-commercial health certificates take effect on October 1, 2026. An old certificate already in process can be endorsed on or before September 30, 2026.——
FeeAPHIS endorsement fees start at $101 per certificate. APHIS does not say which fee tier an EU certificate is in.——

To Hawaii

A move from the mainland to Hawaii is a move within the United States. Hawaii's own entry rules apply.

Where every rule above came from

Rules change without notice. Confirm each item against the linked official page before you book: we re-check weekly and date every check, but the official page is the authority.