Flying a dog from Great Britain to the United States
USA: Federal rules for pets entering the US mainland. Each state can add its own entry rules.
Conditional: yes, with 1 hard deadline
A dog can enter the United States (Federal rules for pets entering the US mainland) from Great Britain without quarantine when every condition is met. It needs an age of at least 6 months on arrival, a CDC Dog Import Form receipt on or before arrival, a microchip a universal scanner can read and a healthy appearance on arrival. If a condition 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.
- Cabin
- AllowedA dog may fly to the United States in the cabin, as checked baggage in the hold, or as cargo.
- 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.
- Rabies titer
- Not required
- Lead time
- 0 days
Your deadlines, counted back from arrival
1 of these steps is a hard deadline. Changing the date re-dates the plan in your browser; it fetches nothing.
Lead time: 0 days
By 184 days before arrival
Birth
The dog is at least 6 months old on the day it arrives. Timing: at least 6 months before arrival.
Fails if: Done less than 6 months before arrival.
Arrival day
Import formHard deadline
The importer submits a complete CDC Dog Import Form before the dog arrives; it can be filled in on the day of travel. Timing: on or before arrival.
Fails if: Done after arrival.
The 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. Timing: within 6 months before arrival.
Fails if: Done more than 6 months before arrival.
Arrival
Arrive on
Which airlines carry dogs on this route
| Airline | Cabin | Hold | Manifest cargo | Fee from | Snub-nosed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | Assistance dogs only | Restricted | Yes | Quoted on request | Refused |
| British Airways | Assistance dogs only | No | Yes | Quoted on request | Case by case |
| Delta Air Lines | No | No | No | No | No |
| United Airlines | No | No | No | No | No |
| Virgin Atlantic | Suspended | Suspended | Suspended | Suspended | Suspended |
1 change in 12 months
Certificate 8860 needed only for dogs going to certain US states
- Was
- A dog going to the USA travelled on export health certificate 8860.
- Now
- A dog needs certificate 8860 only for certain states, such as Massachusetts.
Where every rule above came from
- eCFR (14 CFR Part 382, U.S. Department of Transportation)ecfr.gov/api/versioner/v1/full/2026-09-22/title-14.xmlVirgin Atlantic: snub-nosedchecked
page says updated eCFR point-in-time 2026-09-22 (85 FR 79774, Dec. 10, 2020)
- eCFR (Office of the Federal Register / GPO)ecfr.gov/api/versioner/v1/full/2026-09-22/title-42.xmlImport form; Birth; The dog must appear healthy on arrival and is inspected at the port of entry; The regulation also tells airlines to refuse boarding unless the importer shows…; and 3 morechecked
page says updated amendment citation in the text: 89 FR 41837, May 13, 2024 (the dog and cat rule, effective 1 Aug 2024); eCFR text as of 2026-09-22
- eCFR (Office of the Federal Register / GPO)ecfr.gov/api/versioner/v1/full/2026-09-22/title-9.xmlThis assumes the dog will not be used to handle sheep or other livestockchecked
page says updated last amended 86 FR 45625, Aug. 16, 2021; eCFR text as of 2026-09-22
- USDA APHISaphis.usda.gov/pet-travel/another-country-to-us-import/dogsThis covers pet dogschecked
page says updated April 01, 2026
- USDA APHISaphis.usda.gov/pet-travel/another-country-to-us-importFederal rules for pets entering the US mainlandchecked
page says updated March 19, 2026
- CDC (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)cdc.gov/importation/bringing-an-animal-into-the-us/index.htmlCDC does not require a general health certificate, but some states and airlines dochecked
page says updated Aug. 22, 2025
- CDC (US)cdc.gov/importation/dogs/high-risk-countries.htmlCDC strongly recommends a rabies vaccination, but the extra rules for dogs from…checked
page says updated Apr. 15, 2026
- CDC (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)cdc.gov/importation/php/dog-importation-airlines/index.htmlImport formchecked
page says updated Apr. 7, 2026
- CDC (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)cdc.gov/importation/dogs/faqs.htmlThe dog has a microchip that a universal scanner can readchecked
page says updated Updated: August 27, 2026 (Reviewed: August 27, 2026)
- CDC (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)cdc.gov/importation/dogs/dog-import-form-instructions.htmlA dog may fly to the United States in the cabin, as checked baggage in the hold, or as…; Import formchecked
page says updated Apr. 28, 2026
- CDC (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)cdc.gov/importation/dogs/layovers.htmlThis also assumes the dog does not clear customs during a layover in a high-risk countrychecked
page says updated Apr. 29, 2026
- CDC (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)cdc.gov/importation/dogs/rabies-free-low-risk-countries.htmlThis assumes the dog has been only in dog rabies-free or low-risk countries in the past…; A dog may fly to the United States in the cabin, as checked baggage in the hold, or as…; Import form; The dog has a microchip that a universal scanner can read; and 2 morechecked
page says updated July 22, 2024
- GOV.UK (APHA)assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66a3a338ce1fd0da7b592df2/8860NFG.pdfFrom 1 August 2024, a dog needs Great Britain export health certificate 8860 only for…checked
page says updated 26/07/2024 (footer: 8860 NFG (26/07/2024))
- GOV.UK (APHA)gov.uk/export-health-certificates/export-dogs-to-usa-certificate-8860From 1 August 2024, a dog needs Great Britain export health certificate 8860 only for…checked
page says updated 5 May 2026
- American Airlines Cargo (American PetEmbark)aacargo.com/learn/animals.htmlFrom May 1 to September 30, no pets outside the cabin to, through or from Phoenix…; No new cargo bookings for dogs from a CDC high-risk country for rabies, or for dogs that…checked
- American Airlines Cargo (American PetEmbark)aacargo.com/learn/animals-policy-and-restrictions.htmlAmerican Airlines: route, manifest cargo, snub-nosed; American Airlines Cargo will not carry animals when the ground temperature at the…; American Airlines Cargo will not carry animals on any single flight of 12 hours or more; A pet shipped from outside the United States must be booked through an IATA-regulated…checked
- American Airlines Cargo (American PetEmbark)aacargo.com/downloads/know_before_you_go_FEB2026.pdfAmerican Airlines Cargo will not carry animals on any single flight of 12 hours or morechecked
- American Airlines Cargoaacargo.com/downloads/rates/International_to_International_Live_Animal_v1.09.pdfAmerican Airlines: routechecked
page says updated EFFECTIVE DATE: March 1, 2024
- Delta Cargo (Delta Air Lines)deltacargo.com/Cargo/catalog/products/petsDelta Air Lines: route, manifest cargo, fee from; Delta Cargo accepts no pets at Amsterdam (AMS), Paris (CDG), Frankfurt (FRA) or London…checked
- Delta Cargo (Delta Air Lines)deltacargo.com/Cargo/catalog/restricted-animalsDelta Air Lines: snub-nosedchecked
- IAG Cargoiagcargo.com/en/products/live-animalsIAG Cargo asks for live animals to be checked in 4 hours before departure, subject to…checked
- IAG Cargoiagcargo.com/en/products/petsBritish Airways: fee from, snub-nosedchecked
- IAG Cargoiagcargo.com/en/contact-us/denIAG Cargo takes no live-animal imports at Denver (DEN) on days 6 or 7, and restricts…checked
- IAG Cargoiagcargo.com/en/contact-us/dfwIAG Cargo takes no live-animal imports at Denver (DEN) on days 6 or 7, and restricts…checked
- IAG Cargoiagcargo.com/en/contact-us/jfkCollect the pet on the day it lands at New York (JFK), which has no storage, and on…checked
- IAG Cargoiagcargo.com/en/contact-us/lgwIAG Cargo takes no dangerous dogs at Heathrow or Gatwick, and restricts some snub-nosed…checked
- IAG Cargoiagcargo.com/en/contact-us/lhrIAG Cargo takes no dangerous dogs at Heathrow or Gatwick, and restricts some snub-nosed…checked
- IAG Cargoiagcargo.com/en/contact-us/msyBritish Airways: routechecked
- IAG Cargoiagcargo.com/en/contact-us/phlCollect the pet on the day it lands at New York (JFK), which has no storage, and on…checked
- IAG Cargoiagcargo.com/en/contact-us/phxNo live-animal exports from Phoenix (PHX) from 15 March to 31 October, and no…checked
- IAG Cargoiagcargo.com/en/contact-us/stlIAG Cargo's Stchecked
- Virgin Atlantic Cargo (division of Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd)virginatlanticcargo.com/gb/en/contact-us/faqs.htmlVirgin Atlantic: manifest cargo, fee fromchecked
- Virgin Atlantic Cargo (division of Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd)virginatlanticcargo.com/gb/en/our-network/flight-schedule.htmlVirgin Atlantic: routechecked
page says updated Summer schedule, effective 29th March - 24th October 2026
- Virgin Atlantic Cargo (division of Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd)virginatlanticcargo.com/global/en/book/pets2.htmlVirgin Atlantic: manifest cargo, fee fromchecked
- American Airlines (Tariff No. AA1, published by Airline Tariff Publishing Company as agent)aa.com/content/images/tariff/american-airlines-general-rules-of-the-international-tariff.pdfAmerican Airlines: hold; Pets cannot be booked through to another airline, including codeshare flights with an…checked
page says updated Document Version No. 705; Issue Date: September 08, 2026 (server Last-Modified 9 Sep 2026)
- American Airlinesaa.com/web/i18n/customer-service/support/optional-service-fees.htmlAmerican Airlines: holdchecked
- American Airlinesaa.com/web/i18n/travel-info/special-assistance/pets.htmlAmerican Airlines: cabin, hold, manifest cargo, fee from, snub-nosed; From May 1 to September 30, no pets outside the cabin to, through or from Phoenix…; Pets cannot be booked through to another airline, including codeshare flights with an…checked
- American Airlinesaa.com/web/i18n/travel-info/special-assistance/service-animals.htmlAmerican Airlines: cabinchecked
- British Airwaysbritishairways.com/content/information/disability-assistance/travelling-with-your-assistance-dogBritish Airways: route, cabinchecked
- British Airwaysbritishairways.com/content/information/legal/conditions-of-carriage/general-conditions-of-carriageBritish Airways: holdchecked
page says updated 17 October 2024
- British Airwaysbritishairways.com/content/information/travel-assistance/travelling-with-petsBritish Airways: route, cabinchecked
- British Airwaysbritishairways.com/content/en/us/information/legal/us-optional-extrasBritish Airways: hold, manifest cargo, fee fromchecked
- Delta Air Linesdelta.com/us/en/pet-travel/international-connection-pet-travelDelta Air Lines: route, cabin, holdchecked
- Delta Air Linesdelta.com/us/en/special-circumstances/military-travel/petsDelta Air Lines: hold, fee from, snub-nosedchecked
- Delta Air Linesdelta.com/us/en/pet-travel/overviewDelta Air Lines: fee fromchecked
- Delta Air Lines (Delta Professional, travel-agency site)pro.delta.com/content/agency/us/en/products-and-services/pet/pet-policies.htmlDelta Air Lines: route, fee fromchecked
- Delta Air Linesdelta.com/us/en/pet-travel/shipping-your-petDelta Air Lines: fee from, snub-nosedchecked
- United Airlinesunited.com/en/us/fly/contract-of-carriage.htmlUnited Airlines: route, cabin, fee from, snub-nosedchecked
page says updated revised May 11, 2026
- United Airlinesunited.com/en/us/fly/travel/trip-planning/military-pet-program.htmlUnited Airlines: manifest cargochecked
- United Airlinesunited.com/en/us/fly/travel/accessibility-and-assistance/service-animals.htmlUnited Airlines: routechecked
- United Airlinesunited.com/en/us/fly/travel/traveling-with-pets.htmlUnited Airlines: route, cabin, hold, manifest cargo, fee from, snub-nosedchecked
- United Cargo (United Airlines, Inc.)media.united.com/assets/m/75be4c49b532e3f5/original/TACT-rules-section-8-3-United-Airlines-PDF.pdfUnited Airlines: manifest cargochecked
page says updated July 2026
- Virgin Atlanticvirginatlantic.com/en-us/policies/conditions-of-carriage/article-16Virgin Atlantic: cabin, fee fromchecked
page says updated Not on the article page; the conditions index says 'Most recent revision: Revision 58, 17 August 2026'
- Virgin Atlantic (help centre)virginatlantic.com/en-US/help/articles/how-do-i-book-my-assistance-or-guide-dog-on-a-flight----ad760b0a-ad24-4767-8f05-ba6900dda1f1Trained assistance dogs still fly in the cabin on all Virgin Atlantic routeschecked
page says updated July 31, 2025
- Virgin Atlantic (help centre)virginatlantic.com/en-US/help/articles/what-are-the-accepted-assistance-dog-breeds----41436c69-a357-4b23-8478-c9e972a1bf30Virgin Atlantic: snub-nosedchecked
page says updated July 31, 2025
- Virgin Atlantic (help centre)virginatlantic.com/en-US/help/articles/can-i-travel-with-my-assistance-dog----85525d4c-e521-4eea-a2a8-fd214e1bb5f6Virgin Atlantic: cabin; Trained assistance dogs still fly in the cabin on all Virgin Atlantic routeschecked
page says updated July 31, 2025
- Virgin Atlantic (help centre)virginatlantic.com/en-US/help/articles/what-routes-accept-assistance-dogs----130929b8-ce49-4a92-8961-eff956909247Trained assistance dogs still fly in the cabin on all Virgin Atlantic routeschecked
page says updated July 31, 2025
- Virgin Atlantic (help centre)virginatlantic.com/en-US/help/articles/can-i-book-a-flight-to-travel-with-my-pet----291a6729-8e4d-4ada-92b3-c8553503694aVirgin Atlantic: route, hold, fee fromchecked
page says updated June 24, 2025