Flying a dog from Northern Ireland to the United States
Scope and research limits
USA: Federal rules for pets entering the US mainland. Each state can add its own entry rules.
This guide covers the journey and pathways stated here. Residence, travel history and connections may change which requirements apply. Confirm these before using the countdown.
Conditional: yes, with 1 hard deadline
A dog can enter the United States from Northern Ireland without quarantine when every condition is met.
To meet the entry rules
- an age of at least 6 months on arrival
- a CDC Dog Import Form receipt on or before arrival, within 6 months before arrival
- a microchip a universal scanner can read
- a healthy appearance on arrival
If a requirement 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.
Full answer
A dog can enter the United States from Northern Ireland 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, within 6 months before arrival; a microchip a universal scanner can read; and a healthy appearance on arrival. If any 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. Last verified 24 September 2026.
- Rules allow in 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. Each step says how long before arrival it falls. Pick an arrival date and your browser works out the calendar dates; it fetches nothing.
Lead time: 0 days
Pick an arrival date to see the calendar date of each step.
Birth
The calendar moves this: the deadline is 181 to 184 days before arrival, depending on the arrival date.
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.
Import form
The calendar moves this: the earliest day is 181 to 184 days before arrival, depending on the arrival date.
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 day
Requirements without a countdown
These conditions still apply. Choosing an arrival date does not check them.
This assumes the dog has been only in dog rabies-free or low-risk countries in the past 6 months.
This also assumes the dog does not clear customs during a layover in a high-risk country. If it does, it must meet CDC's high-risk rules, wherever its trip began.
This covers pet dogs. Dogs imported for resale or adoption follow APHIS Animal Care rules.
This assumes the dog will not be used to handle sheep or other livestock. Such a dog is inspected and held at the port of entry until it is shown to be free of tapeworm.
The dog has a microchip that a universal scanner can read.
Fails if: No microchip, or one a universal scanner cannot detect.
The dog must appear healthy on arrival and is inspected at the port of entry.
Fails if: Signs of a communicable disease when the dog is inspected on arrival.
The 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.
CDC strongly recommends a rabies vaccination, but the extra rules for dogs from high-risk countries do not apply.
CDC does not require a general health certificate, but some states and airlines do.
An export health certificate is usually needed when a pet's final destination is outside the EU. The owner applies for it in DAERA's Export Certification System (DECS).
Apply on DECS no earlier than 10 days before the pet leaves, and at least 2 working days before it is dispatched.
GOV.UK's dog export certificate for the USA is only required for certain US states, such as Massachusetts. In Northern Ireland you complete it as part of the DECS application.
This plan assumes one air journey, with every step done before you leave. Unless you give a departure date, it assumes you leave the day before arrival or on arrival day. Times are local to the United States (America/New_York).
Which airlines carry dogs on this route
The only airline in our sources does not carry dogs on this route.
This is what airlines offer. An airline can offer less than the rules allow.
Hold means checked baggage. Manifest cargo is a separate booking, even when the animal travels in the same aircraft hold.
| Airline | Cabin | Hold (checked baggage) | Manifest cargo | Fee from | Snub-nosed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlines |
No rule changes recorded since
We have recorded no change to the rules on this page since , when our log began. See every recorded change.
Where every rule above came from
- 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 more
- 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 livestock
- USDA APHISaphis.usda.gov/pet-travel/another-country-to-us-import/dogsThis covers pet dogs
- USDA APHISaphis.usda.gov/pet-travel/another-country-to-us-importFederal rules for pets entering the US mainland
- 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 do
- CDC (US)cdc.gov/importation/dogs/high-risk-countries.htmlCDC strongly recommends a rabies vaccination, but the extra rules for dogs from…
- CDC (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)cdc.gov/importation/php/dog-importation-airlines/index.htmlImport form
- CDC (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)cdc.gov/importation/dogs/faqs.htmlThe dog has a microchip that a universal scanner can read
- 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 form
- 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 country
- 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 more
- DAERA (Northern Ireland)daera-ni.gov.uk/services/pets-exportsAn export health certificate is usually needed when a pet's final destination is outside…; Apply on DECS no earlier than 10 days before the pet leaves, and at least 2 working days…
- DAERA (Northern Ireland)daera-ni.gov.uk/topics/exporting-animals-and-animal-products-northern-ireland-gb-eu-and-third-countries-including-guidance-and-application-point-daera-export-certificate-system-decsApply on DECS no earlier than 10 days before the pet leaves, and at least 2 working days…
- GOV.UK (APHA)gov.uk/export-health-certificates/export-dogs-to-usa-certificate-8860GOV.UK's dog export certificate for the USA is only required for certain US states, such…
- United Airlinesunited.com/en/us/fly/contract-of-carriage.htmlUnited Airlines: route, cabin, fee from, snub-nosed
- United Airlinesunited.com/en/us/fly/travel/trip-planning/military-pet-program.htmlUnited Airlines: manifest cargo
- United Airlinesunited.com/en/us/fly/travel/accessibility-and-assistance/service-animals.htmlUnited Airlines: route
- United Airlinesunited.com/en/us/fly/travel/traveling-with-pets.htmlUnited Airlines: route, cabin, hold (checked baggage), manifest cargo, fee from, snub-nosed
- United Cargo (United Airlines, Inc.)media.united.com/assets/m/75be4c49b532e3f5/original/TACT-rules-section-8-3-United-Airlines-PDF.pdfUnited Airlines: manifest cargo
Rules change without notice. Confirm each item against the linked official page before you book: we date every check, but the official page is the authority.
Related pages
See everything that applies in the United States, or what changed across the site.