What you’ll need for international pet travel
Requirements for bringing your pets back into the U.S. after travel (as well as importing them from another country) were changed in August 2024. I recommend checking current requirements as they may have changed again since this publication.
The CDC requires that you fill out a form to travel with your pet before you return to the U.S. You can show this form to customs agents on your phone.
Here’s what you’ll need to bring your pet back home after international travel:
- Dogs must have a universal microchip
- Dogs need proof of a current Rabies vaccination administered after the microchip
- Cats are recommended to have a current Rabies immunization
- Pets must appear healthy upon arrival.
- Dogs must be at least 6 months old at time of entry or return to the U.S.
- Dog owners must fill out this online CDC form
For specific requirements by pet and country, see the international pet travel and importation requirements from the following agencies:
Some humans are lucky enough to take their animal friends on vacation with them
Though not me! My cats prefer to stay home!
When taking the pet out of the country, or coming back home, there is a lot to know and have in place before you leave home.
I wrote a blog post about this last year after travel requirements with animals were changed in August 2024. As with much of life, things continue to change, so here is an update, with the caveat – always check with your airline and the websites I mention below.
What the CDC requires for international pet travel
My friend Dany enjoying her vacation in beautiful British Columbia, Canada
In preparation for this article, I went to the Center for Disease Control website. The CDC issues regulations to control the entry of animals into the United States from other countries. This is where pet owners can find travel information for different countries.
Depending on the level of Rabies found in each nation, that country will be categorized by the CDC as low- or high-risk, and the forms needed for each are different. All dogs and most pets will need the CDC form filled out, and it is up to the pet owner to do this. According to the CDC, the Dog Import Form receipt can be printed or shown on a phone screen to U.S. customs officials or airlines (if applicable).
If you’re traveling to a high-risk country, pet parents are directed to find a USDA- certified veterinarian to provide additional documentation. It is necessary that dogs have a microchip and rabies vaccination is required for dogs and recommended for cats. But there was also a notification that the site had not been updated! I needed to do some more sleuthing.
My staff had commented that our clients mentioned having problems with international travel, and then I had a conversation with my friend Amy about their recent adventures in Canada with their well-traveled dog, Dany. (Read Dany’s travel blog) Amy had acquired a health certificate along with a microchip and updated rabies vaccine only to find out that the CDC form was also needed (and the health certificate was not). Right now, that form is good for 6 months, a change from last year’s update.
More pet travel information from the USDA
I wandered around on the internet and found the APHIS site, which has updated, useful information.
APHIS stands for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. When you go to that site, you are directed to find a USDA accredited veterinarian to help you meet the requirements for where you are travelling, and there are resources for how to find them.
These doctors must spend hours updating their accreditation regularly and their staff have even more work to check up on the requirements for the destination involved. The next thing you can do on the APHIS site is look up what is required for taking your pet in and out of the United States.
Some countries have low or no Rabies risk, and dogs and cats traveling to and from these areas have different, and easier, requirements than going to and from places with more risk of this disease.
Airlines may have their own requirements as well, so it is recommended that you ask about what your furry or feathered (or scaled?) companion may need. The APHIS site also has information on other species.
Is there anything else I need to travel with my pet?
As a veterinarian I am updated with national news on infectious disease trends, some of which can affect people (these are call Zoonotic diseases) or have a big impact on the global food industry. These can be serious issues that may not reach your daily news feed but are important.
Years ago, there was a terrible outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the UK, with great emphasis on trying to curb spread in the country by having vehicles go through chemical baths, as well as interviewing travelers going home with possibly soil-contaminated shoes or boots.
So, as we travel with our pets, more documentation may be needed if one has been to certain countries that unfortunately are having an outbreak of these kinds of diseases.
On the APHIS website, by looking at the “importing your pet to the US” page, you can find out if your pet will need extra documentation coming back home, depending on where you have been and even what your dog has done in a country, such as going to a farm or interacting with livestock.
Don’t let all these websites and forms scare you!
When you have decided to travel, start your planning right away.
Dogs need to have a microchip, a current rabies vaccination given after the ID chip was implanted, and a CDC form completed. For cats, rabies immunization is recommended.
Give yourself plenty of time to get these things done before your trip:
- Contact a USDA certified veterinarian
- Keep an eye on the requirements through the APHIS website, as it looks like that is updated frequently
- Check with your airline about their specific pet travel requirements
- Check out regulations for getting your pet INTO the country you are visiting (the APHIS website can be a good place to start.)
And, not to worry about Dany. She and her family were able to re-enter the United States with a little slap on the hand for not completing the CDC form, and I for one am going to keep an eye on where this lovely Labrador gets to go next, as it looks like she and her humans have a lot of fun.
Important websites
Be sure to check these for the most recent updates on international pet travel requirements.
CDC Pet Import Form and Instructions
