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Bringing Pets To The US (Excluding Hawaii)

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Bringing Pets To The US

This may come as a big surprise, but bringing pets to the US is much easier than bringing pets to other countries. Yes, even though it may seem strange, bringing pets to the United States is quite simple, no matter where you are coming from.

Although the import procedures of the United States are considered relatively simple, pet owners will still need to take precise steps to import their dog/cat.

On August 1, 2024, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) implanted new import rules for bringing a dog to the US. These changes caused a lot of chaos and uncertainty for dog owners all over the world!

The following guide provides the necessary details to successfully bring dogs and cats into the United States (excluding Hawaii).

Pet Microchip

Dog and cat with a pet microchip each and a chip scanner scanning them

Flying a dog to the US requires that your dog has a microchip. Dogs must have a microchip implanted before getting a rabies vaccine, or the vaccine won’t be valid.

We recommend dog owners ask their vet for an international microchip, that meets the ISO Standards, so that, when required, the microchip could be detected with a universal scanner.

Cats entering the United States don’t need to be microchipped. Even though it isn’t needed, we highly recommend you microchip your cat as the microchip may be mandatory in your origin country. For example, if you wish to export a cat out of Israel, the Ministry of Agriculture won’t give you a health/export certificate if your cat doesn’t have a microchip.

Microchips are a minimum requirement for almost all the other countries around the world and therefore, it is best to have one for future travels.

Bringing A Dog Into The US – Where Is Your Dog Coming From?

Bringing a Dog into the US - Where is your dog coming from

As mentioned at the beginning of the article, the import procedures for dogs changed on 1/8/2024 by the CDC.

According to the new regulations, which only apply to dogs, you must first understand where your dog has been in the last 6 months, before entering the US.

The list of countries is divided into 2 categories:

  • Rabies-free or low-risk countries
  • High-risk countries

You can see the list of countries with a high risk of rabies here. As you may see, unfortunately, the list isn’t small and Israel appears on the high risk list. Because of this, dog owners in Israel who want to fly their dog into the US, are obliged to meet the more stringent requirements of the CDC.

Vaccinations Needed To Bring A Dog/Cat To The US

Pet dog getting vaccinated at the vet

The CDC regulations state that if you are bringing a dog into the United States, your dog must appear healthy.

If you are bringing a dog to the US from a rabies free or low-risk country, your dog doesn’t need vaccinations.

However, if you are bringing a dog to the US from a high-risk country then, as stated on the CDC’s website, a distinction should be made between dogs vaccinated in the US to those vaccinated abroad.

Dogs that were vaccinated against rabies in the US, and still have a valid US rabies vaccine, must arrive in the US with the following:

  • CDC Dog Import Form receipt – can be submitted here.
  • Certification of US issued Rabies Vaccination form – this certificate must be issued in the US, by a USDA-certified veterinarian, before the dog leaves the US. If it’s your dog’s first rabies vaccine, the certificate must be issued at least 28 days after receiving the vaccine.

During the transition period (which will end on 31/07/2025) – you can arrive with a USDA health certificate.

If your dog was not vaccinated in the US, you will need to bring the following:

  • CDC Dog Import Form receipt – can be submitted here.
  • Rabies antibody test
  • Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form – you can find the certificate here.

Furthermore, we recommend you get your dog treated against fleas and ticks.

The U.S Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS), requires that dogs that are imported from countries where screwworm exist, must be accompanied by a certificate stating that the dog has been inspected for screwworm within 5 days before entering the United States. The certificate must state that the dog is either free from screwworm or was found to be infested with screwworm and was held in quarantine and treated until becoming free from screwworm.

Cats entering the United States are not required to be vaccinated against rabies. Even though this isn’t mandatory, we recommend you get your cat vaccinated against rabies before moving to the US.

Rabies Antibody Titer Test For Dogs Entering The US

Blood serums for Rabies Titer Test

If you wish to fly a dog to the US from a high-risk country (such as Israel), you will need to ensure that your dog arrives with a rabies antibody test.

You will need to do the test at least 30 days after receiving the last rabies vaccine.

If your dog has a regular vaccination history, with rabies vaccines that you renewed on time, and which were administered after the microchip was implanted, you can do the antibody test at any time. In other words, you don’t need to wait 30 days from the last vaccination.

Having said that, we still recommend waiting 30 days because this is a basic requirement for pet travel in most countries around the world. It will be a shame wasting so much money on the titer test only for it to be valid for one destination…

It is important to note that you will need to do the antibody test at least 28 days before entering the US. If your dog arrives before then, your dog will have to complete the remaining days in a CDC registered animal care facility (ACF).

How do you keep the antibody test valid? According to the CDC, rabies vaccinations must be renewed on time. If a lapse occurred, the test must be renewed.

Are there specific laboratories approved by the CDC? Yes, there are specific laboratories that are accepted by the CDC. You can see the list of laboratories at the following link: Click here!

What about cats? We would like to emphasize that cats do not need a rabies antibody test to enter the United States.

Health Certificate

Pet Health Certificate need for pet travel

Flying dogs to the United States does not require a veterinary health certificate. However, we recommend that a veterinary health certificate be issued, no more than 10 days before flying your dog to the United States.

Since this isn’t mandatory, the health certificate does not need to be approved/endorsed by the authorities (such as the Ministry of Agriculture).

Cats entering the United States don’t require a health certificate. It is, however, recommended as most airlines won’t accept cats without an official, endorsed health certificate.

Reserve A Place With A CDC Registered Quarantine Facility

Dogs in quarantine

All foreign vaccinated dogs arriving from a high-risk country for rabies, must enter the US through a CDC registered animal care facility.

Currently, there are 7 quarantine facilities (Animal Care Facilities) at 6 airports:

  • New York (JFK)
  • Washington, D.C. (IAD)
  • Philadelphia (PHL)
  • Atlanta (ATL)
  • Miami (MIA)
  • Los Angeles (LAX)

You can see the details of the dog quarantine facilities in the United States here.

Dogs arriving from a high-risk country for rabies cannot enter the United States through any other airport!

How long will your dog have to be in “quarantine”? It depends on the facility, the time of your flight’s arrival, etc.

Some quarantine facilities are able to release dogs within 4-6 hours. However, some facilities state upfront that it will take 1-3 business days.

How much does it cost? In general, between $800 USD and $1,800 USD.

Customs Broker – Clearing Your Dog Through Customs In The US

Customs Broker – Clearing Your Dog Through Customs In The US

If your dog needs to go through a quarantine facility, you will need to make sure that your dog goes through customs clearance.

Some quarantine facilities will handle this process as part of their service. However, there are facilities that will require you to do it independently or through a customs broker.

There’s a significant doubt that the customs authorities will not allow you to clear your dog independently. Even if, seemingly, you can do it independently, we recommend that you use a local customs agent.

Entering The US With A Pet

Cartoon dog flying a plane

Pets can fly to the US in the passenger cabin, in the belly of the plane as “excess luggage” or as manifest cargo (freight).

Most pet owners contact us to assist them with finding a suitable flight route for their pets. This is usually the most complex part of flying dogs/cats to the US.

If you plan to hire us, we recommend you contact us before purchasing your flight tickets.

We recommend you check out the following page – EL AL’s pet policy

Importing A Pet Into The US – FAQ

Colorful stickers with question marks

Here are some frequently asked questions about importing a pet into the United States:

Question #1Do we need an import permit to bring pets into the US?

If you are planning to bring a dog to the US, you will need a CDC Dog Import Form receipt. Don’t worry, issuing it is very easy!

Question #2Will my pet be placed in quarantine once we reach the United States?

As stated in the article, quarantine is mandatory only for dogs that have been vaccinated abroad and are coming from a high-risk country.

The length of your dog’s stay in the quarantine facility depends on your dog’s documentation.

Question #3What’s the minimum age to bring a dog to the US?

It should be taken into account that a dog can only be brought into the US from the age of 6 months.

In addition, it is important to note that dogs must receive their first rabies vaccination on or after 12 weeks (84 days) of age. Vaccines administered before this won’t be accepted in the US.

Unlike dogs, cats can enter the US at any age.

Question #4Are you guys sure that the rabies antibody test isn’t needed to import a cat into the US?

The rabies antibody test isn’t required to fly a cat to the US.

Question #5I have a Pitbull. Can I bring him to the US?

Pitbulls can be imported into the US. In addition, other “dangerous” breeds can also be imported into the US (such as: Rottweiler, Amstaff, Dogo Argentino and many other breeds).

There are no banned dog breeds in the US.

Please note that your main problem will probably be finding a relevant airline, since most airlines don’t fly Pitbulls.

Question #6: Does a connection through the United States change the requirements?

Dogs are not required to meet the US entry requirements only if they are transiting through the United States as cargo (freight). Dogs flying as carry-on and/or checked baggage must meet the US entry requirements in order to be “eligible” to transit through the United States to their final destination.

Question #7: How many dogs can fly with us to the United States?

According to the CDC, there is no limit on the number of dogs a family can bring into the United States. However, it is important to emphasize that you must meet all the import requirements we mentioned in the article.

In addition, we recommend that you check the restrictions of the airlines.

Need Help Bringing Pets To The US?

Dog at the airport with luggage ready to travel

Moving your family to a new home involves much planning and preparation, especially when you a have a pet in the family. When relocating with pets, pet owners should take care of all the details in advance to ensure an easier transition.

In order to make the process easier and less stressful, you may want to check out pet relocation services (such as Pets2Fly).

At Pets2Fly, our customer support team is on standby 24/7 to help you with all your pet travel needs. Our staff can answer any questions and/or provide any services needed in the pet relocation industry.

Should you require any assistance, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

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