Rabies vaccination for pet travel: what it is and who requires it

Rabies vaccination

Your pet is 3 months old or older on arrival, or you don’t know your pet’s birth date

Dogs and cats must be vaccinated against rabies with a vaccine authorised by the authority of the country of origin and with immunity still valid according to the vaccine maker's validity period. If it is the first vaccination, it must have been given at least 21 days before entering Argentina.

“Cuando se trate de animales vacunados por primera vez, la vacuna debe haber sido aplicada al menos 21 (veintiún) días previos al ingreso a la República Argentina.”

Rabies vaccination

For every pet

Vaccinate with an approved rabies vaccine when your dog or cat is at least 84 days old. The vaccination must stay valid continuously from the RNATT until export. For a first vaccination, wait 3–4 weeks before the RNATT blood sample.

“Wait 3-4 weeks between the rabies vaccination and the date a blood sample is taken for the RNATT.”

Rabies vaccination

Your pet is 3 months old or older on arrival, or you don’t know your pet’s birth date

Dogs and cats aged 90 days or older must arrive vaccinated against rabies, with a vaccine authorised by the vet authority of the country where it was given and still in date. After a first (primary) vaccination your pet may only leave 21 days or more after the shot; a pet whose vaccine lapsed before a booster counts as a first-time vaccinate again.

“Todos os animais a partir de noventa (90) dias de idade devem ingressar vacinados contra a raiva, tendo sido utilizadas, no país de sua aplicação, vacinas autorizadas pela autoridade veterinária, que devem estar dentro do seu período de vigência.”

Rabies vaccination

For every pet

A pet that is vaccinated for the first time (or whose last dose was given after the previous vaccine expired), at any age, must be immunised at least 21 days before entering Chile. For a pet that is not a first-time vaccinate, the last two doses must be certified, otherwise it counts as a first-time vaccinate.

“deben ser inmunizados al menos 21 días previos al ingreso a Chile”

Rabies vaccination certificate

For every pet

You must give customs a rabies vaccination certificate issued by the official animal quarantine authority of the country or region you leave. The announcement gives no timing; its attachment may.

“携带宠物入境的，携带人应当向海关提供输出国家或者地区官方动物检疫机构出具的有效检疫证书和狂犬病疫苗接种证书。”

Rabies vaccination (first-time vaccinated pets: at least 21 days before shipment)

For every pet

Your pet needs a current rabies vaccination on its vaccination certificate. If it is vaccinated against rabies for the first time, the vaccine must be given at least 21 days before shipment.

“Para animales vacunados por primera vez contra la rabia esta deberá haber sido aplicada con una antelación mínimo de 21 días a la fecha de embarque.”

Rabies vaccination #1

For every pet

Your pet needs certification of at least two rabies vaccinations. This is the first one; documents for the earlier vaccination are required, because with only the most recent vaccination the pet does not qualify.

“Certification of at least two rabies vaccinations is required.”

Rabies vaccination #2 (a booster, more than 30 days before arrival)

For every pet

The second rabies vaccination (a booster) must be given no less than 30 days after the previous one, and more than 30 days before your pet arrives in Hawaii.

“To qualify, your pet will need to receive a booster no less than 30 days after the previous vaccination. In addition, this second vaccination must be given more than 30 days before arrival in Hawai‘i.”

Rabies vaccination (primary course)

The country you travel from is in the group: Group II — rabies vaccination; may be exempt from quarantine or Group IIIA — rabies vaccination + blood test; at least 30 days' quarantine

Your pet must be vaccinated against rabies with an inactivated or recombinant vaccine; a first (primary) vaccination must be given at 90 days old or older.

“In case of primary vaccination, it must be given at 90 days old or above.”

Rabies vaccination within the last year

The country you travel from is in the group: Group II — rabies vaccination; may be exempt from quarantine or Group IIIA — rabies vaccination + blood test; at least 30 days' quarantine

Hong Kong needs a rabies vaccination given between 1 year and 30 days before export. If your pet's last shot will be more than a year old on export day, give a booster at least 30 days before departure.

“Your dog/cat must be vaccinated against rabies using either an inactivated or recombinant anti-rabies vaccine not less than 30 days and not more than 1 year prior to export.”

Rabies vaccination

Your pet is a cat, or your pet is 3 months old or older on arrival, or you don’t know your pet’s birth date

Cats, and dogs three months old or older, must be vaccinated against rabies more than one month, but within 12 months, before embarkation. The details must be officially certified or written in the official health certificate, together with the other vaccinations.

“must be vaccinated against Rabies more than one month, but within 12 months prior to actual embarkation”

Rabies vaccination #1

The country you travel from is in the group: Non-designated region

First rabies vaccination (inactivated or recombinant) after microchipping, when your pet is at least 91 days old — Japan does not accept vaccinations given before 91 days.

“At least 91days old at the time of vaccination”

Rabies vaccination #2

The country you travel from is in the group: Non-designated region

Second rabies vaccination at least 30 days after the first, and before the first one's immunity runs out.

“30 days or more apart from the first vaccination (the date of the first one is counted as day 0)”

Rabies vaccination

The country you travel from is in the group: Non-scheduled country: at least 7 days' quarantine on arrival or Scheduled country: no quarantine on arrival

The vet's certificate must state that your pet was vaccinated against rabies with an approved anti-rabies vaccine before export. DVS gives no minimum number of days between the vaccination and export in its current documents.

“The animal has been vaccinated against rabies using an approved anti-rabies vaccine, prior to export.”

Rabies vaccination (recorded on the certificate)

The country you travel from is in the group: Any other country — Certificate of Good Health (15 days) and (your pet is 3 months old or older on arrival, or you don’t know your pet’s birth date)

Your pet's rabies vaccination date and its validity must be on the Certificate of Good Health. Pets under 3 months old are exempt.

“Date of administration of the rabies vaccine and its period of validity (animals under 3 months of age are exempt).”

Rabies vaccination (Category 3 countries)

The country you travel from is in the group: Category 3: specified countries where rabies is absent or well controlled

A vet vaccinates your pet against rabies when it is at least 12 weeks old, with a vaccine on MPI's approved list, and the vaccination must stay continuously valid until shipment. A first (primary) vaccination must be given at least 6 months before shipment.

“The cat or dog must be vaccinated or revaccinated for rabies by a veterinarian when the animal was at least 12 weeks of age”

Rabies vaccination (pets 3 months or older)

You don’t know your pet’s birth date, or your pet is 3 months old or older on arrival

The rabies vaccine is compulsory for dogs and cats from 3 months of age, and the vaccination must be valid on the health certificate.

“La vacuna de Rabia es obligatoria para ambas mascotas a partir de los 3 meses de edad”

Rabies vaccination

For every pet

A rabies certificate is required, and vaccinations must have been given at least 30 days before the travel date.

“A copy of the animal's current vaccination record (rabies certificate is required).”

Rabies vaccination

For every pet

A rabies vaccination certificate must travel with your pet. The vaccination must still have at least 6 months of validity left.

“The remaining validity period of the rabies vaccination must not be less than 6 months.”

Rabies vaccination

The country you travel from is in the group: Schedule II — rabies vaccination + serology; quarantine depends on owner travel or Schedule III — rabies vaccination + serology + at least 30 days' quarantine

Your pet needs a valid rabies vaccination (inactivated or recombinant vaccine) — a valid primary vaccination and up-to-date boosters.

“The dog or cat must have a valid vaccination against rabies using an inactivated vaccine or recombinant vaccine acceptable to NParks/AVS.”

Rabies vaccination (not needed from Australia, New Zealand and the UK)

You do not travel from Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom or Northern Ireland (UK)

Dogs and cats must have a valid rabies vaccination: a primary vaccination given not more than 12 months and not less than 30 days before import, or a booster given not more than 12 months before import. It is not required for pets from Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, though advised.

“In the case of a primary rabies vaccination the vaccination must be given not more than 12 months and not less than 30 days before the date of import.”

Rabies vaccination at least 21 days before departure

For every pet

Your pet must be vaccinated against rabies not less than 21 days before departure. Pets from a country certified rabies-free don't need the vaccination.

“Pets is vaccinated against Rabies not less than 21 days prior to the departure.”

Rabies vaccination

For every pet

A valid rabies vaccination (per the vaccine maker's instructions), with the first dose given at 12 weeks old or older, recorded with vaccine name, maker, batch number and date.

“initial dose should not be applied before 12 weeks of animal age”

Rabies vaccination

Your pet is a dog and your pet has been in a place in the group “High-risk for dog rabies” in the last 6 months

Because your dog has been in a high-risk country for dog rabies in the last 6 months, it must be vaccinated against rabies — at 12 weeks (84 days) or older, at least 28 days before entry for a first vaccination — and the vaccine must not expire during travel.

“will NOT be allowed to enter the U.S.”

Rabies vaccination (inactivated vaccine)

For every pet

Vaccinate your pet against rabies after its microchip was implanted, with an inactivated vaccine produced to the WOAH (OIE) rules. A booster given after the previous vaccination has expired counts as a first vaccination.

“The rabies vaccine used must be an inactivated vaccine produced in accordance with OIE”

Rabies vaccination

It is not true that the country you travel from is in the group: No pet travel document needed (Northern Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man)

Vaccinate against rabies (pet at least 12 weeks old). After a first (primary) vaccination you must wait at least 21 full days before arriving; no wait after a booster if the cover never lapsed.

“Your vet needs proof that your pet’s at least 12 weeks old before vaccinating them.”

Rabies vaccination

It is not true that the country you travel from is in the group: Sweden — no rabies vaccination needed for travel only between Norway and Sweden

Your pet must be at least 12 weeks old when vaccinated by an authorised vet. The vaccination is valid from 21 days after the primary vaccination; a booster given before the old one expires has no waiting period.

“The animal must be at least 12 weeks old when the vaccine is administered.”

Rabies vaccination

For every pet

Your pet must be at least 12 weeks old when first vaccinated. The vaccination becomes valid 21 days later; keep boosters up to date so there's no gap.

“The first vaccination is possible from the age of 12 weeks.”

Rabies vaccination

For every pet

Your pet must be at least 12 weeks old when vaccinated. The vaccination becomes valid 21 days after the primary course is completed; boosters must be given before the previous vaccination expires.

“The pet animal was at least 12 weeks old at the date the vaccine was administered.”

Rabies vaccination certificate

Your pet is a dog or cat and (your pet is 3 months old or older on arrival, or you don’t know your pet’s birth date)

Bring a valid rabies vaccination certificate (in English or French, signed by a licensed vet, showing the vaccine and how long it protects). CFIA doesn't list a waiting period after vaccination.

“a valid rabies vaccination certificate”