Pet travel route
Dog or cat from Serbia to the United States: the rules
Possible. There is no official waiting period for a dog, but you still need: microchip, health confirmation from your vet, no more than 48 hours old, export certificate from a Serbian veterinary inspector and CDC Dog Import Form.
Rules checked up to 13 October 2026From 12 official pages
In short
- Dogs and cats differ on this route: choose Dog or Cat to see just yours.
- The United States puts Serbia in the group “Dog rabies-free or low-risk country”, which decides part of the rules.
- On this route: official stamp on the certificate.
- No rabies blood test, import permit or quarantine on this route for a pet that meets the rules.
Limited official guidance. The authority for leaving Serbia publishes little for this route. Everything it does say is here, with its wording. Serbia's Veterinary Directorate publishes its request form for an export certificate for live animals, with notes for pets, and answers on travelling to the EU. It doesn't say how long before departure to apply. Send the request early: the form gives the inspection up to 30 days to decide.
At a glance
How early to start (dogs)
No official wait
whether or not your pet is already microchipped and vaccinated
No official wait still means appointments: microchip, health confirmation from your vet, no more than 48 hours old, export certificate from a Serbian veterinary inspector and CDC Dog Import Form. Book them early; lab and paperwork times are not counted.
On this route (dogs)
- No rabies blood test
- No import permit
- No quarantine
- Official stamp on the certificate
How early to start (cats)
No official wait
whether or not your pet is already microchipped and vaccinated
No official wait still means appointments: health confirmation from your vet, no more than 48 hours old and export certificate from a Serbian veterinary inspector. Book them early; lab and paperwork times are not counted.
On this route (cats)
- No rabies blood test
- No import permit
- No quarantine
- Official stamp on the certificate
Which rules apply to you
The United States puts Serbia in the group “Dog rabies-free or low-risk country”. See every group
Official name: Dog rabies-free or low-risk
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Serbia → United States
What your pet needs
In the order you do them. Each step says whether Serbia (leaving) or the United States (entering) asks for it.
Dogs
Get ready
Age ruleEntering the United States
Dog at least 6 months old
Dogs must be at least 6 months old when they enter or return to the U.S.
Details and the official words
“Dogs must be at least 6 months old at time of entry or return to the U.S.”
IdentificationEntering the United States
Microchip
Your dog must have a microchip that a universal scanner can detect. If it has been in a high-risk country, the chip must have been implanted before the rabies vaccine.
Details and the official words
“Dogs must have a microchip that can be detected with a universal scanner to identify them.”
“The microchip must be implanted before getting the rabies vaccine, or else the vaccine will be invalid.”
In the days before you travel
Vet examLeaving Serbia
Health confirmation from your vet, no more than 48 hours old
A veterinary station or practice confirms your pet's health (уверење о здравственом стању). For a pet, this confirmation must be no more than 48 hours old when the veterinary inspection issues the export certificate.
Details and the official words
“Уверење о здравственом стању животиња”
“Документ стар не више од 10 дана, а за кућне љубимце потврда не старија од 48 часова”
Official stampLeaving Serbia
Export certificate from a Serbian veterinary inspector
Send the request for an export certificate for live animals to the Veterinary Directorate's veterinary inspection (also by email to vetinspekcija@minpolj.gov.rs) with the vet's health confirmation, the pet passport, the antibody test report and the import permit if your destination asks for them, and proof that you paid the two administrative taxes (420 + 9,160 = 9,580 dinars, one payment possible). As a pet owner you don't need an approved export establishment or a disinfection certificate for the vehicle. A Serbian veterinary inspector issues the certificate.
Details and the official words
The form gives the inspection up to 30 days from the request to decide, and treats a request as incomplete if missing documents aren't sent within 8 days. It doesn't say how long before departure to apply: ask the veterinary inspection, and allow for the 48-hour limit on the vet's health confirmation.
“За некомерцијално кретање кућних љубимаца неопходан је ветеринарски сертификат који издаје надлежни ветеринарски инспектор Републике Србије.”
“ЗАХТЕВ ЗА ИЗДАВАЊЕ СЕРТИФИКАТA ЗА ИЗВОЗ ЖИВИХ ЖИВОТИЊА”
“Не достављају држаоци спортских коња, голубова, паса, мачака, птица кућних љубимаца, зечева и пчела”
“Није потребно за извоз кућних љубимаца”
“Само када је то захтев земље у коју се отпремају животиње”
“vetinspekcija@minpolj.gov.rs”
“Рок за решавање поднетог захтева 30 дана од покретања поступка”
“420,00 РСД”
“Такса се плаћа заједно и за захтев и за издавање сертификата”
PaperworkEntering the United States
CDC Dog Import Form
Fill in the free CDC Dog Import Form online (one per dog) and keep the emailed receipt to show on arrival. You can submit it up to the day of travel; the receipt is valid for 6 months unless your dog visits another country in that time.
Details and the official words
The receipt stops being valid if your dog visits a high-risk country, or a different low-risk country, during those 6 months — then you need a new form.
If your travel date or port of entry changes, submit a new form.
“the receipt is valid for 6 months from when it's issued unless the dog visits a high-risk country or a different dog rabies-free or low-risk country during that time”
Travel day and arrival
CheckLeaving Serbia
Pet passport (original)
Bring your dog's or cat's original pet passport, issued by a veterinary station, with the request. The microchip and a valid rabies vaccination remain required for travel to the EU.
Details and the official words
“Пасош за животиње”
“За говеда, коње, псе и мачке”
“Животиња мора бити трајно обележена микрочипом који испуњава прописане стандарде.”
Good to know
- Your destination state may have its own rules (for example a rabies vaccination or health certificate). Check with the state veterinarian before you travel.
- If your dog comes from a region affected by screwworm, USDA requires a certificate from a full-time salaried government vet confirming a screwworm inspection within 5 days before shipment. Check USDA's list of affected regions.
Cats
In the days before you travel
Vet examLeaving Serbia
Health confirmation from your vet, no more than 48 hours old
A veterinary station or practice confirms your pet's health (уверење о здравственом стању). For a pet, this confirmation must be no more than 48 hours old when the veterinary inspection issues the export certificate.
Details and the official words
“Уверење о здравственом стању животиња”
“Документ стар не више од 10 дана, а за кућне љубимце потврда не старија од 48 часова”
Official stampLeaving Serbia
Export certificate from a Serbian veterinary inspector
Send the request for an export certificate for live animals to the Veterinary Directorate's veterinary inspection (also by email to vetinspekcija@minpolj.gov.rs) with the vet's health confirmation, the pet passport, the antibody test report and the import permit if your destination asks for them, and proof that you paid the two administrative taxes (420 + 9,160 = 9,580 dinars, one payment possible). As a pet owner you don't need an approved export establishment or a disinfection certificate for the vehicle. A Serbian veterinary inspector issues the certificate.
Details and the official words
The form gives the inspection up to 30 days from the request to decide, and treats a request as incomplete if missing documents aren't sent within 8 days. It doesn't say how long before departure to apply: ask the veterinary inspection, and allow for the 48-hour limit on the vet's health confirmation.
“За некомерцијално кретање кућних љубимаца неопходан је ветеринарски сертификат који издаје надлежни ветеринарски инспектор Републике Србије.”
“ЗАХТЕВ ЗА ИЗДАВАЊЕ СЕРТИФИКАТA ЗА ИЗВОЗ ЖИВИХ ЖИВОТИЊА”
“Не достављају држаоци спортских коња, голубова, паса, мачака, птица кућних љубимаца, зечева и пчела”
“Није потребно за извоз кућних љубимаца”
“Само када је то захтев земље у коју се отпремају животиње”
“vetinspekcija@minpolj.gov.rs”
“Рок за решавање поднетог захтева 30 дана од покретања поступка”
“420,00 РСД”
“Такса се плаћа заједно и за захтев и за издавање сертификата”
Travel day and arrival
CheckLeaving Serbia
Pet passport (original)
Bring your dog's or cat's original pet passport, issued by a veterinary station, with the request. The microchip and a valid rabies vaccination remain required for travel to the EU.
Details and the official words
“Пасош за животиње”
“За говеда, коње, псе и мачке”
“Животиња мора бити трајно обележена микрочипом који испуњава прописане стандарде.”
On arrivalEntering the United States
Cat appears healthy on arrival
Cats must appear healthy on arrival and may be inspected. No federal proof of rabies vaccination is required, but CDC recommends it and your destination state may require it.
Details and the official words
“Cats are not required to have proof of rabies vaccination for importation into the United States.”
“APHIS Veterinary Services does not have any animal health requirements related to bringing (importing) a pet cat”
Good to know
- Your destination state may have its own rules (for example a rabies vaccination or health certificate). Check with the state veterinarian before you travel.
Money
What it costs
Government fees exactly as the official pages state them, and what vets and labs in Serbia publish for the steps above. The two are never added together.
Government fees on this route
Republic administrative tax for the requestLeaving Serbia420 RSD
“Износ издатка 420,00 РСД”
Захтев за издавање сертификата за извоз живих животиња (procedure 16.01.0054, Uprava za veterinu, veterinary inspection; PDF of 13 Aug 2025) · as of 2026-10-13
Republic administrative tax for issuing the veterinary export certificateLeaving Serbia9,160 RSD
“Износ издатка 9160,00 РСД”
Захтев за издавање сертификата за извоз живих животиња (procedure 16.01.0054, Uprava za veterinu, veterinary inspection; PDF of 13 Aug 2025) · as of 2026-10-13
CDC Dog Import FormEntering United StatesFree
Dogs only; one form per dog. No CDC fee is published for cats.
“How much does it cost? Free How many dogs can be included on one form? Each dog must have its own form.”
Dogs from dog rabies-free or low-risk countries · as of 2024-07-22
Government fees in total: 9,580 RSD (each currency separately)
What vets and labs charge Not official figures
We have no published vet or lab prices for Serbia yet.
Prices that businesses publish on their own pages, quoted as we read them; yours can differ. Ranges are the lowest to highest of these examples, never our estimate. How we collect prices
Airline fees aren’t included: check your airline’s pet page.
Round trip
Coming back to Serbia
Nothing for the trip back has to happen before your pet leaves Serbia.
The trip back asks for 4 steps: microchip, before the rabies vaccination, rabies vaccination at 12 weeks or older, 21 days before entry, serbian model health certificate, valid 10 days and use a USDA-accredited veterinarian.
Nearby routes
Other routes
Where this comes from
Official sources
- Bringing a Dog into the U.S.
- Dogs from dog rabies-free or low-risk countries
- Entry for U.S.-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries
- Entry for foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries
- Instructions for the CDC Dog Import Form
- High-risk countries for dog rabies
- Bringing an Animal into the U.S.
- Bring a pet dog into the United States
- Bring a pet cat into the United States
- 42 CFR 71.51 Dogs and cats (CDC), version history
- Најчешћа питања и одговори – Кретање кућних љубимаца из Републике Србије у Европску унију (Uprava za veterinu, 17 June 2026)
- Захтев за издавање сертификата за извоз живих животиња (procedure 16.01.0054, Uprava za veterinu, veterinary inspection; PDF of 13 Aug 2025)
Last checked against the official pages: 2026-10-13.
Questions owners ask
Does my dog or cat need a rabies blood test to go from Serbia to the United States?
No. The official rules we have verified for this route don't ask for a rabies blood test.
Do I need an import permit to bring my dog or cat into the United States?
No. The official rules we have verified for this route don't ask for an import permit.
Will my dog or cat be quarantined in the United States?
Not on the routes we have verified: the official rules list no quarantine for a pet that meets the requirements.
How early should I start preparing my pet for Serbia to the United States?
There is no official waiting period for a dog, but you still need: microchip, health confirmation from your vet, no more than 48 hours old, export certificate from a Serbian veterinary inspector and CDC Dog Import Form.
Every rule here is quoted from the official page and checked word for word; not legal advice. How we verify · Report a mistake
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