Pet travel route
Dog or cat from Uruguay to the United States: the rules
Possible. There is no official waiting period for a dog, but you still need: microchip, health certificate from an MGAP-accredited private vet, MGAP international veterinary certificate (CVI), within 10 days before travel and CDC Dog Import Form.
Rules checked up to 12 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 Uruguay in the group “Dog rabies-free or low-risk country”, which decides part of the rules.
- No rabies blood test, import permit or quarantine on this route for a pet that meets the rules.
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 certificate from an MGAP-accredited private vet, MGAP international veterinary certificate (CVI), within 10 days before travel 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
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 certificate from an MGAP-accredited private vet and MGAP international veterinary certificate (CVI), within 10 days before travel. Book them early; lab and paperwork times are not counted.
On this route (cats)
- No rabies blood test
- No import permit
- No quarantine
Which rules apply to you
The United States puts Uruguay 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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Uruguay → United States
What your pet needs
In the order you do them. Each step says whether Uruguay (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.”
IdentificationUruguay and 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: microchip registered with the national animal welfare institute (INBA): A dog leaving Uruguay must be microchipped and registered with the Instituto Nacional de Bienestar Animal; the chip is linked to its international health certificate.
“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.”
“SI ES PERRO: Microchip y registrado en el Instituto Nacional de Bienestar Animal, el que estará asociado al Certificado Sanitario Internacional, según Resolución Nº 273 de la DGSG del 27/08/2018.”
In the days before you travel
Vet examLeaving Uruguay
Health certificate from an MGAP-accredited private vet
Within the 10 days before you go to MGAP, an MGAP-accredited private vet issues a health certificate (with the professional stamp, inciso A: 650 pesos in 2026) showing that your pet meets every requirement of the destination, and fills in two copies of the CVI. Bring the originals and photocopies, plus any supporting documents (vaccination certificate, antibody test).
Details and the official words
“Un Certificado Sanitario emitido dentro de los 10 días previos por Veterinario Particular Acreditado por el MGAP (desde el 01/07/2023), con Timbre profesional inciso A. El mismo deberá reflejar que la mascota cumple con los requisitos del país de destino y deberá incluir toda la información necesaria.”
“Dos vías del CVI prellenado por el Veterinario acreditado.”
“01/01/26 al 31/12/26: $650”
PaperworkLeaving Uruguay
MGAP international veterinary certificate (CVI), within 10 days before travel
Book an appointment at an MGAP animal health office (in Montevideo: the customs building on Rambla 25 de Agosto, or the Carrasco airport cargo terminal), pay 666 pesos (BROU, Abitab or Red Pagos) and bring the accredited vet's certificate, the pre-filled CVI and proof of payment. MGAP issues the CVI within the 10 days before your trip; your pet doesn't need to come. Show the CVI at the border when you leave.
Details and the official words
“Para salir del país con su mascota, es necesario un CERTIFICADO SANITARIO INTERNACIONAL (CVI) emitido por la Autoridad Sanitaria Oficial (MGAP) de la oficina zonal o local del Departamento donde radica, emitido dentro de los 10 días previos al viaje.”
“Constancia de pago por el Certificado Oficial. Costo $666 depositado en -Cuenta Corriente BROU del MGAP 001558187-00030 o Abitab o Red Pagos en cuenta 152-0025194”
“No se requiere la presencia del animal, debido a que el mismo se encuentra identificado con microchip y ha sido certificado por su veterinario.”
“Presentar el CVI en el paso de frontera de egreso.”
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”
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.
- The destination country sets the health requirements and how long the certificate is valid (in calendar days). Check them with your accredited vet and plan the certificate around your travel date.
- If your pet entered Uruguay with a certificate and leaves within the validity stated on it, you can use that same certificate. If it has expired, or states no validity, ask MGAP for a new official certificate.
Cats
In the days before you travel
Vet examLeaving Uruguay
Health certificate from an MGAP-accredited private vet
Within the 10 days before you go to MGAP, an MGAP-accredited private vet issues a health certificate (with the professional stamp, inciso A: 650 pesos in 2026) showing that your pet meets every requirement of the destination, and fills in two copies of the CVI. Bring the originals and photocopies, plus any supporting documents (vaccination certificate, antibody test).
Details and the official words
“Un Certificado Sanitario emitido dentro de los 10 días previos por Veterinario Particular Acreditado por el MGAP (desde el 01/07/2023), con Timbre profesional inciso A. El mismo deberá reflejar que la mascota cumple con los requisitos del país de destino y deberá incluir toda la información necesaria.”
“Dos vías del CVI prellenado por el Veterinario acreditado.”
“01/01/26 al 31/12/26: $650”
PaperworkLeaving Uruguay
MGAP international veterinary certificate (CVI), within 10 days before travel
Book an appointment at an MGAP animal health office (in Montevideo: the customs building on Rambla 25 de Agosto, or the Carrasco airport cargo terminal), pay 666 pesos (BROU, Abitab or Red Pagos) and bring the accredited vet's certificate, the pre-filled CVI and proof of payment. MGAP issues the CVI within the 10 days before your trip; your pet doesn't need to come. Show the CVI at the border when you leave.
Details and the official words
“Para salir del país con su mascota, es necesario un CERTIFICADO SANITARIO INTERNACIONAL (CVI) emitido por la Autoridad Sanitaria Oficial (MGAP) de la oficina zonal o local del Departamento donde radica, emitido dentro de los 10 días previos al viaje.”
“Constancia de pago por el Certificado Oficial. Costo $666 depositado en -Cuenta Corriente BROU del MGAP 001558187-00030 o Abitab o Red Pagos en cuenta 152-0025194”
“No se requiere la presencia del animal, debido a que el mismo se encuentra identificado con microchip y ha sido certificado por su veterinario.”
“Presentar el CVI en el paso de frontera de egreso.”
Travel day and arrival
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.
- The destination country sets the health requirements and how long the certificate is valid (in calendar days). Check them with your accredited vet and plan the certificate around your travel date.
- If your pet entered Uruguay with a certificate and leaves within the validity stated on it, you can use that same certificate. If it has expired, or states no validity, ask MGAP for a new official certificate.
Money
What it costs
Government fees exactly as the official pages state them, and what vets and labs in Uruguay publish for the steps above. The two are never added together.
Government fees on this route
MGAP official international veterinary certificate (CVI)Leaving Uruguay666 UYU
“Costo $666 depositado en -Cuenta Corriente BROU del MGAP”
Solicitud de egreso de mascotas del Uruguay (MGAP, gub.uy trámites) · as of 2026-10-12
Professional stamp (timbre profesional, inciso A) on the accredited vet's certificate, 2026Leaving Uruguay650 UYU
“Timbre profesional para informe técnico, inciso A: 01/01/26 al 31/12/26: $650”
Solicitud de egreso de mascotas del Uruguay (MGAP, gub.uy trámites) · as of 2026-10-12
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: 1,316 UYU (each currency separately)
What vets and labs charge Not official figures
We have no published vet or lab prices for Uruguay 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 Uruguay
Nothing for the trip back has to happen before your pet leaves Uruguay (dogs).
The trip back asks for 8 steps: dogs: microchip (ISO 11784, HDX or FDX-B), linked to the certificate, rabies vaccination, valid on arrival (21 days after a first vaccination), dogs: negative leishmaniosis test within 60 days before entry and vet examination within 10 days before the certificate and more.
Nothing for the trip back has to happen before your pet leaves Uruguay (cats).
The trip back asks for 6 steps: rabies vaccination, valid on arrival (21 days after a first vaccination), vet examination within 10 days before the certificate, internal and external parasite treatment within 15 days before the certificate and international veterinary certificate (CVI) from the official authority and more.
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
- Solicitud de egreso de mascotas del Uruguay (MGAP, gub.uy trámites)
- Resolución N° 273/018 DGSG: control y certificación sanitaria de mascotas (microchip), MGAP
Last checked against the official pages: 2026-10-12.
Questions owners ask
Does my dog or cat need a rabies blood test to go from Uruguay 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 Uruguay to the United States?
There is no official waiting period for a dog, but you still need: microchip, health certificate from an MGAP-accredited private vet, MGAP international veterinary certificate (CVI), within 10 days before travel 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
Read next
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