Bringing a dog or cat into the United States

The short version

• Rabies blood test for some origins
• Designated entry point for some trips

How early to start

The least time the officially fixed waiting periods allow, by where your dog is coming from. Vet, lab and paperwork appointment times come on top.

Where your pet is coming from matters

The United States sorts countries into groups. These are the groups exactly as the authority publishes them (CDC: high-risk countries for dog rabies, checked 2026-10-08).

• CDC page updated Apr 15, 2026; 111 entries. Countries not on the list are treated as low-risk.
• China excludes Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan (separate ISO codes). Israel includes the West Bank and Gaza (PS). Morocco includes Western Sahara (EH). Tanzania includes Zanzibar. Ceuta (ES-CE) and Melilla (ES-ML) are listed separately.

Every requirement

Depends on your pet or your route

1. Paperwork

   CDC Dog Import Form

   Applies when: your pet is a dog

   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”

2. Paperwork

   Photo of your dog for the CDC form

   Applies when: your pet is a dog and (your pet is under 12 months old on arrival, or you don’t know your pet’s birth date)

   The CDC Dog Import Form asks you to attach a photo showing your dog's face and body (.jpg, .jpeg or .png, up to 10 MB). For a dog under one year old the photo must have been taken within 15 days before it arrives in the United States.

   Details and the official words

   Take the photo after you know your travel date, so it is not too old on arrival. If you did not enter a birth date, check the age rule on the CDC page: dogs under one year old need a recent photo.

   “Attach a photo of the dog showing its face and body (see example below).”

   “Dogs less than one year old should have this photo taken within 15 days before they will arrive in the United States.”

3. Age rule

   Dog at least 6 months old

   Applies when: your pet is a dog

   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.”

4. Identification

   Microchip

   Applies when: your pet is a dog

   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.”

5. Vaccination

   Rabies vaccination

   Applies when: 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.

   Details and the official words

   If this is missed: Unvaccinated dogs that have been in a high-risk country are not allowed to enter the U.S.

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

   “at least 28 days before entry”

6. Paperwork

   Certification of U.S.-Issued Rabies Vaccination (before you leave the U.S.)

   Applies when: 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 and your pet was vaccinated in United States

   A USDA-accredited vet completes this CDC form, and USDA endorses it, BEFORE your dog leaves the U.S. It must be completed at least 28 days after a first-ever rabies vaccine and can be reused while that vaccine is valid. It cannot be issued after the dog has left.

   Details and the official words

   If this is missed: Without it, your dog must follow the stricter foreign-vaccinated route (titer test or quarantine at a CDC-registered facility).

   “the form must be completed at least 28 days after the vaccine was administered”

   “cannot be issued retroactively”

7. Paperwork

   Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip

   Applies when: 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 and it is not true that your pet was vaccinated in United States

   A vet completes this CDC form and an official government veterinarian endorses it, no more than 30 days before your dog travels to the U.S. It is valid for one entry.

   Details and the official words

   “This form must be completed no more than 30 days before the dog travels to the U.S.”

8. Blood test

   Rabies blood test (titer) at a CDC-approved lab

   Applies when: 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 and it is not true that your pet was vaccinated in United States

   A blood sample taken at least 30 days after the first valid rabies vaccination and at least 28 days before entry, tested by a CDC-approved laboratory. Without a valid titer your dog must be quarantined for 28 days at the CDC-registered facility.

   Details and the official words

   If this is missed: 28-day quarantine at the CDC-registered animal care facility, at your cost.

   “at least 30 days after the dog's first valid rabies vaccination”

9. Route

   Reservation at a CDC-registered animal care facility

   Applies when: 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 and it is not true that your pet was vaccinated in United States

   Book the CDC-registered animal care facility before travel and fly into the airport where it is located. The facility examines and revaccinates your dog on arrival.

   Details and the official words

   “must have a reservation at a CDC-registered animal care facility before entering the U.S.”

10. On arrival

    Cat appears healthy on arrival

    Applies when: your pet is a cat

    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”

When this route doesn’t work

• Not covered by us yet · You travel to Hawaii (US) or Guam

  Hawaii and Guam have their own strict pet quarantine rules (even from the US mainland). We don't cover them yet.

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.When: Your pet is a dog