Country entry guide · North America
Traveling to the United States with your dog
The United States welcomes dogs, but what you must prepare depends mainly on where your dog has physically been in the last six months — not only on the country you are flying from. The U.S. is not part of the EU pet-passport system; it runs its own scheme led by the CDC, with rules that changed on 1 August 2024. Every dog must be at least 6 months old, microchipped, appear healthy, and have a CDC Dog Import Form receipt. If your dog has been only in dog-rabies-free or low-risk countries, that receipt is essentially all you need. If it has been in a high-risk country for dog rabies, expect rabies vaccination plus a valid rabies serology (titer) or quarantine, and arrival at an approved facility. This guide explains each case before you book.
📋 At a glance
| Dogs allowed | Yes |
| Microchip | Required |
| Rabies vaccination | Required if from a high-risk country |
| Rabies serology titer | Conditional — foreign-vaccinated, high-risk origin (or quarantine) |
| CDC Dog Import Form | Required for all dogs |
| Veterinary certificate | Conditional — high-risk origins |
| Quarantine | Only if no valid titer (high-risk, foreign-vaccinated) |
⏱️ Estimated preparation time
Times are indicative. The rabies antibody test alone adds a fixed 3-month wait.
⚠️ Important
- MyDogCanFly provides general information — not veterinary or legal advice.
- Only a veterinarian can confirm the exact procedure for your individual dog.
- Requirements depend on: the country of origin, previous travel history, identification, vaccinations, the itinerary and the travel date.
Always consult your veterinarian before booking your trip.
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🧭 How your dog's entry requirements are decided
The exact documents depend on three things — the U.S. (your destination) is only the first, and your dog's travel history matters most.
- 1 Country of destination — United States★★★★★
The U.S. runs its own CDC scheme (not the EU passport): every dog must be at least 6 months old, microchipped, appear healthy, and have a CDC Dog Import Form receipt.
- 2 Countries your dog recently stayed in★★★★★
Whether the dog has been in a high-risk country for dog rabies in the 6 months before entry is decisive: it triggers rabies vaccination, a serology titer or quarantine, and arrival at an approved facility.
- 3 Country of departure★★★★☆
The departure country matters mostly through the CDC Dog Import Form (which lists it) and possible USDA screwworm/FMD rules; the high-risk history, not just the last airport, drives the heavy requirements.
So read the requirements below as the U.S. federal framework, then confirm your dog's exact travel history and any state rules with your vet.
✅ Entry requirements
| Requirement | Required? | When | Exceptions | Official reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISO microchip | Required | For all dogs; must be readable by a universal scanner and implanted before the rabies vaccination, and listed on every form. | No tattoo alternative; if the microchip is placed after vaccination, the vaccine is treated as invalid. | CDC — Bringing a Dog into the U.S. (Aug 1, 2024) |
| Minimum age | At least 6 months | The dog must be 6 months or older at the time of entry or return to the U.S. | No exception — puppies under 6 months cannot be imported. | CDC — Bringing a Dog into the U.S. |
| CDC Dog Import Form | Required for all dogs | Complete the free online form; the emailed receipt (print or phone) is shown to the airline and CBP. Valid for a single entry on the listed arrival date; low-risk receipts can be reused up to 6 months. | None — every dog needs its own form; a new form is required if travel date or arrival port changes. | CDC Dog Import Form (survey.1cdp.cdc.gov) |
| Appears healthy on arrival | Required | Dogs are inspected at the port of entry; a sick or injured dog may face further exam, testing or treatment at the owner's expense. | A dog showing evidence of a zoonotic disease may be denied entry. | CDC — dog importation requirements |
| Rabies vaccination | Required from high-risk countries | Dogs that have been in a high-risk country in the past 6 months must be vaccinated; first shot at ≥12 weeks (84 days) old and, for high-risk dogs, at least 28 days before entry. | Not required by CDC from rabies-free/low-risk countries (though strongly recommended). An unvaccinated dog from a high-risk country is refused entry. | CDC — high-risk countries requirements |
| Rabies serology titer | Conditional | Foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries: blood drawn ≥30 days after the first valid vaccination and ≥28 days before entry, tested by a CDC-approved laboratory. | Without a valid titer, the dog must instead be quarantined 28 days at a CDC-registered facility. Not required from rabies-free/low-risk countries. | CDC — foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries |
| Certification of U.S.-issued Rabies Vaccination | U.S.-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries | Completed by a USDA-accredited vet and endorsed by USDA before the dog leaves the U.S.; reusable while the rabies vaccine remains valid. | A USDA-endorsed export health certificate issued no later than 31 July 2025 may be used instead if it meets CDC criteria. | CDC — U.S.-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries |
| Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip | Foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries | Completed by the dog's vet and endorsed by an official government vet in the exporting country; issued no more than 30 days before travel, single use. | Documents must be in English or have a certified English translation. | CDC — foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries |
| Reservation at a CDC-registered animal care facility | Foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries | Must be booked before travel for examination and revaccination; the dog must arrive by air at the airport where that facility is located. | If there is no valid serology titer, the reservation must also include a 28-day quarantine. Service dogs arriving by sea are exempt from the reservation. | CDC — CDC-registered animal care facilities |
| USDA rules — screwworm / FMD countries | Conditional | From a screwworm-affected country a government-vet certificate (inspection within 5 days) is required; from an FMD-affected country the dog must be bathed and kept from livestock for 5 days. | Commercial (resale/adoption) imports carry additional USDA Animal Care requirements. | USDA APHIS — Bring a Pet Dog into the U.S. |
| Port of entry | Depends on origin | Low-risk dogs: any airport, seaport or land border matching the form. High-risk foreign-vaccinated dogs: only the airport with their reserved CDC-registered facility. | The arrival location must match the CDC Dog Import Form receipt. | CDC — dog importation requirements |
| State-level requirements | May apply | Individual states or territories may add requirements (e.g., a veterinary health certificate); check the destination state's animal entry rules. | Federal CDC/USDA rules always apply on top of any state rule. | USDA APHIS — State and Territory Animal Entry Requirements |
🌍 Rules according to your dog's origin
Simplest — from a rabies-free or low-risk country
If your dog has been only in dog-rabies-free or low-risk countries in the 6 months before entry, the only form needed is the CDC Dog Import Form receipt. The dog must also be at least 6 months old, microchipped and appear healthy. It can arrive at any airport, seaport or land border crossing that matches the form. A country not on CDC's high-risk list counts as low-risk.
U.S.-vaccinated dog returning from a high-risk country
If your dog was vaccinated against rabies in the U.S. and has been in a high-risk country in the last 6 months, you need two documents: the CDC Dog Import Form receipt and a Certification of U.S.-issued Rabies Vaccination completed by a USDA-accredited vet and endorsed by USDA before the dog left the U.S. With these, the dog can enter at any port matching the form — no titer or quarantine.
Foreign-vaccinated dog from a high-risk country
This is the strictest path. The dog needs a Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip (endorsed by an official government vet), a valid rabies serology titer from a CDC-approved lab, a reservation at a CDC-registered animal care facility, and it must arrive by air at that facility's airport. Without a valid titer, a 28-day quarantine at the facility is required. An unvaccinated dog from a high-risk country is refused entry.
🛬 Arrival
What happens when your dog reaches the U.S. depends on its 6-month travel history.
- Every dog is checked by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP); have the CDC Dog Import Form receipt ready on paper or phone.
- From a rabies-free or low-risk country, the dog may enter at any airport, seaport or land border matching the form.
- A foreign-vaccinated dog from a high-risk country must arrive by air at the airport of its reserved CDC-registered facility, and cannot take a domestic connection until released.
- Carry original, government-endorsed documents; forms must be in English or have a certified English translation.
- If documents are missing or invalid, or the dog appears ill, entry can be delayed, denied, or the dog returned at the owner's expense.
- Check your destination state's own animal entry rules, which can add a health certificate or other conditions.
🧳 Real traveller experience
No reliable documented traveller feedback available.
🚫 Restricted dogs
There is no U.S. federal ban on any dog breed. CDC and USDA rules are about rabies and animal health, not breed. Breed restrictions, where they exist, are set by individual states, counties or cities.
Federal level: no breed is prohibited from entering the United States. Any healthy dog meeting the CDC and USDA requirements may be imported regardless of breed or type.
State and local level: some states, counties or municipalities have breed-specific legislation (for example rules affecting 'pit bull'-type dogs) covering ownership, housing or insurance. These vary widely and can affect where you can live or travel with the dog after entry.
Before travelling, check the specific breed rules of your destination state and city, and of any state you will pass through.
✈️ National airlines
Carriers registered in this country that accept dogs — see each airline's MyDogCanFly fiche.
🛂 Airports in United States
Check where your dog can relieve itself at each airport — and whether it's before or after security.
+19 more airports documented.
🧾 Preparation checklist
- ☐Dog at least 6 months old at entry
- ☐Microchip (ISO / universal-scanner readable) implanted before any rabies vaccination
- ☐CDC Dog Import Form completed online — keep the emailed receipt (all dogs)
- ☐Rabies vaccination if the dog has been in a high-risk country in the last 6 months
- ☐High-risk, U.S.-vaccinated: USDA-endorsed Certification of U.S.-issued Rabies Vaccination before departure
- ☐High-risk, foreign-vaccinated: serology titer (CDC-approved lab) or 28-day quarantine + facility reservation
- ☐Documents in English or with a certified English translation
- ☐Check your destination state's entry rules and any local breed legislation
- ☐Airline reservation and suitable IATA crate if travelling in the hold
📚 Official sources
- CDC — Bringing a Dog into the U.S.
- CDC — Entry Requirements for Dogs from Dog-Rabies Free or Low-Risk Countries
- CDC — Entry Requirements for U.S.-Vaccinated Dogs from High-Risk Countries
- CDC — Entry Requirements for Foreign-Vaccinated Dogs from High-Risk Countries
- CDC — High-Risk Countries for Dog Rabies
- CDC Dog Import Form (online)
- USDA APHIS — Bring a Pet Dog into the United States
- USDA APHIS — U.S. State and Territory Animal Entry Requirements