Published in 2025 / Updated in 2026
The paperwork panic is real, and it peaks the night before.
Here’s what calms it: start 60–90 days out, not the week of. Anxiety thrives on time pressure and ambiguity, a printed checklist with dates removes both. Your dog also reads your stress through your voice and body language; the calmer your preparation, the calmer your travel companion.
If you are planning a trip with your pet to the USA, you should understand that it is not so easy and not so cheap.
Before your trip, please read our step-by-step instructions to prepare your pet for traveling abroad.
PetsTravel Info is the most comprehensive resource on how to import a cat, dog, rodent, or bird into the United States.
Document requirements
• microchipping of the animal (The animal must be microchipped with an ISO standard microchip),
• vaccination against rabies and obtaining permission from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• Documents: International Pet Passport, Rabies Vaccination Certificate, Rabies Antibody Titer Test (if the dog was vaccinated outside the United States). The documents must be in English or have a certified translation.
• CDC Permit:
• Dogs must be approved by the CDC to import.
• Completing the Form:
• You must complete a special Animal Importation Form provided by the CDC.
• Certificate Obtaining:
• You must obtain a certificate from the CDC about the rabies vaccination and microchipping.
• Customs duties:
• To avoid additional fees, it is recommended to indicate the value of the pet up to $500 in the customs declaration.
Vaccination requirements
• Rabies Vaccination:
• Must be administered no earlier than 13 weeks prior to travel.
• Antibody Titer Test:
• A blood test to determine the rabies antibody titer must be done at a CDC-approved laboratory.
Everything you need to know about vaccinating your pet before traveling abroad
Quarantine Rules
The pet must have valid titers, it looks healthy, everything is fine with it during the examination.
Without titers – quarantine for a month, depending on the facility, costs ~$3000-4000.
If the pet is healthy, here are approximate prices and conditions:
Philadelphia (PHL)
1. Estimated cost: $1,134
2. Time: the dog is released the next day if arriving Mon-Thu. Around 4 pm. If Fri-Sun – released on Mon, plus an additional cost for staying on the weekend (this additional cost is available at any facility, so they all recommend planning your arrival Mon-Thu).
3. Method of entry: any (cabin, baggage, cargo).
New York (JFK)
1. Estimated cost: $1,368.31
2. Time: the dog is released the same day if arriving Mon-Fri from 9 am to 4 pm. It will take about 4 hours. If after 4 pm Mon-Thu – the next day, Fri-Sun arrival – only on Monday (additional cost).
3. Method of entry: cargo only. They can make an exception only (!) for a dog under 5 pounds (~2.3 kg), higher is not discussed.
Washington (IAD)
1. Estimated cost: $858
2. Time: 24 hours. Exception – arrival before 8 am Mon-Thu, then on the same day. Arrival Fri-Sun – extra cost, will be released on Mon.
3. Method of entry: any.
Miami (MIA)
1. Estimated cost: $1300. They also ask for an advance payment of $350 through Zelle
2. Time: 2-3 business days. Inspection and vaccination are carried out the next business day after arrival and permission to release is requested from the CDC (2-3 days)
3. Method of entry: any. But it is necessary to agree with a customs broker from the list provided by the facility – they do not do customs clearance themselves. The list can be requested from the facility.
Los Angeles (LAX)
There are 2 facilities.
Rue’s Kennel LAX
1. Estimated cost: $900
2. Time: from 5 hours. Mon-Fri arrival in the first half of the day – will be released on the same day, Mon-Thu in the afternoon – the next day. Fri-Sun – only on Monday.
3. Method of import: any.
Age Restrictions
Dogs must be at least 6 months old.
Оther pets
Guinea pigs are subject to general pet import regulations but do not require any special permits like dogs or cats. Guinea pigs, like other small animals, generally do not require quarantine upon entry into the United States. Guinea pigs do not require an International Pet Passport or Health Certificate.
Transit
First and foremost, the animal must be healthy and have a current rabies vaccination. It must also be microchipped and, in some cases, have an import permit from the CDC, especially if the animal is coming from a high-risk country for rabies. It is recommended that you apply for a CDC permit at least 8 weeks before travel.
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From the USA
Document requirements
Certificate for departure
Health Certificate. No more than 10-14 days before the trip, you must contact a veterinary clinic to obtain a Health Certificate and a clinical examination.
Important! The veterinarian must be accredited by the USDA in the state where you are receiving the certificate (USDA Accredited Veterinarian). You can find such a doctor on this website.
The cost of the certificate may vary greatly in different states, but on average it is about $500.
Next, the received Health Certificate must be sent to APHIS-USDA for certification. Use express delivery with payment for round-trip shipping. For example, FedEx or UPS. Since the certificate is valid for only 5 days, it should be sent immediately after receipt. The certification itself takes up to 3 days. Along with the certificate, include the following documents in the delivery (originals only):
• delivery information – Return label (your name, address in the “sender” and “recipient” windows)
• Health Certificate and Vaccination Certificate; titers, import permit if necessary.
• completed checklist for shipment.
Information on payment method is here
The cost of one certification (without credits) is up to $50. You can find USDA offices here.
Not all states have these offices, in which case the shipment will be to Washington.
The second option for certifying the certificate is faster and easier: the clinic will independently send the document to APHIS-USDA for signing. This should be clarified with the clinic itself, whether they work with the VEHCS system. On average, the cost of this option varies from $500 to $1100.
Certificate validity
The certificate validity period depends on the country of entry (import).
Vaccination requirements
Rabies antibody titers:
Needed for travel to Israel, China, UAE, Turkey, South Korea.
Accredited Veterinary Clinics for Pet Travel Documentation Worldwide
Useful Links
What documents does my dog need to enter the United States in 2026?
Every dog entering or returning to the U.S. now needs a CDC Dog Import Form receipt — this applies to all dogs, by air, land or sea, even dogs that originally came from the U.S. The dog must also be at least 6 months old, have an ISO-compatible microchip, and appear healthy on arrival. If your dog has been in a high-risk rabies country in the last 6 months, you’ll need additional rabies documents and entry is limited to specific airports.
The single most important thing to know: the CDC Dog Import Form is mandatory and is filled out online before travel: you submit it, confirm your email, and get a receipt you can print or show on your phone. One form per dog. For dogs coming only from rabies-free or low-risk countries, that receipt is generally valid for six months. The high-risk path is much stricter, so the key question to answer first is simply: where has my dog physically been in the past six months? — not where it was born or where you live.
Does my dog need the form if we’re just coming home from vacation?
Yes, returning counts as entering. Same rules.
Is a rabies vaccine always required?
For low-risk countries CDC strongly recommends it but the extra high-risk requirements don’t apply; from high-risk countries, additional proof is mandatory.
Can a puppy under 6 months enter?
Generally no, except limited CDC-approved cases.
My dog was born in the US, does it still need the form?
Yes. Returning is treated as entering.
We’re transiting through a high-risk country, does that matter?
It can. Where the dog has been, including transit, affects requirements. Check before booking the route.
How early should I start?
60–90 days before travel, especially for any high-risk-country involvement.
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