Now You Need These Documents to Go Through Customs With Your Dog
If you’re traveling internationally with your dog—whether it’s a pet you’re taking on vacation or a service animal—he’ll also need some sort of passport to re-enter the United States. As of August 1, 2024, the Centers for Disease Control is introducing new documentation requirements for dogs arriving from other countries, and the process becomes more onerous depending on where you’ve been.
At a minimum, all dogs entering the United States must be at least six months old, have a detectable microchip, and appear healthy upon arrival. The CDC also maintains a list of countries with a high risk of canine rabies on its website—if your country of origin is listed here, or if you disembarked a cruise with your dog in a listed country, there are additional requirements for returning to the US. You should prepare in advance so that (in the worst case scenario) your dog is not denied entry.
What you need when traveling with a dog from a high-risk country
If your dog has been in a high-risk country for rabies within the past six months and has been vaccinated against rabies in the United States, you will need to fill out two forms—one before leaving the United States and one a few days before leaving. arrival.
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CDC Dog Import Form : This document can be filled out for free online and you will simply need to show a digital or printed receipt to customs officials upon arrival. In addition to basic breed information, you will need your dog’s microchip number and a recent photograph.
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US Certification – I Have Rabies Vaccination Issued : This form must be completed by a veterinarian before your dog leaves the US. The document must then be approved by the USDA and printed to be shown to customs officials along with the import form.
If your dog was vaccinated against rabies in another country, the entry requirements are much more complicated. In addition to the import form, you will need a Foreign Rabies Vaccination Certification form and a microchip form completed by a veterinarian, as well as a report of rabies serological titers . In the latter case, the process is lengthy, so make sure you know when to provide a blood sample—at least 30 days after your dog’s first rabies vaccination and at least 28 days before entering the U.S.—and where to send it. You should also make a reservation at one of several CDC animal care facilities (which should also be your point of entry) to have your pet examined and revaccinated. If you do not have a valid titre report upon arrival, your dog will be quarantined for 28 days (at your expense) at the facility.
Finally, if your dog has been in a high-risk country within the last six months and has not been vaccinated against rabies, it will not be allowed into the United States.
What you need when traveling with a dog from a low-risk country
Fortunately, it is much easier to return to the United States with your dog from any country not listed on the CDC website. You will only need a CDC import form completed on the day of travel (although it can be completed up to six months before travel). The same form can be used for multiple entries within a six-month period, provided all travel is to or through low-risk countries.
Dogs that have traveled through high-risk countries as cargo only need to meet the requirements for those traveling from low-risk countries.