TLDR: Every dog entering the US needs to be at least 6 months old, microchipped, healthy on arrival, and have a CDC Dog Import Form receipt. A dog from a CDC-listed high-risk country needs extra documentation and must arrive at one of eight designated ACF airports, whether or not it has a valid titer. The titer decides whether the dog quarantines, not whether it lands at that airport. Cats face far fewer federal rules: no rabies certificate is required, just a health check on arrival.
The United States changed its dog import rules on August 1, 2024. Those rules are now in effect, and the right paperwork depends on where your dog has been in the last 6 months, whether the dog was vaccinated in the U.S. or abroad, and whether the dog has a valid rabies titer when one is required.
For dogs, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the main federal agency to check first. For cats and other pets, USDA APHIS and state rules may also matter. For a full country-level breakdown, see our US pet import requirements guide.
Every dog entering the United States, regardless of origin, must be at least 6 months old, have a microchip a universal scanner can read, and appear healthy on arrival. From there, the first question is straightforward: has your dog been in a CDC-listed high-risk rabies country during the last 6 months?
The main federal requirement is the CDC Dog Import Form. One form is required for each dog entering the United States. If the dog is arriving by air, the airline will want to see the receipt before boarding. The receipt is valid for 6 months and covers multiple entries for the same dog from the same country, as long as the details stay the same.
A veterinary health certificate is not a blanket federal requirement for dogs from not-high-risk countries, but most airlines require one issued within 10 days of departure, and many origin countries require export documentation before your pet can leave. Check both your airline and your departure country's requirements early. This is where people get caught short at check-in.
There are additional requirements, and this is the part people most often underestimate.
On timing: the blood sample for the rabies titer must be drawn at least 30 days after the first valid rabies vaccination and at least 28 days before entry into the United States. If your dog misses that window, the titer won't qualify regardless of the result, and you're looking at the full quarantine.
The eight approved entry airports are Atlanta (ATL), Dallas (DFW), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), New York (JFK), Philadelphia (PHL), Seattle (SEA, cargo-only reservations), and Washington Dulles (IAD). This airport requirement applies to every foreign-vaccinated, high-risk dog, whether or not the titer passes. You can't confirm an ACF reservation until every document is ready: the titer, the rabies certificate, the CFRVM, and the CDC Dog Import Form. In practice, confirmed reservations land about 20 to 30 days before departure. Atlanta is the exception, typically backed up 1 to 2 months, so inquire and get on the waitlist early while your documents are still coming together, then confirm once they're ready.
For most pet dog imports, CDC is the primary authority. USDA APHIS steps in for specific animal-health concerns, including dogs coming from foot-and-mouth disease regions or screwworm-affected countries. Depending on origin, some dogs may need additional cleaning, livestock-separation steps, or screwworm certification.
Cats face fewer federal requirements at the US border. CDC requires cats to appear healthy on arrival and may inspect them at the port of entry. USDA APHIS does not have animal-health import requirements for pet cats entering from a foreign country.
Proof of rabies vaccination is not required at the federal level, but some states require it after arrival. Some airlines also require a veterinary health certificate issued within 10 days of travel. Check both your airline and your destination state before assuming the federal clearance is all you need.
Birds, rabbits, reptiles, rodents, ferrets, and other animals follow different federal rules, and some involve agencies beyond USDA APHIS. Visit the USDA APHIS pet import page for species-specific guidance.
US import rules are only half the move. Your departure country may require an export certificate, government endorsement, or official veterinary inspection before your pet can leave. Contact the local Ministry or Department of Agriculture to confirm what's required. Skipping this can result in your pet being held at origin.
Federal clearance is not always the end of the story. Your destination state may have its own animal entry requirements, and pet owners are responsible for meeting both.
Even if your pet meets all US entry requirements, the airline may require its own paperwork, crate standards, or routing restrictions. Confirm directly with your carrier before booking.
For dogs, start with the CDC question: has the dog been in a high-risk rabies country in the last 6 months? That answer determines your paperwork path and, if the answer is yes, your airport too. A passing titer only changes whether you quarantine once you're there.
For cats, start with the airline and your destination state. The federal requirements are minimal, but those two can still add steps.
For any pet, don't assume that "not required by CDC" means "not needed at all."
Does my dog need a health certificate to enter the US?
Not as a blanket federal requirement if your dog is coming from a not-high-risk country. Most airlines still require one issued within 10 days of travel, so confirm with your carrier.
What happens if my dog's rabies titer isn't ready in time?
A foreign-vaccinated dog from a high-risk country lands at one of the eight ACF airports either way. Without a valid titer, the dog completes a 28-day quarantine at the facility instead of being examined and released the same day.
Do US-vaccinated and foreign-vaccinated dogs follow the same paperwork process?
No. They follow different paths. A US-vaccinated dog from a high-risk country needs a USDA-endorsed Certification of US-Issued Rabies Vaccination and can enter at any port. A foreign-vaccinated dog needs a Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip, a titer, and an ACF reservation.
Does my cat need a rabies vaccination certificate?
No, not at the federal level. Cats must appear healthy on arrival, but some states require proof of rabies vaccination after entry, so check your destination state's rules.
What if my pet is a bird, rabbit, or other non-dog, non-cat species?
These animals follow different federal rules, and some fall under agencies beyond USDA APHIS. Check the USDA APHIS pet import page for species-specific guidance.