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.
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 low-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, you are looking at ACF routing and quarantine.
The six approved entry airports are Atlanta (ATL), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), New York JFK, Washington Dulles (IAD), and Philadelphia (PHL). ACF reservations fill quickly -- this is not something to coordinate a few weeks before departure.
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 travel 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 entirely.
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."
Start planning your pet's move to the United States with PetRelocation