Is a Rabies Titer Test Required for United States Pet Travel?

Last reviewed and updated on September 14

TLDR: Only if your dog has been in a CDC-listed high-risk country for dog rabies in the last 6 months and was vaccinated abroad. The titer blood draw must happen at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination and at least 28 days before US entry. A passing result clears the dog for exam and release at one of eight designated airports instead of a 28-day quarantine; the titer changes the outcome at the facility, not the airport requirement itself.

It depends on where your dog has been in the six months before arrival. The United States does not require a rabies titer test the way Australia or New Zealand do, but for dogs coming from countries with a high risk of dog rabies, a passing titer result is the difference between a smooth entry and a mandatory 28-day quarantine. Here is how it works under the rules that took effect August 1, 2024.

The CDC Dog Import Form: Required for Every Dog

As of August 1, 2024, every dog entering the United States requires a completed CDC Dog Import Form, regardless of where the dog is coming from. The importer completes this form online before travel. It takes a few minutes and generates a receipt that must be presented to the airline and US Customs and Border Protection on arrival. Each dog requires its own form.

This form is the baseline. What else is required depends on your dog's situation.

Dogs from Not-High-Risk Countries

If your dog has only been in countries not classified as high-risk for dog rabies in the six months before entry, the CDC Dog Import Form receipt is the only documentation required beyond the dog appearing healthy, being at least 6 months old, and having a microchip detectable by a universal scanner.

No titer test required. No rabies vaccination certificate required by CDC (though your airline will almost certainly require a health certificate).

Dogs from High-Risk Countries: Where the Titer Test Becomes Relevant

If your dog has been in a country designated as high-risk for dog rabies within the six months before US entry, the requirements are more demanding. CDC publishes the current list of high-risk countries on its website. If a country is not on the list, it is considered not high-risk.

For foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries, entry requires all of the following:

• CDC Dog Import Form receipt
• Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form, completed by an authorized veterinarian and reviewed and signed by an official government veterinarian in the exporting country
• Microchip implanted before the rabies vaccination was given
• Dog must be at least 6 months old and appear healthy on arrival
• Dog must arrive by air or sea at one of the eight airports with a CDC-registered Animal Care Facility (ACF), whether or not the dog has a valid titer

From there, the titer result decides what happens once the dog is at the facility.

Option A: Valid Titer

Your dog has a valid rabies titer from a CDC-approved lab, drawn at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination and at least 28 days before entry. This clears the dog for exam and release at the ACF instead of the 28-day quarantine.

Option B: No Titer, or Results Not Available

Your dog completes an exam, a rabies booster, and a mandatory 28-day quarantine at the ACF, all at owner cost. The titer test is not technically mandatory in the way it is for Australia or Japan, but skipping it means defaulting to this path.

For most pet owners, obtaining the titer test in advance and getting the timing right is significantly preferable to the 28-day outcome.

The Eight ACF Airports

Only foreign-vaccinated, high-risk dogs are restricted to these airports, and the requirement applies whether or not the titer is valid. Dogs on other paths, including US-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries and dogs from not-high-risk countries, can enter at any port.

Full list and booking: CDC-registered Animal Care Facilities. This list changes, so confirm current facilities before booking.

You can't confirm an ACF reservation until every import document is in hand: 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, once paperwork is ready. Atlanta is the exception, typically backed up 1 to 2 months, so get on the waitlist early if that's your entry point, then confirm once your documents are ready.

Titer Timing: The Detail That Drives Everything

Results must come from a CDC-approved rabies serology laboratory. Not all labs are on the CDC-approved list, so confirm your lab before submitting.

The blood draw must happen at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination and at least 28 days before entry into the United States. Miss either end of that window and the titer doesn't qualify, regardless of the result. Build your vet appointments and ACF booking around this window rather than your flight date.

Cats Entering the United States

CDC requirements apply only to dogs. Cats must appear healthy on arrival but are not subject to the same documentation or vaccination requirements for US entry. Your airline will still require a health certificate.

What the Airline Requires

CDC requirements and airline requirements are separate. Even where CDC only requires the Dog Import Form, most airlines require a health certificate from a licensed veterinarian issued within 10 days of travel. Confirm your airline's specific requirements before travel, as they vary by carrier and route.

Not Sure What Applies to Your Move?

CDC's Dog Importation Navigator tool walks through which documents are required based on your dog's vaccination history, age, and recent countries. It is the most reliable way to confirm what your specific situation requires. Completing the tool's questions does not by itself fulfill the import requirements; it tells you what you still need to do.

For the full process of obtaining a titer test, see our step-by-step guide to obtaining a rabies titer test. For the complete country-level breakdown, see our US pet import requirements guide. If you want help coordinating your move, talk to our team.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do all dogs need a rabies titer test to enter the US?
No. Only dogs from CDC-listed high-risk countries that were vaccinated abroad. Dogs from not-high-risk countries, and US-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries, don't need one.

What happens if my dog's titer results come back late?
If the results aren't available or don't meet the timing window, your dog defaults to Option B: exam, booster, and a mandatory 28-day quarantine at the ACF, at owner cost.

Can my dog land at any airport with a valid titer?
No. Foreign-vaccinated, high-risk dogs must arrive at one of the eight airports with a CDC-registered Animal Care Facility, whether or not the titer is valid. A valid titer changes the outcome at the facility, not the airport requirement itself.

How far in advance should I start the titer process?
As early as possible. The blood draw itself has to happen at least 30 days after vaccination and at least 28 days before entry, so build your vet appointments and ACF booking around that window rather than your flight date.