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

Is a Rabies Titer Test Required for Bringing a Dog into the United States?

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 Low-Risk or Rabies-Free Countries

If your dog has only been in countries that are low-risk or free of 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 low-risk or rabies-free.

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 a veterinarian and endorsed by an official government veterinarian in the exporting country
• A valid rabies serology titer from a CDC-approved laboratory, OR a reservation at a CDC-registered animal care facility for a 28-day quarantine on arrival
• 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 at an airport where the CDC-registered animal care facility is located

The titer test is not technically mandatory in the way it is for Australia or Japan. But without a passing result, your dog goes into a 28-day quarantine at a CDC-registered facility at your expense. For most pet owners, obtaining the titer test in advance is significantly preferable to that outcome.

The titer blood draw must occur at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination and at least 28 days before entry to the United States. 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.

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 DogBot tool at the CDC website 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.

For the full process of obtaining a titer test, see our step-by-step guide to obtaining a rabies titer test. If you want help coordinating your move, talk to our team.