United States Pet Import Requirements

AUG 2024 CDC REGULATIONS 

• Proof of rabies vaccination is only required for dogs traveling from High-Risk Rabies Countries. 

NOT REQUIRED FOR DOGS FROM LOW RISK OR RABIES FREE COUNTRIES or ALL CATS AND OTHER SPECIES 

Rabies Titer Test highly recommended for dogs traveling from High-Risk Rabies Countries. The veterinarian must send the blood sample to a CDC-approved rabies serology laboratory.

If a Dog arriving from a High-Risk Rabies Countries does not have a valid rabies serology titer, the dog can be admitted to the U.S. after it has been quarantined for 28 days at a CDC-registered animal care facility. The quarantine period can be shortened if certain criteria are met.

Dogs traveling from screwworm-affected regions must be accompanied by a certificate signed by a full-time salaried veterinary official stating that:

• The dog was inspected for screwworm within 5 days prior to shipment.
• The dog is free from screwworm OR
• If infested, the dog was quarantined and treated until free from screwworm before export.

: USDA APHIS Screwworm Import Guidelines

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Reserve a spot at a CDC-registered animal care facility.

All foreign-vaccinated dogs that have been in a high-risk country must have a reservation at a CDC-registered animal care facility for examination and revaccination. If the dog does not have a valid rabies serology titer, the reservation must also include a 28-day quarantine.

The reservation is made by importer or owner of the dog. Before reserving a spot, you need copies of the required veterinary documents. We recommend you call the CDC-registered animal care facility before making a reservation to determine their requirements. When the dog arrives, the CDC-registered animal care facility will review the dog’s documents. If they determine the documents are not valid, CDC might not allow the dog to enter the U.S. or may require a 28-day quarantine period. If the dog is not allowed to enter the U.S., the dog will be returned to the country of departure at the importer’s expense.

To reserve a spot, call the CDC-registered animal care facility at the port of entry where the dog will arrive.

What will happen to the dog at the CDC-registered animal care facility is all foreign-vaccinated dogs that have been in a high-risk country in the 6 months before entering the U.S., must have the following services at a CDC-registered animal care facility:

• Examination by a veterinarian
• Revaccination with a U.S. rabies vaccine

If the veterinarian determines the dog is sick or has parasites, CDC might require additional tests or treatments. Dogs that arrive sick may be denied entry to the U.S.

If the dog does not have a valid rabies serology titer, the dog will also need to be quarantined for 28 days at the CDC-registered animal care facility. The quarantine period can be shortened if certain criteria are met. See the Frequently Asked Questions for more information.

All costs at CDC-registered animal care facilities are the responsibility of the importer. These include examination, revaccination, and quarantine (if required). Call the CDC-registered animal care facility to determine costs based on the dog’s situation.

An animal from that have been in a high-risk country with the past 6 months, must arrive on international flight directly at an airport with a CDC-registered animal care facility. All foreign-vaccinated dogs that have been in a high-risk country must arrive to the U.S. at the airport where a CDC-registered animal care facility is located. This must be the location where the dog has a reservation for an examination, revaccination, and quarantine (if required).

This must also be the airport listed on the CDC Dog Import Form receipt.

Domestic flights or other forms of travel to other locations in the U.S. are not allowed until after the dog receives required services at the CDC-registered animal care facility.

The following tortoise species are prohibited from entering the United States:

• Leopard tortoise (Geochelone pardalis)
• African spurred tortoise (Geochelone sulcata)
• Bell's hingeback tortoise (Kinixys belliana)

 

Prohibited Hedgehogs and Tenrecs

Hedgehogs that have been in countries affected by foot-and-mouth disease are not allowed entry into the United States. Additionally, hedgehogs and tenrecs from New Zealand are prohibited from entering the United States. View a list of countries free of (not affected with) foot-and-mouth disease.

Some States and municipalities prohibit the import of these animals, including Georgia; California; Hawaii; Pennsylvania; Washington, D.C.; and all five boroughs of New York City. It's the responsibility of the importer or their representative to contact local authorities to ensure all laws are followed.

CATTLE - Effective November 22, 2024, and until further notice, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services (VS) is temporarily suspending the importation of live animals originating from or transiting Mexico based on the confirmation of New World screwworm in cattle. 

APHIS is temporarily suspending the importation of ruminants, including live cattle and bison, from Mexico. An updated import alert will be issued with additional guidance once APHIS has implemented mitigations that would allow resumption of imports. Importation of bovine germplasm, sheep and goats and their germplasm, and swine and their germplasm from Mexico are already prohibited.  

APHIS will allow the importation of dogs from Mexico if accompanied by a health certificate signed by a full-time, salaried SENASICA veterinary official. The certificate must state that the animal has been inspected for screwworm within 5 days prior to shipment to the United States and the animal is either free from screwworm OR was found to be infested with screwworm, held in quarantine, and treated until free from screwworm prior to the certificate being issued and the dog being exported to the United States. 

Horses originating from or that have resided in Mexico within the 60 days immediately preceding export to the United States must complete the established import screwworm protocol. This includes pre-export treatment and examination, as well as treatment, examinations, and a 7- day quarantine in a permanent import quarantine facility upon arrival. Horses transiting Mexico will be required to complete screwworm mitigations upon arrival. Please note that horses that have resided in a screwworm-free country for a minimum of 7 days after residing in Mexico do not need to complete the screwworm protocol, if they are then examined by a veterinarian authorized to do so, found free of screwworm, and certification of this examination accompanies the horses upon arrival to the United States.  

Specific information about live animal import requirements for all species regulated by APHIS VS can be found at: www.aphis.usda.gov/live-animal-import. 

A list of regions APHIS recognizes as affected by screwworm can be found on the USDA APHIS Animal Health Status of Regions website. 

For additional information about live animal imports regulated by other Agencies, please check with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, and/or USDA APHIS Animal Care to ensure import requirements of those agencies are met, when applicable.  

Birds- NON US origin birds can only arrive to JFK or MIA with a 30 day quarantine required. 

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) prohibits the import of any rodent of African origin, including any rodents that were caught in Africa and then shipped directly to the U.S. or those shipped to other countries before being imported to the U.S. The ban also applies to rodents whose native habitat is in Africa, even if those rodents were born elsewhere.

Dogs exported from countries with African Swine Fever (ASF), foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), or screwworm must meet additional requirements.

Relocation
When relocating to the United States with a pet, please provide owners passport copy, visa when applicable, AWB, rabies certificate and health certificate and Import Permit if needed.
 
Commercial
When relocating to the United States with a commercial pet for re-sale, please provide owners passport copy, visa when applicable, AWB, rabies certificate, health certificate and APHIS import permit.