General Requirements & Guidance

ALL dogs entering the U.S. must:

• Be healthy upon arrival
• At least 6 months of age
• Have an ISO-compliant microchip implanted
• Be accompanied by a CDC Dog Import Form receipt AND required vaccination or veterinary documentation (detailed below)

U.S.-vaccinated dogs must:

• Meet the same requirements outlined for ALL dogs (above)
• Be accompanied by either a USDA-endorsed export health certificate with microchip and rabies vaccine OR a Certification of U.S.-Issued Rabies Vaccination form (form available only to USDA-accredited veterinarians)
• Enter through any land, sea, or airport. Note: The port of entry MUST be designated on the Import Form receipt.

Bringing Your Foreign-vaccinated Dog into the US from a Rabies-free or Low-Risk Country:

• Meet the same requirements outlined for ALL dogs (above)
• No additional veterinary documentation is required.

Bringing Your Foreign-vaccinated Dog into the US from a High-Risk Country:

• Meet the same requirements outlined for ALL dogs (above)
• Be accompanied by a Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form (found HERE)
• Have a reservation at a CDC-approved Animal Care Facility for either exam and revaccination or 28-day quarantine (based on titer status)

Microchip requirement:

The microchip must be International Standards Organization (ISO)-complaint. The microchip must have been implanted on or before the date the current rabies vaccine was administered. Rabies vaccines received prior to the implantation of a microchip are considered invalid.

Rabies vaccination requirements:

Dogs must receive their initial rabies vaccination on or after 12 weeks (84 days) of age or in accordance with manufacturer recommendations if licensed for use in older dogs (i.e., 16 weeks of age). Vaccines administered prior to 12 weeks of age will not be accepted, regardless of manufacturer product licensing. Vaccines will be considered valid for a period of 1 or 3 years depending on manufacturer guidelines. Booster vaccines are considered immediately valid in dogs over 15 months of age provided the dog has received at least 1 previous rabies vaccine administered on or after 12 weeks of age and there has been no lapse in vaccine coverage. Booster vaccines must be administered according to recognized U.S. vaccine schedules and comply with manufacturer’s instructions.

Serologic testing requirements:

Importers of foreign-vaccinated dogs from DRMVV high-risk countries must obtain serologic titer results; otherwise, the dog will be required to quarantine at a CDC-registered animal care facility (ACF) at the importer’s expense. Importers of dogs which receive USDA-licensed rabies vaccines by a U.S.-veterinarian in the United States and maintain a current, valid U.S. rabies vaccination status do not have to submit titer results to be eligible for importation if they travel with a valid Certification of U.S.-issued Rabies Vaccination form completed by their U.S. veterinarian and certified by USDA prior to the dog’s departure from the United States. Any lapses in U.S.-issued vaccination coverage while abroad will require that the dog be administered a rabies vaccine overseas prior to importation and that the importer follow requirements for importing foreign-vaccinated dogs. For example, if a dog has a 1-year U.S.-issued rabies vaccination certificate that expires on 2/1/25 a titer or quarantine will not be required if the dog receives a USDA-licensed rabies booster vaccine by a U.S.-veterinarian in the United States on or
before 1/31/25.

Serologic titer testing period:

For foreign-vaccinated dogs receiving their primary (first) rabies vaccination, the titer must be drawn at least 30 days after vaccination. Drawing a titer too early will likely result in a failed test. A passing test result immediately after primary vaccination could indicate past unrecognized vaccination, past rabies exposure, or current rabies disease. For foreign-vaccinated dogs receiving a booster rabies vaccination, serum may be collected immediately following booster vaccination for rabies antibody detection as long as no lapse in vaccine coverage has occurred. Anamnestic (memory) immune response to rabies vaccine is expected to be robust within 5 days but can be earlier. Many dogs with a past history of adequate vaccination will still have detectable rabies antibody at the time of booster. Titers must be drawn during the time in which the dog is considered up to date with their rabies vaccination. If rabies vaccination has lapsed, they will require a booster and blood sample collection for serological testing at least 30 days after revaccination.

Serologic titer result validity:

Serologic titer results remain valid for the entire life of the dog as long as the dog’s rabies vaccination coverage does not lapse. If a dog’s rabies vaccine expires before the dog is re-vaccinated, CDC will require the dog have another titer completed to be eligible for entry into the United States. CDC defines a passing or adequate antibody titer as a titer that is ≥0.5 IU/mL. Dogs that fail to achieve a rabies neutralizing antibody titer of 0.5 IU/mL must be re-vaccinated and have their titer redrawn after re-vaccination. It is recommended to wait at least 14 days between
revaccination and titer collection.

Serologic titer waiting period:

Foreign-vaccinated dogs are eligible for importation 28 days after the date of titer collection; however, if the owner does not have the titer results upon arrival, the dog must undergo a mandatory quarantine at a ACF for 28 days at the importer’s expense, or until the importer submits sufficient proof of previous rabies vaccination through a prospective serologic monitoring (PSM) assessment conducted by a CDC-approved laboratory in the United States at the importer’s expense, whichever occurs first.

Approved serologic tests:

Approved tests are those that detect neutralizing antibodies against rabies virus using live virus in vitro, i.e., Rabies Neutralizing Antibody Titer Test (RNATT): Rapid Fluorescent Focus Inhibition Test (RFFIT) or Fluorescent Antibody Virus Neutralization (FAVN). CDC may approve additional tests in the future that use live virus. ELISA and other testing methods that use inactivated virus or individual proteins are not acceptable.

Recommendations

As pet travel and animal care experts, we make the following strong recommendations to you, the pet parent or agent:

• We recommend starting the reservation process with the ACF at your port of entry at least 30 days in advance of arrival. The ACF will assist you in making sure your dog’s documents are complete and accurate and if edits are necessary, this will allow you time for correction without having to change your flight.
• For the quickest turnaround time at our facility (for reservations with a valid rabies titer), we recommend arriving Monday – Friday before 10:30am EST.
• All pet owners traveling with or shipping their dogs to the U.S. are recommended to use the CDC’s guide found HERE to learn more about the various U.S. Dog Import requirements starting August 1st, 2024.
• Any traveling dogs should also be vaccinated for Distemper, Bordetella, and Canine Influenza, prior to travel. If you are unable to do so, our USDA-accredited veterinarian can provide these services upon arrival.
• If you know you will be traveling to a high-risk country, it is strongly recommended to have your dog(s) revaccinated against rabies prior to departure by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and have the U.S.- issued Rabies Vaccination form endorsed by the USDA. This is the best way to ensure an easier re-entry into the U.S. upon your return.
• A few things to note about the CDC’s rabies and microchip verification forms:
  • All dates are in MM/DD/YYYY format and many international veterinarians are not used to this, so please make sure to point this out to them, as it will need to be redone if not completed correctly the first time, costing you extra time and potential travel delay.
  • Digital signatures from the veterinarian are currently acceptable for these forms. Additionally, if the original veterinarian who administered your dog’s rabies vaccine is no longer with the practice, another veterinarian from the same practice may complete the form instead.

Helpful Resources

CDC List of High-Risk Countries

CDC-Approved Rabies Laboratories

CDC-Approved Animal Care Facilities

CDC List of FAQ’s

CDC Dog Import Form Application

Guidance on CDC-Required Documents

VEHCS Portal for USDA-Accredited Veterinarians

Technical Instructions for Completing the U.S.-Issued Rabies Vaccination Form

Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip

Technical Instructions for Completing the Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip

USDA Requirements for Pet Dogs

USDA Requirements for Commercial Resale or Adoption Dog Imports

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of shipments do we accept at IAD? Currently we are able to accept pets shipped as manifest cargo, excess baggage, or in-cabin.

How long does this process take? We recommend starting the reservation process with the ACF at your port of entry at least 30 days in advance of arrival. The ACF will assist you in making sure your dog’s documents are complete and accurate and if edits are necessary, this will allow you time for correction without having to change your flight.

How long will my dog be at the ACF? For the quickest turnaround time at our facility (for reservations with a valid rabies titer), we recommend arriving Monday – Friday before 10:30am EST. When dogs arrive outside of this timeframe, they will need to stay overnight with us at Pender, then be examined by the veterinarian the following business day. Please note that this means dogs arriving on Fridays after 10:30am EST will be required to quarantine until the following Monday. No veterinary exams or CDC release is available on federal holidays. For dogs who require entry via an ACF, please plan on a minimum of 24-36 hours before they meet entry requirements and are ready to be picked up directly from our facility.

What if I have a formal entry? Formal entries are not accepted at IAD for pet imports. ALL dogs must still be issued an air waybill (AWB) number. Cargo shipment automatically are issued AWB #’s and excess/checked baggage or in-cabin arrivals will be post-entered upon arrival and we will work with CBP and the airline to collect an AWB #.

Do I need a customs broker? Pet imports at IAD do not need a customs broker. Our “regulatory compliance requirements” charge includes both CDC reporting/records, as well as customs clearance after all entry requirements are met.

Are there waivers for service animals? All service dogs must meet the same entry requirements as non-service animals.

What if my arrival details change from my original CDC Dog Import Form? ALL dogs must be accompanied by a CDC Dog Import Form receipt with accurate arrival details, including airline, date of arrival, and port of entry. If any of these details change, the form must be amended via the CDC website.

What is the CDC Dog Import Form for? The CDC Dog Import Form receipt must be presented to the airline before boarding and to the U.S. government officials upon arrival at the indicated port of entry. The form takes no longer than 10 minutes and can be submitted right up until the day of travel

What is the “transition period”? The transition period (which will expire July 31, 2025) allows for USDA-endorsed export health certificates that were issued by a USDA-accredited veterinarian before July 31, 2025, and documents the dog’s age, microchip number, and valid rabies vaccination administered in the United States to be accepted for entry in place of a USDA-endorsed U.S.-Issued Rabies Vaccination Form. Note: This will only be accepted if the rabies vaccination is listed on the export health certificate and is still valid at the time of entry into the U.S. Additionally, during the transition period, if the veterinarian who administered your dog’s rabies vaccination in the U.S. is USDA-accredited (or another vet at their practice is), they can submit for USDA endorsement retroactively (ie. after your dog has already left the U.S.).

Can I still get an import permit? Permits will only be issued for entries through August 31st, 2024. After August 31st, 2024, import permits will not longer be an option for U.S. entry. While the CDC asks for you to allow 6 weeks for permit processing, processing times have been significantly faster in recent weeks, so it’s worth applying if your dog meets entry requirements and you are entering before August 31st. If you do not have an approved import permit yet, unfortunately this is no longer an option for you, as no more applications were accepted after July 31st, 2024.

What if the veterinarian who issued my U.S.-issued rabies certificate is not USDA-accredited? Rabies vaccine certificates from non-accredited veterinarians will not be accepted. Another veterinarian at the same practice can submit the rabies certificate to the USDA for endorsement. Alternatively, our USDA veterinarian can receive records from your dog’s veterinarian for review, then submit the rabies certificate to the USDA for endorsement.

What about cats? While there are no vaccination requirements for cats entering the U.S., ALL cats must arrive healthy. Any cats that arrive ill will be required to undergo quarantine and testing to rule our zoonotic disease of public health concern at the importer’s expense.

*This is a brief overview. For more information, please go to: https://www.cdc.gov/DogTravel*