By Dr. Nelva Bryant on Tuesday, 28 June 2022
Category: Travel Requirements and Flight Regulations

CDC’s Dog Importation Regulations- IT’S COMPLICATED!!!

If you are traveling with a dog and wish to enter the US, please be aware that you must comply with US importation regulatory requirements. Importation of personal pets is regulated by CDC, while the importation of dogs for commercial sale/adoption is regulated by USDA.

For the importation of personal pets, CDC has updated their dog importation regulations, effective June 10, 2022. For dogs originating from or returning from high-risk rabies endemic countries, specific requirements must be met to allow entry.

Dog Importation from High-risk Rabies Countries: Entry Criteria

Requirements (in addition to 6 months of age or older, appear healthy, and be microchipped):

US rabies-vaccinated dogs with a valid rabies vaccination certificate traveling to the US.

  • US-issued Rabies Vaccination Certificate
  • Entry at airports with CDC Quarantine Station

US rabies-vaccinated dogs with expired rabies vaccination certificate traveling to the US.

  • CDC Dog Import Permit
  • Entry at airport with CDC Quarantine Station

OR

  • Reservations at a CDC-approved animal care facility in ATL, JFK, LAX, or MIA

Foreign rabies-vaccinated dogs traveling to the US

  • CDC Dog Import Permit
  • Entry at airport with CDC Quarantine Station

OR

  • Reservations at a CDC-approved animal care facility in ATL, JFK, LAX, or MIA

For more detailed information on CDC's Dog Importation Regulatory Requirements, please review Bringing a Dog into the United States | Bringing an Animal into U.S. | Importation | CDC.

For information on how to import dogs for commercial sale/adoption, please review USDA APHIS | How to Bring Dogs into the United States for Commercial Sale or Adoption

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