Data completeness: 60% · Last updated: July 28, 2026
Tom · with Koda (Chocolate Labrador mix, 30kg) “Koda flies cargo. Here's what actually matters.” Meet all guides →
About this guide ↓
This guide was generated by Pawgo's AI using verified data from official sources. Tom is a fictional persona — the data is real.
Fourteen cargo trips in, so trust this: for the United States, quarantine is required, and that single line reshapes your whole timeline. Big-dog cargo travelers get blindsided by it because it hides behind the paperwork. Read the requirements below before you book a crate slot or a flight. Get the sequence right and the rest of the trip falls into place cleanly.
Bringing a pet to United States requires three documents in the right order: a microchip, a rabies vaccine within the destination's wait window, and a government-endorsed health certificate. The table below lays out exactly what's required, what's not, and where each rule comes from.
How United States handles your pet
Key links: CDC Dog Import Form (https://www.cdc.gov/importation/dogs/dog-import-form-instructions.html) -- required for ALL dogs entering the US since Aug 2024. CDC main dog import page (https://www.cdc.gov/importation/dogs/index.html). USDA VEHCS system for health certificates (https://www.aphis.usda.gov/pet-travel/vehcs), login at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/HCverify. APHIS pet travel hub (https://www.aphis.usda.gov/pet-travel/another-country-to-us-import/dogs). CDC DogBot tool accessible from https://www.cdc.gov/importation/dogs/index.html. Dogs from high-risk rabies countries need additional Certification of U.S.-issued Rabies Vaccination form. All dogs must have ISO microchip and be 6+ months old.
Each fact comes straight from the operator’s published policy. Tap the to read the exact wording; the opens the source page.
Cabin policy
Advance booking required✓ Yesverified 2026-07-16
Crate must have/bea carrierverified 2026-07-20
Health & documents
Health certificate required✓ Yesverified 2026-07-14
Government endorsed cert required✓ Yesverified 2026-07-23
Microchip · Required✓ Yesverified 2026-07-23
Microchip · Must be done before vaccination✓ Yesverified 2026-07-13
Quarantine · Estimated costUSD 244 for 5-day-or-less quarantine; USD 1,080 for 120-day quarantine (Hawaii Animal Quarantine Station; mainland US has no quarantine facility fee)verified 2026-07-24
Quarantine · Estimated costUSD 244 for 5-day-or-less quarantine; USD 1,080 for 120-day quarantine (Hawaii Animal Quarantine Station; mainland US has no quarantine facility fee)verified 2026-07-24
Rabies vaccination · Waiting period after vaccination90 daysverified 2026-07-23
Rabies vaccination · Min age at vaccination12 weeksverified 2026-07-13
Tapeworm treatment · Window min hours before arrival24verified 2026-07-26
Timing chain
Day -90 microchip implant · Day -84 rabies vaccine deadline · Day -14 health certificate issued · Day 0 arrive at customs
The microchip must be implanted before the rabies vaccine, or the vaccine is invalid. Order matters more than dates. Chip first, vaccinate second, and confirm the clinic logged the chip number on the rabies record. Book the microchip appointment weeks ahead of any rabies shot. A vaccine given before the chip forces a redo and resets the clock entirely.
The Dogo Argentino sits on the prohibited breed list. Verify the exact breed classification on the paperwork before booking cargo. A restricted or banned designation stops entry regardless of crate size or vaccine status. Confirm the breed listing matches what the destination authority prohibits. Resolve any mismatch on the health certificate ahead of travel, not at the counter.
Frequently asked
Does my pet need a microchip for United States?
Yes. United States requires an ISO-standard microchip, and it must be fitted before the rabies vaccination to be valid.
How long before travel must the rabies vaccine be given for United States?
The rabies vaccine must take effect at least 84 days before entry, and can be given from 12 weeks of age. Travelling before that window makes the vaccination invalid at the border.
What if my flight is delayed past my health certificate validity?
If the certificate window expires before you board, you'll need a re-issue. Build a 1-2 day buffer between the cert date and departure to absorb minor delays.
What happens if I forget a document?
At the destination airport: at best, an extended inspection while you produce backup; at worst, the pet is held in quarantine or returned to origin at your cost. Bring printed copies.
The import permit carries a lead time of five days. Submit the permit application at least five days before departure. Missing that window blocks the flight even with every other document complete. Track the submission date against the travel date. Build the five-day gap into the booking calendar so the permit clears before the crate reaches the airline.
Fourteen cargo trips taught me the sequence beats the paperwork every time, and the United States rules reward travelers who lock the order early. Microchip before rabies, permit lead time, breed check, quarantine window: get those aligned and you fly clean. Build a personalized plan for your exact dog and route with Pawgo's plan-builder, then work it document by document until every box is checked.
