The United States is a documented but evolving pet import destination. Koda has flown into JFK twice and the CDC has tightened the dog import process significantly as of August 1, 2024 — high-risk-country origin dogs face additional documentation, microchip verification, and limited approved arrival airports. The cat process remains the simpler lane through USDA APHIS.
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.
What you need to bring a pet to United States
Timing chain
Day -90 microchip implant · Day -10 health certificate issued · Day 0 arrive at customs
Ask the veterinarian to administer a 1-year rabies vaccination AFTER scanning the microchip, at least 21 days before travel to high-risk-country re-entry under EU rules and less than one year before the travel date. The order matters: microchip first, vaccination after. A vaccination administered before the microchip is invalid; the rabies series must be restarted post-identification.
Several US states and the federal CDC maintain prohibited dog breed lists. The federal CDC bars high-risk-country origin imports for Dogo Argentino, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Bulldog, American Staffordshire Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Perro de Presa Canario (Canary dog), and Fila Brasiliero under specific scenarios. Restricted entry applies to crosses with one banned parent.
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.
- 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.
Dogs arriving in the US without a valid rabies serology titer must include a 28-day quarantine reservation at the CDC-approved quarantine facility. The 28-day quarantine carries facility fees plus veterinary oversight charges. Budget several thousand USD for the quarantine plus the documented serology titer is the cheaper path when planned ahead at the origin country.
The US is a structured pet import destination with documented CDC procedures, especially post-August 2024 for dogs from high-risk-rabies countries. Your plan answers three questions: is the dog from a high-risk-rabies country (if so, the documentation set is larger), is the breed clear of any state or federal restricted list, and is the arrival routed through a CDC-approved airport. With those locked, JFK, LAX, MIA, and the other approved hubs handle the file cleanly.
Glossary
- ISO chip
- ISO 11784/11785 — the universal microchip standard.
- FAVN
- Fluorescent Antibody Virus Neutralization — a rabies serology test required by rabies-free destinations.
- Brachycephalic
- Snub-nosed breeds (French Bulldogs, Pugs, Persians, Himalayans) with restricted airline acceptance due to heat-stress risk.
- AVIH
- Animal Vehicle In Hold — IATA's term for cargo pet shipment, with fees that vary by carrier and route.