US to Israel is the route where the timing chain bends your calendar a full six months. The Israeli Ministry of Agriculture requires a FAVN rabies titer with a 180-day post-draw wait — same as Japan and Australia — plus an import permit you apply for before booking. Here's what I wish someone had told me when Cooper and I first did this: the 180 days is counted from the BLOOD DRAW date, not the result date.

Flying with a pet from United States to United States → Israel bundles two sets of rules: the destination's import requirements, and each airline's pet-travel policy on the route. This page combines them so you can plan one consistent timeline.

Flying with your pet from United States to United States → Israel

United States → Israel import requirements

What you need to bring a pet to United States → Israel

Requirement Detail Source & confidence

Conditional requirements

These rules apply only to pets with a specific travel history. Most travelers can ignore them — but if one applies to you, skipping it can mean denied entry.

Pet arriving from a high-risk rabies country — If your pet has been in one of 88 higher-risk countries in the last 6 months:

  • Rabies titer (blood) test: Rabies antibody titer ≥ 0.5 IU/ml at approved lab.
  • Quarantine: Up to 14-day quarantine at Hadar Am facility for dogs from high-risk countries.

Frequently asked

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.
For US to IL: microchip ISO first, rabies vaccine current, FAVN titer drawn at a USDA-approved lab, then count 180 days forward to your earliest possible arrival. Apply for the Israeli import permit at least 4 weeks before departure. USDA-endorsed health certificate within 10 days, plus a vet's letter confirming your pet is at least 6 months old. Build your plan against your departure date in Pawgo — it back-calculates every deadline including the titer window.
Get YOUR personalized plan for United States → Israel →

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.