Entry Requirements for Foreign-Vaccinated Dogs from High-Risk Countries

Overview

Requirements include:

• The CDC Dog Import Form receipt. You complete this form online. It will only take a few minutes if you have the required information available.
• A Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form. This form is filled out by your veterinarian and endorsed by an official government veterinarian.
• If not included on the form above, you will also need a valid rabies serology titer report from a CDC-approved laboratory.
• Dogs must have a reservation at a CDC-registered animal care facility. If you do not have a valid rabies serology titer, this must include a 28-day quarantine reservation.
• Dogs must have a microchip that can be detected with a universal scanner to identify them. The microchip must be implanted before getting the rabies vaccine, or else the vaccine will be invalid. The microchip number must be included on all required forms and supporting documents.
• Dogs must appear healthy upon arrival.
• Dogs must be at least 6 months old at time of entry.

CDC Dog Import Form

Who completes the form?

This form should be completed by the person importing (bringing) the dog into the United States (the importer, owner, or shipper). If you are completing the form on behalf of an importer who has difficulty completing this form, read the statements aloud to the importer and confirm they understand the information provided and agree to the Terms of Acceptance.

How much does it cost?

Free

How many dogs can be included on one form?

Each dog must have its own form. If you are bringing more than one dog to the United States, you must complete a separate form for each dog.

When should the form be completed?

You can fill out the form on the day of travel. We recommend completing it a few days before travel. If anything changes, like date of travel or port of entry, you must submit a new form.

What information will I need to complete the form?

Photo of dog

Please upload a recent picture (jpg, png, gif files only) of the dog, showing its face and body. Dogs under one year old should have their photograph taken within 15 days before travel to the U.S.

Microchip number

Make sure to enter the dog’s microchip number accurately into this form. You can typically find this number on a dog’s veterinary records.

How long is the form's receipt valid?

The receipt is valid for a single entry into the U.S. and is valid for entry only on the date of arrival listed on the receipt. The form can be submitted any time before travel, except for dogs less than one year of age whose photo should be taken within 15 days before travel to the U.S.

How do I show the form's receipt to officials?

CDC Dog Import Form receipt can be printed or shown on a phone screen to U.S. customs officials or airlines (if applicable).

More information

Make sure all the information on the form, including the arrival port for the dog, is accurate before the dog arrives. If any information changes before departure, you will need to submit a new form.

Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form

Who completes the form?

A veterinarian completes the form. The form must then be endorsed by an official government veterinarian in the country where the dog is coming from (the exporting country). The veterinarian who completes the form and endorses the form can be the same. Each country maintains their own list of official government veterinarians. Ask the dog’s veterinarian for information about official government veterinarians authorized to endorse the form on behalf of the country’s government.

Where can I find the form?

The dog’s veterinarian can find the form and instructions by visiting: Documents for Veterinarians to Complete for Importing a Dog into the U.S.

The form must be endorsed by an official government veterinarian before it can be used to bring a dog in the U.S.

How much does it cost?

Contact the dog’s veterinarian to request the costs.

When should the form be completed?

This form must be completed no more than 30 days before the dog travels to the U.S. The dog must meet specific requirements, like being microchipped and having a valid rabies vaccination, before the dog’s veterinarian can complete the form. If the dog is receiving its first rabies vaccine, the vaccine must be administered at least 28 days before the dog enters the U.S.

How long is the form valid for?

You can use this form only one time to enter the U.S. The form is valid for 30 days after it is signed by the dog’s veterinarian.

How do I show the form to officials?

The document must be signed by the dog’s veterinarian, either electronically or handwritten. The document then must be printed. The printed document must accompany the dog and be presented to the airline (if applicable) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection upon arrival in the U.S.

Valid Rabies Serology Titer or 28-day quarantine in a CDC-registered animal care facility

What is a valid rabies serology titer?

This is a passing result on a blood test that proves the dog is immune to rabies after receiving a rabies vaccine.

When should the blood sample for the titer be drawn?

A veterinarian must draw the blood sample at least 30 days after the dog’s first valid rabies vaccination and at least 28 days before entry to the United States. Dogs with a history of multiple valid rabies vaccinations administered after their microchip was placed can have the sample drawn any time after a rabies booster vaccination if:

• the dog’s first vaccine was given at least 30 days before the blood sample was drawn and
• there has been no lapse in vaccine coverage. If a lapse occurred, the sample must be drawn at least 30 days after the valid booster vaccination was administered.

Where does the blood sample go for testing?

The veterinarian must send the blood sample to a CDC-approved rabies serology laboratory. If there is no CDC-approved laboratory in your country, the veterinarian can send it to the closest CDC-approved laboratory. CDC will not accept results from any laboratories other than the ones listed on CDC’s approved laboratories list.

How to determine if the rabies serology titer is valid?

The veterinarian will receive the results of the dog’s titer. The dog must have passing results to have a valid titer. Passing titer results are valid for the dog’s life if the dog’s rabies vaccination coverage does not lapse. If a lapse occurs, the dog must get a booster dose and then a new rabies serology titer. The blood sample for the new rabies serology titer must be drawn at least 30 days after the dog receives the booster dose.

Does the serology result need to be included on the Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form?

If the serology result is available, the dog’s veterinarian should include it on the form. If it is not available when is the form is completed, the importer can provide the report from the CDC-approved rabies serology laboratory to the CDC-registered animal care facility.

Reserve a spot at a CDC-registered animal care facility

All foreign-vaccinated dogs that have been in a high-risk country must have a reservation at a CDC-registered animal care facility for examination and revaccination. If the dog does not have a valid rabies serology titer, the reservation must also include a 28-day quarantine.

Who makes the reservation?

The importer or owner of the dog.

What do I need before reserving a spot?

You need copies of the required veterinary documents. We recommend you call the CDC-registered animal care facility before making a reservation to determine their requirements. When the dog arrives, the CDC-registered animal care facility will review the dog’s documents. If they determine the documents are not valid, CDC might not allow the dog to enter the U.S. or may require a 28-day quarantine period. If the dog is not allowed to enter the U.S., the dog will be returned to the country of departure at the importer’s expense.

How do I reserve a spot?

Call the CDC-registered animal care facility at the port of entry where the dog will arrive.

What will happen to the dog at the CDC-registered animal care facility?

All foreign-vaccinated dogs that have been in a high-risk country in the 6 months before entering the U.S. must have the following services at a CDC-registered animal care facility:

• Examination by a veterinarian
• Revaccination with a U.S. rabies vaccine

If the veterinarian determines the dog is sick or has parasites, CDC might require additional tests or treatments. Dogs that arrive sick may be denied entry to the U.S.

If the dog does not have a valid rabies serology titer, the dog will also need to be quarantined for 28 days at the CDC-registered animal care facility. The quarantine period can be shortened if certain criteria are met. See the Frequently Asked Questions for more information.

How much does it cost and who is responsible for payment?

All costs at CDC-registered animal care facilities are the responsibility of the importer. These include examination, revaccination, and quarantine (if required). Call the CDC-registered animal care facility to determine costs based on the dog’s situation.

An international flight arriving directly at an airport with a CDC-registered animal care facility

All foreign-vaccinated dogs that have been in a high-risk country must arrive to the U.S. at the airport where a CDC-registered animal care facility is located. This must be the location where the dog has a reservation for an examination, revaccination, and quarantine (if required).

This must also be the airport listed on the CDC Dog Import Form receipt.

Domestic flights or other forms of travel to other locations in the U.S. are not allowed until after the dog receives required services at the CDC-registered animal care facility.

Exception to requirements for service dogs

Foreign-vaccinated service dogs (as defined in U.S. regulations at 14 CFR 382.3) from high-risk countries may arrive by sea. However, these dogs must meet all other requirements above AND be traveling with the person with a disability that the dog is trained to assist. If arriving by sea these dogs do not need a reservation with a CDC-registered animal care facility. Emotional support animals are not service animals under this definition. More information is available at, Service Dogs FAQs.

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