Pet travel requirements by country

Dog travel requirements at a glance

A summary of every destination in the tool, for a pet dog traveling from the US unless the row says otherwise. "Plan ahead" assumes your dog has no valid rabies vaccination yet; if it is already vaccinated, some trips can happen much sooner.

We left out destinations whose rules we couldn't confirm on an official government page. If your country isn't listed, start with your destination's agriculture or veterinary authority, and for trips from the US, the USDA APHIS pet travel pages.

Do dogs need a pet passport?

Not usually in the literal sense. What people call a pet passport is, for a dog traveling from the US, a set of documents: proof of a microchip, a rabies vaccination record and a health certificate in the format the destination asks for. The EU uses an animal health certificate, Great Britain a pet health certificate, and Mexico a screwworm inspection certificate. Each has its own deadline, which is why the order of the steps matters so much.

Microchip first, then the rabies vaccine

The EU, Great Britain and Japan all require the microchip to go in before the rabies vaccination, and CDC applies the same rule to US-vaccinated dogs returning from high-risk countries. A vaccine given before the chip doesn't count, so your dog would need another one. Use an ISO 11784/11785 chip (usually 15 digits), which the EU and Japan ask for.

After a first rabies vaccination there is a waiting period before your dog can travel: 21 days for the EU and Great Britain, and 28 days before the CDC form can be completed for US-vaccinated dogs coming back from a high-risk country. Your vet can line this up with your regular vaccination schedule.

When does a dog need a rabies titer test?

A titer test (also called a rabies antibody test, RNATT or FAVN) is a blood test that proves the vaccine worked, usually with a result of at least 0.5 IU/ml. From the US, the EU, Great Britain and Canada don't require one. Rabies-free destinations do, and the waiting period after the sample is what makes these trips slow:

• Japan: arrive at least 180 days after the blood sample, after two vaccinations at least 30 days apart.
• Australia: export at least 180 days after the sample arrives at the laboratory.
• Singapore: sample taken between 90 days and 12 months before export.
• Hawaii: a 30-day wait from the day after the lab receives the sample.

Health certificate timing

Health certificates are the step people most often get wrong, because the window is short and counted back from arrival. For the EU, a USDA-accredited vet issues the certificate (valid for 30 days) and USDA must endorse it within 10 days of arrival. Great Britain wants entry within 10 days of the certificate, Japan a vet inspection within 10 days of boarding, Hawaii a certificate within 14 days, and Mexico a certificate no more than 5 days old. Enter your arrival date in the tool and it works out each window for you.

In the US, accredited vets submit export certificates to USDA electronically, so book the appointment early and leave time for the endorsement. Our dog travel checklist covers everything else to pack and book, and the airline pet carrier size checker helps if your dog flies in the cabin.

Bringing your dog back to the US

Under CDC's current rules, every dog entering or returning to the US must be at least 6 months old, have a microchip and have a CDC Dog Import Form receipt. For dogs that have only been in rabies-free or low-risk countries, such as Canada, Mexico, the UK and EU countries, the form is all CDC asks for; it is valid for 6 months and multiple entries. Dogs that have been in a high-risk country in the last 6 months need extra rabies paperwork arranged before they leave the US, and an unvaccinated dog that has been in a high-risk country will not be let in. Pick the matching USA option in the tool to see those steps.