Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Bringing A Dog Into The United States Bringing An Animal Into U.S. Importation CDC
Bringing A Dog Into The United States Bringing An Animal Into U.S. Importation CDC
html
Importation
Importation
Importation Home
CDC issues regulations to control the entry of dogs into the United States from other countries. These rules apply to all dogs, including puppies and service animals.
They also apply whether you are a US citizen, legal US resident, or foreign national.
If you don’t follow CDC’s rules, your dog won’t be allowed to enter the United States. If denied entry, your dog will be sent back to the last country of
departure at your expense. Country of departure is where the last trip originated—not where the dog was born or where it lives.
In addition, you must comply with US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) and your US destination’s regulations . Regulations of US states or territories may be
more strict than federal regulations. Please be aware that dogs imported for commercial (resale or adoption) purposes have additional requirements from USDA
.
To enter the United States, your dog will be required to meet speciMc criteria. Start by answering the questions below to determine if you can bring a dog into the
United States.
Step 1: Has your dog been in a high-risk country in the past 6 months?
NO: Dog can enter at any port of entry with a 6-month travel history statement and healthy appearance.
Dogs that have NOT been in a high-risk country in the past 6 months are NOT required by CDC to present a rabies vaccination certiMcate. However, when
you enter the United States, you must provide a written or verbal statement your dogs have NOT been in a country that is high risk for rabies within the last 6
months or since birth if under 6 months of age. While CDC doesn’t require proof of rabies vaccination, CDC recommends that all dogs be vaccinated against
rabies, and your US destination may have additional requirements. See What Your Dog Needs to Enter the United States.
All dogs that have been in a high-risk country in the past 6 months must be at least 6 months old to enter the United States. See What Your Dog Needs to Enter
the United States.
The microchip number must be listed on the dog’s rabies vaccination certiMcate. If you are unsure whether your dog has an ISO-compatible microchip, please
contact your veterinarian for assistance. See What Your Dog Needs to Enter the United States.
*The applicant is responsible for making sure the dog has an ISO-compatible microchip. If the dog does not have an ISO-compatible microchip, the applicant (or
permit holder) can bring their own scanner that can read the microchip.
*Many US universal scanners have been unable to detect microchips that begin with the numbers 1 or 8. Please ensure your dog’s chip can be detected by a
universal scanner if it begins with a number other than 9. If you are unsure, you should purchase your own scanner (available online) that can detect the
microchip or have your dog re-microchipped.
*If the microchip cannot be scanned on arrival, your dog may be denied entry and returned to the country of departure at your expense.
Step 4: Does the dog have a valid US-issued rabies vaccination certiDcate?
YES: The dog may enter the United States under certain conditions.
See Option A at What Your Dog Needs to Enter the United States.
Note: expired US rabies vaccination certiMcates will not be accepted. If your dog’s US rabies vaccination certiMcate is expired, proceed to Step 5.
Step 5: Does the dog have a valid CDC Rabies Vaccination and Microchip Record?
If you attempt to import your dog into the United States, the dog will be denied entry and returned to the country of departure at your expense. See What Your
Dog Needs to Enter the United States.
Step 6: Does the dog have an adequate rabies serology titer result from an approved laboratory, drawn at least 45 days and
no more than 1 year before arrival?
YES: The dog may enter with a CDC Dog Import Permit through one of 18 approved airports (Option B) OR without a permit through an airport with a CDC-
approved animal care facility (Option C). See What Your Dog Needs to Enter the United States
NO: The dog must have a reservation to quarantine at an approved animal care facility in the United States upon arrival and enter through the airport where the
facility is located. See Option C at What Your Dog Needs to Enter the United States
YES: See Option C at What Your Dog Needs to Enter the United States
Why it’s important now: Since 2015, four rabid dogs were imported into the United States. Historically, about 300 dogs annually have been denied entry to the United
States due to inadequate paperwork. However, between January and December 2020 (during the COVID-19 pandemic), CDC documented an increase from previous
years with more than 450 instances of incomplete, inadequate, or fraudulent rabies vaccination certiMcates for dogs arriving from high-risk countries.
The increase in the number of dogs inadequately vaccinated against rabies that importers were attempting to bring into the United States created a public health risk
of importing dog rabies.
Protect dogs and people: CDC will use the extended suspension period to improve the importation process to better protect the health and safety of dogs being
imported and their US families and communities.
Last Reviewed: July 6, 2023
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Division of Global Migration Health (DGMH)