Documents needed to travel to the U.S. with a dog
Traveling with your dog to the United States starts with the paperwork. Every dog entering or returning to the U.S. needs a CDC Dog Import Form receipt. Some dogs will need additional documents depending on where they have been in the last 6 months.
The documents are not the same for every dog. A dog that has only been in rabies-free or low-risk countries has a much simpler paperwork process than a dog that has been in a high-risk rabies country.
For the full country overview start with our Unites States dog travel guide.
What documents does your dog need to enter the United States?
Any dog entering or returning to the United States has to have a CDC Dog Import Form receipt. If you are traveling with more than one dog, each dog needs its own form. The form should match the country the dog is departing from to enter the U.S.
Dogs must also meet the basic CDC requirements. Be at least 6 months of age, microchipped, and appearing healthy upon arrival. If the dog is coming from a high-risk rabies country there will be additional documents required.
Start with your dog’s travel history
Write down every country that your dog has been in during the last 6 months. The CDC requirements are based on where your dog has been recently and not just where your current flight, drive, or border crossing begins. If your dog entered or cleared customs in a high-risk country during a flight layover that can also affect the entry category.
CDC Dog Import Form receipt
The CDC Dog Import Form is required for every dog entering the United States. If your dog has only been in rabies-free or low-risk countries during the last 6 months, this will be the only CDC form you need. The receipt can be completed the day of travel but it is advisable to complete it a few days before.
Keep the receipt saved on your phone and printed if possible as your airline or border officials may ask to see it.
Documents for low-risk or rabies-free countries
If your dog is in this category, your CDC paperwork is simple. Your dog needs:
- a CDC Dog Import Form receipt
- a microchip number that matches the form
- proof your dog is at least 6 months old
- a healthy dog on arrival
If you are in this category, the CDC does not require extra rabies paperwork. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t travel with other paperwork though. Bring your dog’s rabies certificate, vaccine records, and basic vet information because airlines, states, hotels, campgrounds, groomers, dog daycares, or emergency vets may ask to see them.
Documents for high-risk rabies countries
The document list is much stricter if your dog has been in a high-risk rabies country in the last 6 months. Dogs must be vaccinated against rabies to enter the United States and must meet additional age, microchip, health, documentation, and sometimes rabies titer requirements.
The exact paperwork depends on whether your dog was vaccinated in the United States or vaccinated in another country.
A U.S. vaccinated dog from a high-risk country needs the CDC Dog Import Form receipt and a Certification of U.S.-Issued Rabies Vaccination form endorsed by USDA.
A foreign vaccinated dog from a high-risk country follows a different process and may need a Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form, rabies serology titer results, arrival through a specific airport, and a CDC registered animal care facility reservation.
Use the CDC Dog Importation Navigator before booking if your dog has been in a high-risk country.
Rabies certificate and vaccine records
For low-risk travel the CDC does not require extra rabies paperwork beyond the Dog Import Form. For high-risk travel the rabies documentation is central to the entry process.
Even when CDC does not require the rabies certificate for your route, keep it with your travel documents. It can be needed for airline check-in, state rules after arrival, hotels, campgrounds, groomers, dog daycares, emergency vets, and local animal control rules.
Microchip information
Your dog needs a microchip that can be detected with a universal scanner. Make sure the microchip number is correct before submitting the CDC Dog Import Form. If your dog needs rabies paperwork for a high-risk country route, the microchip number should also match the rabies documents.
A microchip mismatch can create problems at check-in, arrival, or document review.
Health certificate
A health certificate is not the main CDC document for dogs coming only from dog rabies-free or low-risk countries.
For those dogs the CDC requires the CDC Dog Import Form as well as the age, microchip, and health requirements. Your airline, state, or route may still ask for a health certificate, so check those requirements separately before travel.
If your dog has been in a high-risk rabies country, certain CDC or USDA-endorsed documents may function differently from a simple travel health certificate. Do not rely on a general vet letter if your dog is in the high-risk category.
USDA APHIS documents
APHIS Veterinary Services has requirements if your dog is coming from a country affected by foot-and-mouth disease or screwworm. APHIS says there is no documentation required for FMD requirements, but dogs traveling from screwworm-affected countries need screwworm freedom certification.
Check APHIS before travel if your dog is entering from Mexico or another country where APHIS disease rules may apply.
Airline documents
Your dog may meet U.S. entry requirements and still be denied boarding if the airline requires documents you do not have. Airlines may ask for rabies records, health paperwork, carrier details, cargo forms, service dog forms, or proof that your dog has been approved for the flight.
If you are flying, read the flying to the United States with a dog guide before booking your ticket.
Land border documents
If you are driving into the United States your dog still needs the CDC Dog Import Form receipt and must meet the age, microchip, and health requirements. Driving avoids airline paperwork but it does not remove CDC entry rules. Keep your CDC receipt, rabies certificate, microchip details, and any route-specific documents easy to reach at the border.
If you are entering by car, use the driving to the United States with a dog guide before heading to the border.
Quick document checklist
Before traveling to the United States with your dog check:
- Your dog’s 6-month travel history
- CDC Dog Import Form receipt
- Microchip number
- Proof your dog is at least 6 months old
- Rabies certificate and vaccine records
- High-risk rabies documents (if required)
- Rabies titer results (if required)
- CDC-registered animal care facility reservation (if required)
- USDA APHIS documents (if required)
- Airline or land-border documents for your route
Common mistakes
The easiest way to create paperwork problems is to assume every dog needs the same documents.
Avoid these mistakes:
- Completing the CDC Dog Import Form with the wrong departure country
- Forgetting that each dog needs its own form
- Ignoring your dog’s last 6 months of travel history
- Assuming a regular rabies certificate replaces CDC high-risk forms
- Booking a flight before checking high-risk country paperwork
- Forgetting APHIS requirements for certain countries
- Packing documents somewhere hard to reach at check-in or the border
Frequently asked questions
What documents does my dog need to enter the United States?
All dogs need a CDC Dog Import Form receipt. Your dog must also be at least 6 months old, microchipped, and healthy on arrival. Dogs that have been in high-risk rabies countries need additional documents.
Does each dog need its own CDC Dog Import Form?
Yes. Each dog entering the United States needs its own CDC Dog Import Form receipt.
Does my dog need a rabies certificate?
Dogs coming only from dog rabies-free or low-risk countries do not need extra CDC rabies paperwork. Dogs that have been in high-risk rabies countries need additional rabies documents. You should still travel with rabies proof.
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