☰ Menu
DESTINATION GUIDE · United States

Traveling to United States With a Dog or Cat: Planning Guide

A practical starting point for planning a trip to United States with your pet. Entry requirements depend on your origin, route, species and circumstances.

Source review status for this destination

Editorial source review: P3 — review candidate source

Next editorial check: Check candidate publisher, page relevance, current rules, and dog/cat differences.

Official pet-entry requirements remain NOT VERIFIED. This priority describes missing research, not permission to travel or a statement of current law.

Review this destination in the research workbench

Source evidence to review

Research leads below are not verified pet-entry rules. Confirm the responsible authority, publication date, applicability to your pet and route, and current requirements before relying on any source.

Candidate research link (unverified): www.cdc.gov · www.cdc.gov · www.cdc.gov · www.aphis.usda.gov · www.aphis.usda.gov · www.cdc.gov

This link is a starting point only. It may lead to a general government homepage rather than current pet import instructions.

  • Identify the competent veterinary or animal-import authority for this destination and arrival point.
  • Find the current dog and cat entry instructions, including origin-country and transit conditions.
  • Record the official page URL, publication or update date, and the date you checked it.
  • Cross-check the return journey and carrier requirements separately.

Record findings in the pet-entry worksheet

Before you book: This guide is an editorial planning overview, not a confirmation that your animal qualifies for entry. Check the current government requirements for your exact journey and discuss health needs with your veterinarian.

Long-distance and remote-area travel

Long driving distances and remote areas can limit access to emergency veterinary services. Confirm pet-friendly overnight stops, secure water supplies, seasonal road conditions and transport acceptance for each segment.

Route-specific verification worksheet

Before committing to travel, record the answers for your exact pet and itinerary. Do not assume rules for dogs also apply to cats, or that entry rules cover transit.

  • Origin and pet: country of departure, species, age, identification details and vaccination history.
  • Destination authority: official veterinary or biosecurity contact, required documents, application process, lead times and the date you verified them.
  • Connections: each transit country, border crossing and transport operator, including rules for layovers or changing airports.
  • Return journey: re-entry requirements for your home country and any additional documents needed before departure.
  • Practical backup: written carrier approval, accommodation pet policy, local veterinary contact and a contingency plan if transport changes.

Open a printable pet-entry verification worksheet for United States — record official answers before booking; no entry permission is implied.

United States pet entry requirements (2026)

Dogs and cats have different rules. Check federal requirements, your destination state, and your airline before booking. Your dog's travel history during the preceding six months is particularly important.

Dogs arriving from rabies-free or low-risk countries

If your dog has spent the entire six months before U.S. arrival only in countries classified by CDC as dog-rabies-free or low-risk (including Croatia), it must be at least six months old, have a microchip readable by a universal scanner, appear healthy on arrival, and have a CDC Dog Import Form receipt. The form is free and must be submitted separately for each dog. Under CDC federal rules, this is the only required import form for this travel-history category.

The CDC receipt can be shown electronically or printed. Confirm that the departure country on the receipt matches your journey. A dog in this category may enter through any U.S. port of entry, subject to other applicable rules.

Dogs with high-risk country travel history

If your dog has been in any CDC-designated high-risk country for dog rabies during the previous six months, additional vaccination documentation and entry arrangements may apply. The precise process depends on whether the dog was vaccinated in the United States or abroad; some foreign-vaccinated dogs must arrive at an airport with a CDC-registered animal care facility and a reservation. Do not assume that departing from a low-risk country removes these requirements.

Cats

USDA APHIS does not impose general federal animal-health import requirements on domestic pet cats. However, cats are inspected on arrival, and U.S. states, territories, and airlines may impose their own vaccination, health certificate or quarantine requirements. Check the specific destination, especially Hawaii or Guam.

Returning to the EU: U.S. entry permission does not automatically satisfy EU re-entry requirements. Before leaving Europe, verify your pet's EU passport, rabies vaccination and any applicable re-entry rules with the relevant EU authority.

Getting around with pets

Domestic airlines, trains, national parks and hotels set their own pet rules. Check every segment separately.

When booking flights, trains, ferries or car rentals, ask about pet reservations, carrier dimensions, fees, size limits and any restrictions on specific routes. Confirm policies with the operating company, especially for connections.

Choosing pet-friendly accommodation

“Pets allowed” does not always mean every pet is accepted. Ask whether there are breed or weight limits, nightly charges, cleaning fees, rules about leaving pets unattended, and restrictions on shared spaces. Request confirmation in writing.

For dogs entering the US, start with the CDC's current dog-import guidance rather than relying on old travel checklists.

Before-departure checklist

  • Identify your exact country of departure and all transit stops.
  • Confirm current government entry requirements for your pet's species and age.
  • Check identification, rabies vaccination timing and any additional tests or treatments.
  • Verify the documents accepted at your point of entry.
  • Book pet space with each transport provider and confirm carrier rules.
  • Check accommodation pet fees and local walking restrictions.
  • Save digital and paper copies of records and emergency veterinary contacts.

Official sources and further reading

For a broader planning overview, see our pet travel documents guide and flight planning guide.

Editorial guide · official-rule verification is still required. Requirements can change; verify official sources before departure.

Practical route planning notes

For dogs, check CDC import rules for the exact travel history and origin; cats and other pets can follow different federal and state rules. Confirm airline and destination-state requirements too.

Before confirming your booking

  • Write down your pet’s species, age, microchip and vaccination details.
  • Check entry, transit and return requirements for your exact origin and route.
  • Get the airline, rail or ferry pet policy in writing, including carrier dimensions and fees.
  • Confirm accommodation pet access and identify a local veterinary clinic.

Start with the relevant official government or animal-health website. This is a source starting point, not confirmation of current eligibility.

Dog and cat: separate checks before booking

Do not assume that dogs and cats have identical import, transit or carrier requirements. Use the following questions to check your exact route with the relevant authorities and transport providers; these are prompts, not confirmed destination rules.

  • For dogs: Confirm identification and rabies documentation; ask whether dog-specific vaccinations, parasite treatments, breed restrictions, age limits or extra permits apply.
  • For cats: Confirm identification and rabies documentation; ask whether cat-specific health certificates, vaccinations, age limits, permits or carrier restrictions apply.
  • For both species: Confirm any required laboratory tests, official certificate wording, endorsement, pre-arrival notice, inspection booking, quarantine rules and permitted ports of entry.
  • For your route: Check each transit stop, airline or ferry operator, accommodation policy and the rules for returning home. Obtain written confirmation when possible.

Keep separate notes for each pet. Rules can differ by species, country of origin, travel purpose and date, and may change before departure.

Final departure decision: verify before you go

Use these checkpoints for planning, not as universal legal deadlines. The responsible authorities and your carrier determine the actual timing, documentation and eligibility for your route.

  1. Before making non-refundable bookings — Identify the official veterinary or biosecurity authority for the destination, each transit point and your return country. Check species eligibility, entry points, permits, quarantine and carrier restrictions.
  2. When arranging veterinary appointments — Ask your veterinarian to work backward from the official validity windows for identification, vaccinations, tests, certificates and endorsements. Do not assume the same timing applies to every country.
  3. Before confirming transport and accommodation — Get the airline, ferry or rail operator’s pet acceptance conditions in writing where possible; confirm crate dimensions, reservations, temperature restrictions and any connections.
  4. Shortly before departure — Reopen the official government pages and carrier instructions, confirm no rule or schedule has changed, and check that names, microchip numbers and dates agree across documents.
  5. At the final go/no-go decision — Carry originals and accessible copies where required. If a permit, certificate, transit clearance or carrier approval is missing or unclear, seek confirmation from the responsible authority before traveling.

Keep official links, dates checked and outstanding questions in your pet-entry verification worksheet.

Return journey and transit: separate rule checks

A destination entry check is not enough for a round trip. Review each border and carrier separately, using the current official authority for that part of your journey.

  • Origin and return country: Confirm re-entry rules for your pet, including identification, health records, vaccination evidence and any applicable timing or testing requirements.
  • Transit countries and territories: Check whether your pet will remain airside or cross immigration, and whether transit, stopover or transfer creates separate animal-entry requirements.
  • Every transport operator: Check each airline, ferry, rail or road carrier separately, including pet acceptance, booking limits, crate rules and connection handling.
  • Document timing and contingency: Record which authority issued each requirement, when it was checked, relevant expiry dates, and a plan if travel dates or routing change.

These are research prompts, not confirmed legal requirements. Rules can differ by species, route, origin and travel date.

Share a research checklist for this destination

Copy a plain-text list of questions to send to the destination authority, your veterinarian or transport provider. It is a research request, not a statement of current entry rules.

Back to guide contents

United States: official pet-entry planning update (November 2026)

Competent authority

CDC sets federal dog-entry rules, with additional USDA and state/territorial requirements where applicable.

Entry requirements

All dogs entering or returning to the US must be at least six months old, microchipped, appear healthy and have a CDC Dog Import Form receipt.

Documents and travel process

Dogs that have been in high-risk dog-rabies countries within the prior six months need additional documentation and may face specific entry-port rules. The dog’s vaccination location matters.

Before booking: unresolved checks

Cats and other pets have separate federal, state and airline requirements. Confirm the arrival state, travel history and EU return requirements individually.

Official government source: Review current requirements

Editorial scope: official-source-supported planning guidance; not legal clearance for every origin, route, species or carrier. Reviewed 2 November 2026.

Official source directory

These official-domain links were collected as research leads for this destination. They have not been independently checked for current applicability, species, origin country, or travel route. Check the relevant authority before making travel decisions.

Status: NOT VERIFIED — links are not a substitute for official instructions or veterinary advice.

Official entry framework: source-reviewed guidance

Official US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance reviewed 1 November 2026. This source concerns DOGS entering the United States; it does not establish cat import requirements.

The CDC requires a CDC Dog Import Form receipt for each dog. For dogs that have only been in dog-rabies-free or low-risk countries during the six months before arrival, CDC describes this as the only CDC form needed. Dogs with a high-risk-country history can face additional requirements; do not apply the low-risk pathway without checking the full travel history.

Verify other applicable US federal, state, territorial, airline and arrival-airport requirements separately, and use species-specific official guidance for cats. The CDC form is not a blanket guarantee of admission.

CDC — Dog Import Form and instructions (official)

United States: pre-publication pet travel checks

For dogs, check the CDC rules by the countries where the dog has been during the preceding six months, age, microchip, CDC Dog Import Form and any additional requirements. For cats and other animals, check federal and state rules separately; Hawaii and US territories may have special rules.

Authority starting point: Official information and contact details. Confirm the live requirements for your origin, species, itinerary and travel date; the link alone is not evidence of legal clearance.

EU return: Before leaving the EU, check microchip, rabies validity, EU pet passport or appropriate health certificate and whether a rabies antibody titre test is needed for return from this location. Transit and carrier conditions must be checked independently.

Editorial status: Planning guidance; country-specific legal requirements have not been independently certified for every route.