Pet Travel Documentation

Traveling with your pet — whether domestically or internationally — often requires an official health certificate signed by an accredited veterinarian. We provide USDA-endorsed health certificates and can help navigate the specific requirements for your destination.

What's Required

  • A physical examination within 10 days of travel
  • Up-to-date vaccinations (especially rabies)
  • Proof of parasite treatment (for some destinations)
  • Microchip (ISO 15-digit for international travel)

International Travel

International requirements vary significantly by country. Some destinations require USDA endorsement of the health certificate, which can take 3–5 business days. We recommend contacting us at least 2–3 weeks before your travel date to ensure all documentation is completed in time.

Please call our office to schedule your health certificate appointment and discuss your specific destination requirements.

Traveling With Your Pet?

If you are considering international travel with your pet, please fill out our Travel Form or email and our experienced Travel Services representative will get back in touch with you within 24 hours.

When traveling with an animal, it’s often required to have legal documentation to protect your pet’s health, the safety of other travelers, and the environment in which you are traveling. In order to receive this paperwork, you must meet with your veterinarian and have them sign off that your pet is strong and healthy to travel without endangering themselves or others, free from disease or illness, and has received the vaccinations required by wherever they are traveling to.

In order to be sure of what kind of documentation you need, what the requirements are for traveling with your pet, or the time requirements for the paperwork, we suggest calling the airline you are flying with to find out.

It’s important to note that pets who fly in the main cabin, rather than in steerage, have a much more comfortable and calm experience. If your pet is well behaved and small enough, we highly recommend they travel in the main cabin. In the case that your pet must travel in steerage, make sure they have a spacious crate that allows for movement and water.

New CDC Guidelines for Returning to the USA

As of August 1, 2025

ALL PETS must have proper documentation to re-enter the United States.
  • Cats re-entering the United States: Please ensure to have your up-to-date rabies certificate, and your USDA endorsed health certificate used to leave the Country.
  • Dogs re-entering the United States from countries NOT on the high- risk list:
    • Must travel with an up-to-date rabies certificate from the United States (showing that pet is vaccinated WITHIN the United States) and a USDA endorsed certificate with the low-risk country stated as the destination. (This will be the paperwork endorsed by the USDA that the pet originally traveled with)
    • Must fill out a CDC Import form. This form is free and instructions and link to this form can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/importation/dogs/dog-import-form-instructions.html

Dogs Traveling From a High-Risk Rabies Country:

These countries include: Dominican Republic, Colombia, Israel (beginning August 1, 2024), China (excluding Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan), Ecuador, El Salvador, Ukraine, Turkey, Russia, Peru and more. To see the full list please, click here.

  • Your pet will need to be at least 6 months old, have an ISO compliant microchip, and be vaccinated within the United States!
  • They will also need:
    • A Certification of U.S.-Issued Rabies Vaccine form that was endorsed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) before dog departed the United States. (this can be done at your international health certificate appointment, the USDA charges $101 for endorsement of this document)
      • Please note - in order for us to be able to fill this form out the pet MUST be microchipped PRIOR to rabies vaccination. According to the new rules, pets must be given a 1 year rabies AFTER or on the day of microchipping. If the pet did not receive their vaccine after the microchip, then the pet will need a 1 year rabies vaccine. If the pet received a 3 year, if this is the primary vaccine after the microchip it will only be valid for 1 year.
    • A CDC Dog Import Form (The importer [owner] must fill this out prior to travel. It is best to do it a few days prior and is free of charge. The form can be found here.)
  • They must appear healthy upon arrival and must come in through one of the 18 designated ports as seen on the CDC website. (Newark and JFK are included!)
  • There is a helpful bot on the CDC website which you can use to find out exactly what your pet needs:

USDA Endorsement

For Countries Who Offer Digital Endorsement:

  • At the time of your international health certificate exam we will send your certificate for endorsement to the USDA website.
  • The USDA charges $160 for endorsement IF a rabies titer is required.
  • The USDA charges $101 for endorsement for countries who only require vaccine.

These fees are in addition to any fees at the Tenafly Veterinary Center.

The USDA endorses Monday-Friday from 9-5 and endorsement can take upwards of 72 hours. (Weekends and Federal Holidays do not count towards the 72 hours). We will contact you as soon as the certificate has been endorsed and e-mail it to you.

For Countries Who Do Not Offer Digital Endorsement:

You will need to have your certificate mailed back to you. During your health certificate examination we will create a label for you via UPS overnight shipping with a provided credit card, unless you wish to provide the label to us prior to your appointment. If you have questions regarding creating the label please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

Rabies Titer Testing Information

The FAVN test is required by many rabies-free countries or regions in order for dogs and cats to qualify for a reduced quarantine period prior to entry. Some of these regions are Hawaii, Japan, Korea, Israel, Australia, Guam, New Zealand, and some islands in the Caribbean. Always check with the destination authority to verify pet importation requirements.

Due to continued staffing shortages, the Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory will not be able to perform expedited STAT testing effective immediately. This temporary discontinuation is for STAT testing ONLY.

Due to supply shortages the FAVN test is taking 7 to 8 weeks from date received until the test status is Finalized.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.

If you have questions, please call the KSVDL Rabies Laboratory at 785-532-4483.

Helpful Pet Travel Link

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