International Pet Travel: Plan Ahead

and Take the Right Steps

On our pet travel Web site, you’ll find detailed information about 

taking your pet from the United States to another country (export) 

and bringing your pet into the United States from another country 

(import). The site covers the export and import of certain types of 

pets, including:

• Dogs

• Cats

• Birds 

• Ferrets

• Rabbits

• Rodents

• Hedgehogs and tenrecs

• Reptiles

• Amphibians

Before making plans to travel internationally with your 

pet, visit our new Web site at 

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pettravel 

for up-to-date information on what’s required. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health 

Inspection Service (APHIS) has launched a new Web site devoted to 

international pet travel. Pets are often considered part of the family, but 

traveling with your pet isn’t as simple as just booking a flight or driving 

across the border. There may be very specific steps you and your 

veterinarian need to follow, as well as pet vaccinations, treatments, 

and/or testing that your veterinarian must document.

We know this process can be stressful. That’s why we designed a new 

Web site to help guide you and your veterinarian through each step. Some 

countries have pre-travel requirements that take advanced planning and 

time to complete, so it’s important to start the process early.

Taking Your Pet to Another Country

Countries often have detailed animal health requirements that must be 

met before pets can cross their borders. These rules can vary greatly, 

so it’s important to find out the exact requirements for the destination 

country and type of pet. 

With the help of APHIS’ pet travel Web site, you can get the most 

current information available for a particular country. There, you’ll also 

find country-specific health certificates and instructions for completing 

them. This will help you and your veterinarian fill out the forms correctly so they are accepted by foreign officials. Please note that your 

veterinarian must be USDA-accredited to issue any international health 

certificates that require APHIS endorsement.

To help you and your veterinarian complete the process, the 

site also provides:

• Frequently asked questions and answers,

• A step-by-step checklist to better 

understand and prepare for

international travel 

requirements,

• Detailed documents on sending pets to select countries, and

• A link to find APHIS’ closest Veterinary Services office for 

assistance.

Bringing Your Pet Into the United States

APHIS’ mission is to protect the health and value of American agriculture and natural resources. To prevent the entry and spread of foreign 

animal diseases into our country, pets entering the United States from 

other countries may need to meet specific APHIS requirements. You 

can find information about these requirements on the new site. And 

for pet bird owners, the site provides a list of APHIS-approved ports of 

entry and contact information for our animal import centers.

Other Federal agencies also have rules for bringing pets into the 

United States. Our new Web site includes links to those 

agencies’ sites to help meet all your pet travel needs. 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Veterinary Services

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Program Aid No. 2198 • Issued July 2016