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There is no quarantine for dogs to enter the U.S.A if the import steps are followed correctly. These regulations do NOT include the State of Hawaii or Guam. Unless otherwise stated, the regulations below apply to domestic dogs, cats and ferrets.

Effective immediately, dogs are not permitted import to the United States from Egypt without approval from the Center for Disease Control unless they have resided in a rabies-free country or a rabies-controlled country for a minimum of 6 months prior to import. Very few exceptions will apply. Any dogs entering the United States from Egypt will be returned to the origination country. The ban does not apply to dogs transiting Egypt that remain on the same airline as long as the dog does not clear customs and enter Egypt for any reason.

Effective July 14, 2021, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) suspended the import of dogs from the following high-rabies countries. The CDC has authority to issue a CDC Dog Import Permit of US citizens on an extremely limited basis. (CDC information and application below).

This includes dogs who have resided in, visited, or cleared customs and entered such a country within 6 months of import. Dogs intending to enter the US from these countries that do not meet the above criteria can either apply for an import permit or enter the United States at an airport that has approved quarantine facilities (MIA, LAX, JFK, ATL, IAD). If a valid rabies titer test is available, then quarantine will not be imposed on healthy dogs. If the titer test is invalid or no titer test is available, then a 28 day quarantine will be imposed.

The ban has been extended to January 31, 2023.

HIGH-RABIES COUNTRIES

AFRICA: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Côte D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt (Temporary importation suspension of dogs from Egypt until further notice), Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini (Swaziland), Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania (including Zanzibar), Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Western Sahara, Zambia and Zimbabwe

AMERICAS AND EASTERN CARIBBEAN: Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela.

ASIA: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China (excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan), Georgia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Moldova, Mongolia, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Yemen.

 

Overview:

Before entering the USA your pet must have:

  • Microchip
  • Vaccinations against Rabies and core dog vaccine
  • Rabies Titer test for dogs
  • Import Permit for dogs
  • Parasite Treatment
  • Screwworm Certificate
  • Veterinary Health Certificate
  • Government International Health Certificate to fly
  • Transporting – Approved ports of entry

 

Microchip

Your pet must be microchipped before, or at the same time as their rabies vaccination. If you do not, they will need to be vaccinated again.

  • The microchip is injected under your pet’s skin near their left shoulder blade
  • This is not a tracking device, but is a way to identify and register your dog/cat

Rabies & Core Vaccines

  • Must be given less than a year prior to departure and no less than 30 days
  • Pet must be at least 3 months of age or older

 

Rabies Antibody Titer Test

Needed for pets traveling to the US, Europe, UK, Japan, Korea, Australia, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Hawaii, New Zealand. A blood sample is taken from your pet and sent to a Certified Lab in the United Kingdom. We receive the results 6-8 weeks after.

  • The dog or cat must have had their rabies vaccine 1+ months before starting the rabies titer process
  • Must have a microchip for the titer test.
  • Your pet cannot enter the US until 3 months after the blood is drawn.
  • Valid for the pet’s lifetime in most countries on the condition that the Rabies Vaccine booster is given annually, prior to the expiration of the last rabies vaccination.

 

Parasites

  • Before your pet enters the US, your pet must be treated against certain internal and external parasites by a licensed veterinarian.
  • 1-5 days prior to entering the country

 

Certificates

Veterinary Health Certificate

A licensed veterinarian must complete the Health Certificate for your pet within 5 days of travel.

Screwworm Certificate

A licensed veterinarian must complete the Screwworm Certificate for your pet within 5 days of travel.

Government International Health Certificate

Must be completed 7 days prior to departure. Paws International Clinic will complete this step for you. Please bring the following to your appointment:

  1. A printed copy of the owner’s passport
  2. A printed copy of your pet’s vaccination book
  3. Your pet’s vaccination book
  4. Address in Danang
  5. Address at destination
  6. Printed copy of your flight itinerary

 

Cage Requirements

We highly recommend that you start to acclimate your pet to their travel crate and practice crate training. This will make their travel experience less stressful. During your travel consultation, we will measure, weigh and calculate what size crate is best for your dog or cat. The carrier must be IATA approved.

Sizing Your Pet Crate
This is a crucial step in ensuring your pet’s safety and comfort and can make the difference between being accepted or refused by your airline. Measure your pet according to the chart below for domestic flights. See below for international requirements. Compare your findings with the interior measurements of the crate.

A= length of animal from nose to root of tail
B = height from ground to elbow joint
C = width across widest part of pet (usually the shoulders)
D = height of animal in standing position (top of head for pets with non-erect ears – from tip of ears for pets with erect ears).

 

Flight

Please keep in mind that each airline has their own guidelines. Before booking your flight, please call the airline well in advance to see if the flight path allows pets.

There are three ways you can ship your pet:

Your pet can travel on the plane with you: Your pet must not exceed 5kg – 7kg (depending on the airline) or less with its soft carrier to fly with you in the cabin. Some airlines no longer offer this option.

You can check your pet as checked baggage: If your pet is over 7kg but weighing between 33kg – 45kg (depending on airline) they can also fly in the hold as checked baggage. Passengers should be aware that they may not be accepted by some countries due to certain regulations.

You can book your pet on a separate flight: In this case, you will be charged the Manifest cargo rate, which is considerably more than excess baggage. Some airlines no longer offer this option.

 

*As a rule, animals 33kg- 45kgs or larger (including the weight of the cage) will be charged as manifest cargo even if they travel on the same plane as you. It is important to check with the airline if your pet is close to that weight and to determine if its policy may vary from this general 45kg rule.

Government regulations change frequently – the information contained here is accurate to the best of our knowledge but be aware that it can change anytime and should be verified before travelling.

Panda travelling to the United States

Dog Importation Suspension from High-Risk Countries for Rabies

Government regulations change frequently – the information contained here is accurate to the best of our knowledge but be aware that it can change anytime and should be verified before travelling.

Government regulations change frequently – the information contained here is accurate to the best of our knowledge but be aware that it can change anytime and should be verified before travelling.

Documents needed:

  • Photograph of your dog’s teeth
  • Rabies vaccination certificate in
  • Microchip number
  • Rabies serologic titer
  • Owners passport photo

*Please note that a booked ticket is not needed to apply. The permit’s validity is for 14 days before the date you put on the application form and until 90 days after. (could be subject to change so please always check the website for updated information)

 
Expected Time-Frame:
Permits are issued in the order received.
 
  • CDC will respond within 8 weeks. There isn’t a 8-week waiting period for the application. CDC is requiring 8 weeks in advance to give CDC staff time to process the applications.
  • If documents submitted are incomplete, the CDC will email you asking for the updates and changes. A new application will then have to be submitted with the correct information and having to wait up to 8 weeks for a response.
  • Applicants will receive an email with either 1) the approved permit (in the body of the email) and attached QR code, 2) the reasons the application is incomplete, or 3) the reasons the permit application was denied. Please check your spam or junk folders for an email from Animal Import Service Account (CDC).
  • If you are concerned you will not OR if you do not get a permit before you need to return to the United States, you can make a reservation to enter the United States through an airport with a CDC-approved animal care facility, where your dog will undergo veterinary exam, re-vaccination, and possible quarantine.

Alternatively, you may consult IPATA (International Pet and Animal Transportation Association) for options to board your dog and have it transported to the United States at a later date after you receive your permit if reservations aren’t available sooner.

Reasons Your CDC Dog Import Permit May Be DENIED:

1. Dog’s paperwork is not translated into English.
Make sure everything is translated, even date abbreviations.

2. Rabies vaccine certificate is expired or due to expire before travel date.
*If the vaccine is about to expire during the application process, before travel or just arriving in the U.S, it is recommended to Booster your dog before applying for the permit to avoid any further delays.

3. Missing information on the application form and/or dog’s paperwork

  • Lot expiration date
    Owner’s address on the rabies vaccine certificate
  • License number of veterinarian
  • Signature of veterinarian
  • US address and US phone number on the application form

4. Wrong or conflicting information on the form and/or dog’s paperwork
5. Missing documents/attachments from the form.
6. Dog’s paperwork (certificates and forms) MUST be filled out electronically, not handwritten.

Our Pet Travel Logistics Specialist is dedicated to ensuring that your pet is moved abroad safely, comfortably, and that the whole process is stress free for you and your fur friend(s). We will handle every logistical aspect of your pet’s relocation domestically and internationally – from documentation, import and export regulations to transportation from door-to-door. We will handle every part of your pet’s journey!

Requirements & Procedures for International Travel

Government regulations change frequently – the information contained here is accurate to the best of our knowledge but be aware that it can change anytime and should be verified before travelling.

Our fully-equipped clinic offers a full range of professional veterinary services. 
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