How to Import a Puppy Internationally 2026

Importing a puppy is in many ways more complicated than moving an adult dog, simply because puppies have to complete the full vaccination sequence from scratch. If you are planning to acquire a puppy in your current country and bring it with you when you relocate, timing is everything.

Age restrictions by country

Australia: Minimum arrival age 6 months. The titre test pathway must be completed before travel. In practice, most puppies arriving in Australia are 8 to 10 months old by the time they have met all requirements.

Japan: There is no specific minimum age listed by MAFF, but the 180-day waiting period after the titre test blood draw means that in practice, puppies cannot travel before roughly 8 to 9 months of age.

New Zealand: New Zealand requires puppies to be at least 6 months old. The titre test pathway applies from non-approved countries.

Singapore: Puppies entering Singapore must be old enough to have completed the required vaccination and titre test sequence. The AVS quarantine system applies to puppies just as to adults.

USA (CDC pathway): The 2024 CDC rules require dogs to be at least 6 months old.

EU and UK: Generally, a puppy vaccinated from 8 weeks and microchipped can travel at 12 to 15 weeks, once the vaccination course is complete and the waiting period after the final vaccine has passed (usually 21 days).

Starting the process early

If you are acquiring a puppy specifically for an international move, talk to the breeder before you commit. Ask:

  • Can the puppy be microchipped before the first vaccination?
  • Can the breeder begin the titre test sequence?
  • Does the breeder have experience with export health certificates?

For strict destinations (Japan, Australia, New Zealand), the puppy needs to start the process at 8 weeks and will likely not be able to travel until 8 to 10 months. Factor this into your move timeline.

Finding a vet experienced with export puppies

Not all vets are familiar with international export pathways, particularly for strict destinations. Seek out a vet who has experience with USDA APHIS, APHA, CFIA, or DAFF export health certificates and titre test submission for your target destination.

Frequently Asked Questions

Most countries require a puppy to be at least 12 to 16 weeks old before it can be imported. The USA (CDC) requires dogs to be at least 6 months old for some pathways. Australia requires puppies to be at least 6 months old and to have completed the full titre test pathway before arrival. Japan does not permit puppy import until the titre test waiting period (180 days from blood draw) is complete, which effectively means puppies are at least 8 to 9 months old before they can enter. Always check the specific destination’s minimum age requirement.

Primary vaccinations typically begin at 8 weeks. The microchip must be implanted before or at the first vaccination. For destinations requiring a titre test, the test blood sample can only be taken 30 days after the final course vaccination, typically at around 14 to 16 weeks. The 90 to 180 day waiting period for most strict destinations then begins. This means planning a puppy import should start from birth or before you acquire the puppy.

In some ways, yes. Adult dogs with established vaccination histories and titre test records may be able to travel more quickly. Puppies have to wait through the entire vaccination course and titre test sequence from the start. The total minimum timeline for a puppy to reach a strict destination like Japan or Australia is typically 8 to 10 months from birth. For less strict destinations like Spain, France, or the USA, a puppy of 12 weeks with current vaccinations and microchip can travel much sooner.

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