Pet Transport UK to USA: What 2026 Actually Looks Like Post-CDC Reset

To move a dog from the UK to the USA in 2026 you need a microchip (implanted before the rabies vaccination), a CDC Dog Import Form receipt from cdc.gov/importation, and an APHIS-endorsed health certificate issued by an accredited vet within 10 days of travel. The UK is classified as a low-risk country by the CDC, so there is no quarantine, no titre test, and no import permit. For cats, the US federal government imposes no requirements at all, though your cargo airline will still need paperwork. Costs for a dog typically run £1,500 to £4,000 from the UK to a US hub.

The UK to USA pet move has always been one of the more manageable international routes. The UK is classed as low-risk by the CDC, cats face almost no federal requirements, and there is no mandatory quarantine for dogs. But the August 2024 CDC rule changes introduced a new online form, tightened the process for high-risk country dogs, and changed how US-endorsed health certificates work on re-entry. If you read older articles from before mid-2024, some of what they say is now out of date.

Here is how the route actually works in 2026.

Moving a cat from the UK to the USA

Cats are the easiest major pet to move on this route. The US federal government has no animal health requirements for importing pet cats from the UK. No health certificate is required at the US border, no CDC form, no vaccination record. CBP officers do not inspect cats. A healthy cat from the UK arrives and is cleared without examination.

In practice, you will still need some paperwork for the airline cargo booking: a standard veterinary health certificate is required by most carriers, and it must confirm your cat is microchipped and in good health. The airline issues their own minimum document checklist, which is separate from the federal entry requirement.

Some US states do have their own cat import rules. A handful require a health certificate and current rabies vaccination for cats entering the state. Check the agriculture department website for your specific destination state, particularly if you are moving to a rural area or a state with a history of rabies management programmes. Most major US cities and states impose nothing beyond the federal baseline.

Cats under around 6 kg can also travel in-cabin with many European carriers (Lufthansa, KLM, Air France) on the London to European hub leg, with the transatlantic portion booked as cargo. This two-leg approach removes the stress of a 9-hour cargo hold journey and works particularly well for anxious cats or those with brachycephalic features.

What to expect at the US cargo terminal

Your pet arrives as manifested cargo, not as baggage. You collect them from the airline cargo terminal, which is typically a separate facility from the passenger terminal, often several minutes drive away. Allow extra time on arrival day.

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will check your documents before releasing your pet. For a dog from the UK, they will verify the CDC Dog Import Form receipt, the health certificate, and confirm the microchip number matches the paperwork. The inspection is usually quick when all documents are in order.

Your dog is then released to you at the cargo terminal. You sign a release form and collect the travel crate. The dog does not spend additional time in a facility once CBP has cleared the paperwork.

For cats, CBP inspection is minimal. The process is faster.

If anything is missing, CBP has the authority to hold the animal at a registered facility at the owner’s expense until documentation issues are resolved. This is rare for UK dogs but is the consequence of incomplete paperwork. Double-check the CDC form is complete and the health certificate microchip number matches exactly before you travel.

What changed with CDC dog import rules, and what stayed the same?

The CDC’s “Bringing Dogs into the United States” programme was substantially updated on 1 August 2024. The headline change was the mandatory CDC Dog Import Form for all dogs entering the US, regardless of origin country or vaccination status.

What is now required for ALL dogs entering the USA:

• The dog must be at least 6 months old
• The dog must appear healthy on arrival
• Microchip: must be implanted before the rabies vaccination (if microchipped after vaccination, the vaccine is considered invalid)
• CDC Dog Import Form receipt (completed free online at cdc.gov/importation before travel)

For dogs from the UK (a low-risk, rabies-free country):

That is it. No rabies vaccination certificate required by the CDC. No titre test. No quarantine. The dog can arrive at any US airport, seaport or land border crossing. You present the CDC form receipt at the border and your dog is cleared.

What stayed the same: The UK’s classification as a low-risk country did not change. UK dogs have never needed a titre test or quarantine for US entry, and that is still the case.

The new wrinkle to know about: dogs vaccinated in the UK with a US-issued rabies vaccine (uncommon but relevant for some returning expats) no longer accept USDA-endorsed export health certificates issued after 31 July 2025 for re-entry into the US. This is a niche scenario that mainly affects US military families or people who had a US vet issue a US-format certificate before leaving. If this applies to you, check the current CDC guidance directly.

Which UK to US cargo routes work in 2026?

All UK-to-US pet cargo goes by air. There is no approved sea route for pets between the UK and the USA.

From the UK, almost all cargo pet moves depart from Heathrow (LHR). Edinburgh (EDI) and Manchester (MAN) occasionally have options via connecting cargo programmes, but Heathrow is the default.

British Airways / IAG Cargo via PetAir UK

BA does not carry pets in the passenger cabin on any route. All pet transport from the UK on BA is through their cargo partner, IAG Cargo. For pet exports from the UK, PetAir UK handles the bookings. They are DEFRA-approved and have operated since 2004. This is the most established UK-to-USA cargo route for pets. Brachycephalic breeds are subject to restrictions.

Delta Air Lines

Delta accepts cargo pets on transatlantic routes. Heathrow to Atlanta (ATL), JFK, Los Angeles (LAX) and other US hubs. Delta’s cargo pet service is well-regarded on the North Atlantic. Book early: space is limited.

American Airlines

American Airlines Cargo handles pet transport on transatlantic routes. Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Miami (MIA) and Charlotte (CLT) are the main US arrival points from Heathrow. Check current seasonal embargoes, as AA imposes temperature-related restrictions during summer and winter.

Important: United Airlines

United suspended its PetSafe cargo programme indefinitely. They do not currently accept cargo pets from the general public. Do not book your pet move expecting to use United cargo. In-cabin only on United, and transatlantic routes do not permit in-cabin pets.

Via European hubs: Lufthansa or KLM

If you are moving a cat or a small dog that fits in the cabin, you can fly in-cabin to Frankfurt (Lufthansa) or Amsterdam (KLM), then ship the pet as cargo on the transatlantic leg. This works well for cats and small dogs, since it avoids the cargo hold entirely on the European segment. It adds complexity (two separate bookings, different airlines, customs at the hub) but some owners prefer it for welfare reasons.

How do I get an APHIS-endorsed health certificate from a UK vet?

This is where most people get confused. There is no APHIS endorsement requirement for UK dogs entering the USA as low-risk animals. The UK is low-risk; the only CDC document required is the online form.

However, every cargo airline requires a health certificate for their booking. The standard the airlines accept is the USDA/APHIS-format health certificate, endorsed by the US embassy or APHIS representative in the UK.

The process:

1. Book your cargo space first. Airlines have limited pet capacity and it fills up.
2. Find a UK vet accredited by APHIS to issue the health certificate. Not all UK vets are on the list; check the APHIS website or ask your pet transport agent to arrange this.
3. The vet examines your pet within 10 days of travel and issues the certificate.
4. The certificate is endorsed by an Official Veterinarian (OV) at the APHIS office. This is the same government endorsement step that applies to UK exports generally, processed through USDA APHIS Veterinary Services.
5. You travel with the original endorsed certificate.

If you use a specialist pet transport agent such as PetAir UK, they manage the health certificate process as part of their service. For most people on this route, using an agent is simpler than managing the APHIS endorsement process independently.

What does the CDC Dog Import Form actually ask?

The CDC Dog Import Form (completed at cdc.gov/importation) is straightforward. It collects:

• Your dog’s details: name, breed, date of birth, sex, microchip number
• Your contact details and travel itinerary
• The dog’s origin country and 6-month travel history (used to determine low-risk vs high-risk classification)
• Attestation that the dog appears healthy

On submission, the form generates a QR code receipt. Save it as a PDF and bring a printed copy as well as a digital copy. CBP officers at US airports will scan it. The form is free, takes around 10 minutes to complete, and is valid for 6 months, covering multiple entries from the same risk-category country.

Complete it before you leave the UK, not at the airport.

How much does the UK to US pet move cost in 2026?

Costs vary significantly by the size of the dog, the specific route, and whether you use an agent or book directly with the airline.

For cats, costs are lower because the options are broader (in-cabin on the European leg, for example) and the documentation requirements are minimal. A cat in-cabin from London to New York via Frankfurt or Amsterdam typically costs £300 to £800 all in, depending on the airline’s fees and whether you use an agent.

The variability in total cost comes mostly from the airline fee, which depends on the dog’s weight and crate dimensions (airlines charge by volumetric weight), and the agent fee. Quotes from two or three agents are worthwhile on this route.

Hawaii, California and the state-level traps

Hawaii is a completely different process.

Hawaii is the only US state with a mandatory quarantine programme for dogs and cats. It is also one of the few places in the world where cats face strict import requirements, not just dogs. Hawaii is rabies-free and intends to stay that way.

For dogs going to Hawaii, the HDOA (Hawaii Department of Agriculture) 5-Day-Or-Less programme allows direct release after 5 days if all documentation is in order: a specific microchip standard, two rabies vaccinations at the correct intervals, a current titre test showing 0.5 IU/ml or above, and the paperwork completed in advance. If any step is missed or the timing is off, the quarantine period extends to 120 days.

Start the Hawaii process at least 6 months before your travel date. It is the most document-intensive domestic US destination for pets, even for dogs from a low-risk country like the UK.

California

California has no state-specific pet import requirements beyond the federal rules. Some people assume California has stricter rules; it does not, for standard dogs and cats. The federal CDC process applies.

Other states

Most US states impose no requirements above the federal baseline for pets arriving from the UK. A handful have tick treatment requirements for dogs, usually in rural or forested states. Check the agriculture department website for your destination state if you are going anywhere other than the major cities.

Summary: the UK to USA pet move in plain terms

For a dog travelling from the UK to mainland USA, the short version is: complete the CDC online form, ensure the microchip was implanted before the rabies vaccination, have a health certificate issued by an APHIS-accredited vet within 10 days of travel, and book cargo space early. No quarantine, no titre test, no import permit.

For a cat, the federal process is negligible. Your airline documentation is the main paperwork step.

Hawaii is the exception to all of the above and should be treated as a separate project.

On costs, budget £1,500 to £4,000 for a dog depending on size and route. A specialist UK pet transport agent simplifies the APHIS endorsement process considerably and is often worth the fee.

If you are ready to get a quote for your specific move, contact us here with your pet’s details, origin city, and US destination.

Sources: CDC Bringing Dogs into the United States (cdc.gov/importation), August 2024 rule update; USDA APHIS Pet Travel (aphis.usda.gov); Hawaii Department of Agriculture Rabies Quarantine programme (hdoa.hawaii.gov); verified April to June 2026.