USA Pet Import Guide: CDC Rules, Rabies Vaccinations, and What Changed in 2024
The United States is one of the more straightforward destinations for pet relocation – but rules tightened considerably in 2024, and the changes caught a lot of people off guard.
Here is what you need to know.
The 2024 CDC change for dogs
In August 2024, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) updated its dog import requirements. The change affects dogs arriving from countries classified as high-risk for dog rabies – which is essentially most of the world, including the UK, most of Europe, the UAE, and Australia.
Under the new rules, dogs from high-risk countries must either:
- Have a valid rabies vaccination issued by a USDA-accredited or equivalent veterinarian while the dog was physically outside the USA, plus a microchip implanted before the vaccination, OR
- Arrive with a CDC dog import permit (for unvaccinated dogs, dogs vaccinated in the USA, or dogs under 6 months)
The microchip before vaccination requirement is the one that trips people up. If your vet microchipped your dog after they gave the rabies jab, the vaccination technically doesn’t count under the new rules. Check the date order on your pet’s records before you travel.
What dogs need to enter the USA
- ISO microchip (15-digit, implanted before the rabies vaccination)
- Rabies vaccination record showing the vaccine was given after the microchip was implanted
- USDA health certificate completed by a USDA-accredited vet within 10 days of travel
- For dogs arriving via screwworm-affected countries: a Screwworm Treatment Certificate issued within 5 days of travel
Dogs under 6 months old cannot be imported from high-risk countries without a CDC permit. The permit process takes several weeks, so plan well in advance.
What cats need to enter the USA
Cats have a simpler path. There is no federal rabies vaccination requirement for cats entering the USA from most countries. Airlines typically require a health certificate, and some US states have additional requirements – but federally, it is much lighter than the dog rules.
Your airline will have specific rules about what documentation they want for cats. Check early, as requirements vary.
The USDA health certificate
Both dogs and cats need a health certificate issued by a USDA-accredited veterinarian within 10 days of travel. This is important: not just any vet can issue a USDA health certificate. They must be accredited with the USDA.
For some destinations within the USA (particularly Hawaii), the requirements are stricter. Hawaii is rabies-free and has its own import rules separate from the mainland.
Hawaii
Hawaii is effectively treated as a different country for pet imports. It is a rabies-free state and enforces strict arrival requirements:
- Microchip
- Two rabies vaccinations at least 30 days apart (the most recent given more than 90 days before arrival)
- Rabies titre test from an approved lab showing 0.5 IU/mL or higher, taken more than 90 days before arrival
- 5-day-or-less rabies quarantine at the Honolulu Animal Quarantine Station on arrival (if all requirements met)
Pets that don’t meet the requirements face 120 days’ quarantine in Honolulu. The programme is called the 5-Day-Or-Less programme and requires advance booking.
Timing for USA (mainland) entry
Most mainland US entry requirements can be met within a few weeks once you have a microchipped, vaccinated dog. The bottleneck is usually the health certificate timing (within 10 days of travel) and finding a USDA-accredited vet.
Allow at least 6-8 weeks to get the paperwork organised, more if you are unsure about the microchip/vaccination date order.
Source
CDC Dog Import Requirements: cdc.gov/importation/dogs.html (verified May 2026). USDA APHIS: aphis.usda.gov (verified May 2026).