AM
Armenia
✈️
US
United States

Pet Transport Armenia to USA: 2026 Guide

12-16 weeks
Typical preparation
None
No quarantine required
High
Route complexity
✓ Managed
Full door-to-door service
Regulations verified

Regulations sourced from DEFRA, USDA APHIS, DAFF and other official authorities. How we source our data →

Overview
Armenia is on the CDC’s high-risk countries list for dog rabies, which means the process for bringing a dog to the USA from Yerevan is more involved than from lower-risk origins. You need a serology titer test at a CDC-approved lab, a government-endorsed Certification form, a reservation at a CDC-registered animal care facility, and the CDC Dog Import Form receipt. For a healthy dog starting from scratch, allow 12-16 weeks. Cats have no federal CDC requirements and are a much simpler case.
Step by step

The Armenia to United States process

1
First step. Chip your dog before any vaccination is given.
Microchip (ISO 11784/11785) - must precede the rabies vaccination

Responsible: Armenian vet

2
After microchipping. Note the date; the 28-day post-vaccination window starts here.
First rabies vaccination - dog must be at least 12 weeks old

Responsible: Armenian vet

3
At least 30 days after the first vaccination. Allow 3-5 weeks for results from a CDC-approved lab.
Rabies serology titer blood draw at CDC-approved laboratory

Responsible: Armenian vet draws blood; sample shipped to CDC-approved lab

4
After confirming the serology titer is in progress. Do not book flights until a facility reservation is confirmed.
Reserve spot at CDC-registered animal care facility at arrival airport

Responsible: Owner or agent

5
Within 30 days of entry. Form is single-use; allow time for the government endorsement step.
Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form signed by vet, endorsed by Armenian government vet

Responsible: Armenian vet + SSFS official vet

6
Within a few days of travel. Keep the receipt.
Complete CDC Dog Import Form online at cdc.gov/importation

Responsible: Owner

7
Travel day. Arrive early; CDC facility processing takes time.
Depart EVN to US CDC-registered airport. Present all documents at the CDC facility on arrival.

Responsible: Airline + owner

Checklist

United States of America: entry requirements

RequirementDetail
MicrochipRequired. Must be implanted before the first rabies vaccination. ISO 11784/11785 readable chip. The microchip number must match every document.
Rabies vaccinationRequired for dogs. First vaccination at 12 weeks or older. A 28-day wait must pass after the first vaccination before the dog can enter the USA.
Rabies titre testRequired for dogs from Armenia. Armenia is on the CDC high-risk countries list. A rabies serology titer test at a CDC-approved laboratory is required. Blood must be drawn at least 30 days after the first valid rabies vaccination and at least 28 days before US entry. Minimum passing result: 0.5 IU/mL. A passing titer is valid for life provided vaccination coverage does not lapse. Source: CDC cdc.gov/importation/dogs, updated April 15, 2026.
Quarantine28-day quarantine at the CDC-registered facility if a valid serology titer is not presented on arrival. If a valid titer is presented, no quarantine applies after the facility examination.
Import permitNo import permit required for personal pet dogs or cats.
Health certificateCertification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form, completed by the attending vet and endorsed by an Armenian government vet. Valid 30 days from vet signature, single use only. Accompanied by CDC Dog Import Form receipt.
Leaving Armenia

Export requirements

RequirementDetail
Export permitNo formal export permit required for companion animals. The endorsed health certificate and vaccination documentation are the key documents.
Health certificateVeterinary health certificate issued by an SSFS-authorised vet in Armenia and endorsed by the State Service for Food Safety (SSFS). For the USA, the certificate must accompany the Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form, which is separately endorsed by an Armenian government vet. Primary departure airport: Yerevan Zvartnots International (EVN).
Costs

What this route typically costs

1Serology titer at CDC-approved lab (blood draw + processing + international sample shipping): AMD 40,000-120,000 (approximately USD 100-300)
2Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination form + SSFS endorsement: AMD 15,000-40,000 (approximately USD 40-100)
3CDC-registered facility reservation (examination, possible revaccination): USD 200-600 depending on facility and length of stay
4Cargo EVN to US via hub: USD 800-2,500 depending on crate size, routing, and carrier
5IATA travel crate: USD 80-300
6Pet transport agent (strongly recommended for a high-risk country process): USD 400-1,200
7Total typical range: USD 1,500-4,500 across a 3-4 month preparation period
Critical points

Read before you book

⚠ Armenia is on the CDC high-risk list. Dogs cannot simply arrive with a standard health certificate. The serology titer and Certification form are mandatory requirements.
⚠ The Certification form is valid for only 30 days from the vet's signature. Time the endorsement carefully against your travel date.
⚠ Dogs must arrive at an airport where a CDC-registered facility operates. Routing to a non-CDC airport is not permitted for dogs from high-risk countries.
⚠ Cats have no CDC requirements. The above process applies to dogs only. Cats need only to appear healthy.
⚠ The commercial dog import ban from high-risk countries also affects dogs being imported for sale or rescue. Personal companion dogs owned by the traveller use the foreign-vaccinated high-risk path.
Carriers

Airlines on this route

Turkish Airlines via Istanbul
Yerevan (EVN) to Istanbul Ataturk (IST) or Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen (SAW), then IST to a US gateway such as JFK or ORD. Turkish Airlines Cargo accepts live animals. Confirm the US-bound leg carries live animals before booking.
Cargo Only
Air France via CDG
Connections via Paris CDG. Air France Cargo handles live animal freight from CDG to US hubs. EVN to CDG service with onward connections to US CDC-registered airports.
Cargo Only
Lufthansa via Frankfurt
Via Frankfurt (FRA), connecting to US gateways. Frankfurt Animal Lounge provides care during transit. Useful if routing to ORD, JFK, or MIA via FRA.
Cargo Only

Why Armenia is classified as high-risk and what that actually means

The CDC classifies countries as high-risk for dog rabies based on the presence of dog-mediated rabies transmission. Armenia is on this list. That classification does not mean US entry is refused or that your dog is presumed sick. It means the CDC requires additional evidence of rabies immunity before your dog can clear the border.

For foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries, three things are required beyond a basic health certificate. First, a rabies serology titer confirming immunity. Second, the Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form, completed by your vet and endorsed by an Armenian government vet, not just the clinic. Third, a reservation at a CDC-registered animal care facility at your US arrival airport. The facility carries out an examination on arrival and administers a US-licensed vaccine booster. If you have a valid titer, no quarantine follows. Without a valid titer, your dog stays at the facility for 28 days.

Routing from Yerevan to a CDC-registered US airport

There is no direct Yerevan-to-USA cargo service. The practical routes run via Istanbul (Turkish Airlines Cargo), Paris CDG (Air France Cargo), or Frankfurt (Lufthansa Cargo). From each of these hubs, connections exist to US airports where CDC-registered facilities operate.

Check before booking that the specific cargo routing you are using will accept live animals on all legs. Live animal space is limited, particularly on transatlantic segments. Book at least six to eight weeks ahead. The CDC-registered airports include JFK, LAX, ATL, ORD, MIA, EWR, SFO, IAH, and BOS. Your pet transport agent should match the routing to the CDC facility reservation.

FAQ

Common questions

Yes. For dogs from Armenia (a CDC high-risk country), a valid serology titer is required regardless of whether the vaccination is current. The titer must have been drawn at least 30 days after the first valid vaccination and at least 28 days before US entry. Source: CDC cdc.gov/importation/dogs, April 2026.
The facility examines your dog, checks documentation, and administers a US-licensed rabies vaccine. If you have a passing serology titer from a CDC-approved lab, your dog is cleared and released to you after the examination. Without a valid titer, your dog enters a 28-day quarantine at the facility at your expense.
No. The CDC high-risk rules apply only to dogs. Cats entering the USA from Armenia are not subject to CDC import requirements. They should appear healthy on arrival. Basic vaccination records and a health certificate are good practice but not federally required.
The form is valid for 30 days from the date the attending vet signs it, and it is single-use. Time the government endorsement step so the form is still within its 30-day window on your travel date.
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