Pet Transport from Austria to the United States: 2026 Guide
Austria is CDC low-risk for dog rabies. For most families moving from Vienna or elsewhere in Austria to the US, this route involves three straightforward steps: confirm the microchip and vaccination are current, complete the free CDC Dog Import Form, and book …
The Austria to United States import process
Every step must be completed in sequence. A single missed deadline can add months to your timeline. We own the entire process.
Responsible: Your vet
Responsible: You (owner)
Responsible: You or your agent
Responsible: You
Responsible: Official vet
Responsible: You + airline cargo
What your pet needs to enter United States
Every item must be verified before your pet can board. We track each one against current standards.
What this route typically costs
Critical points
The CDC Dog Import Form is free and mandatory. Complete it before departure or your dog may be refused entry.
Austrian Airlines and Lufthansa both have seasonal restrictions. In high summer, hold temperatures on some aircraft can trigger cargo pet embargoes. Check your booking month carefully.
If your dog is a brachycephalic breed (French Bulldog, Pug, Bulldog, etc.) most cargo carriers will refuse it, especially on longer transatlantic routes. Speak to a specialist pet transport agent about options.
Approved carriers for this route
Not all airlines accept live animals. We book only with carriers that handle live animal cargo correctly.
Is this route really as simple as it sounds?
For most dogs, yes. Austria’s low-risk CDC status means you avoid the complicated (and expensive) requirements that apply to pets coming from high-risk countries. You do not need a rabies titre test. You do not need to reserve a facility in the US. Your dog can arrive at any US airport with no quarantine waiting for it on the other side.
The main tasks are the CDC Dog Import Form (free, online), a current microchip and rabies vaccination, and an official health certificate from an Austrian official vet issued within 10 days of travel. If those three things are in order, you are 90% of the way there.
Cats are even simpler. The US imposes no federal requirements on cats arriving from Austria. They need a health certificate to fly as cargo or in-cabin, but US entry itself is unrestricted.
What do I need to prepare on the Austria side?
Austria has a well-organised official vet system. Your pet’s EU passport documents the microchip and vaccination history; this is the core document you carry throughout the journey. For the health certificate, you need to see an official vet (Amtstierarzt) within 10 days of your departure date. The certificate confirms your pet is healthy and fit to fly.
There is no export permit required from Austria. No prior approval needed from Austrian authorities. The process is straightforward: passport in order, health certificate from official vet, and you are ready to travel.
Which airlines can I use from Vienna to the US?
Austrian Airlines flies direct to New York JFK and connects to other US cities. As a Lufthansa Group carrier, pets travel as registered cargo in a temperature-controlled hold. Lufthansa itself connects via Frankfurt to the full range of US destinations, and is one of the most established cargo carriers for pets in Europe.
Swiss, Air France, and KLM also connect Vienna to the US via their respective hubs. Multiple routing options give you flexibility on price. Getting competitive cargo quotes from two or three carriers before committing is worth the effort, especially for larger dogs with bigger crates.
One thing to plan around: summer heat in Vienna (July to August) can trigger cargo pet embargoes at certain temperature thresholds. If your move date is flexible, spring (April to June) or autumn (September to October) departures are more reliable for cargo acceptance.