AZ
Azerbaijan
✈️
US
United States

Pet Transport Azerbaijan 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
Moving a dog from Baku to the USA means dealing with the CDC’s high-risk country requirements. Azerbaijan is on the CDC list, so dogs need a serology titer, a government-endorsed Certification form, and a reservation at a CDC-registered facility. The process takes 12-16 weeks from the first vet visit to travel day. Cats are straightforward and face no CDC requirements.
Step by step

The Azerbaijan to United States process

1
Before vaccination. Record the chip number on all documents.
Microchip (ISO 11784/11785)

Responsible: Azerbaijani vet

2
After microchipping. The clock for the titer test starts here.
Rabies vaccination (dog at least 12 weeks old)

Responsible: Azerbaijani vet

3
At least 30 days after vaccination. International sample shipping required. Allow 3-5 weeks for results.
Serology titer blood draw at CDC-approved lab

Responsible: Azerbaijani vet + CDC-approved laboratory

4
After confirming titer process is underway. Book early as facilities have limited capacity.
Reserve spot at CDC-registered facility at your US arrival airport

Responsible: Owner or pet transport agent

5
Within 30 days of entry. Coordinate the government endorsement step.
Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination form: vet signs, government vet endorses

Responsible: Azerbaijani vet + State Veterinary Service official vet

6
Few days before travel. Keep receipt.
Complete CDC Dog Import Form online at cdc.gov/importation

Responsible: Owner

7
Travel day. GYD to US typically 16-22 hours via European or Turkish hub.
Travel GYD via hub to CDC-registered US airport

Responsible: Airline + owner

Checklist

United States of America: entry requirements

RequirementDetail
MicrochipRequired. ISO 11784/11785. Must be implanted before the rabies vaccination.
Rabies vaccinationRequired for dogs. First vaccination at 12+ weeks of age. 28-day post-vaccination wait before US entry.
Rabies titre testRequired for dogs from Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is on the CDC high-risk countries list. Serology titer at a CDC-approved laboratory: blood drawn at least 30 days after first vaccination, at least 28 days before entry, minimum 0.5 IU/mL. Source: CDC cdc.gov/importation/dogs, April 15, 2026.
Quarantine28-day quarantine at CDC-registered facility if no valid titer. No quarantine with a passing titer.
Import permitNot required for personal companion animals.
Health certificateCertification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form (vet-completed, government vet endorsed). Plus CDC Dog Import Form receipt.
Leaving Azerbaijan

Export requirements

RequirementDetail
Export permitNo formal export permit required for companion animals from Azerbaijan.
Health certificateVeterinary health certificate issued by an official vet in Azerbaijan, endorsed by the State Veterinary Service under the Ministry of Agriculture of Azerbaijan. For the USA, the Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form also requires endorsement by a government vet. Departure airport: Heydar Aliyev International (GYD), Baku.
Costs

What this route typically costs

1Serology titer blood draw, lab fees, international shipping: AZN 300-900 (approximately USD 175-530)
2Certification form + government vet endorsement: AZN 100-300 (approximately USD 60-175)
3CDC facility reservation and examination: USD 200-600
4Cargo GYD to US via hub: USD 700-2,200
5IATA crate: USD 80-300
6Pet transport agent (recommended): USD 400-1,100
7Total typical range: USD 1,600-4,800
Critical points

Read before you book

⚠ Azerbaijan is CDC high-risk. A standard health certificate alone does not clear US customs for a dog from Azerbaijan.
⚠ Dogs must arrive at a CDC-registered airport. Routing to any other US entry point is not permitted.
⚠ The Certification form is valid for 30 days from vet signature only. Time the endorsement carefully.
⚠ Cats from Azerbaijan have no CDC requirements. This process applies to dogs only.
Carriers

Airlines on this route

Turkish Airlines via Istanbul
GYD to IST, then transatlantic connections to JFK, LAX, ORD. Turkish Airlines Cargo handles live animals through IST.
Cargo Only
Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL)
AZAL operates routes from GYD to Moscow, London, Frankfurt, Istanbul. Check cargo pet policy and whether AZAL Cargo accepts live animals on European connections.
Cargo Only
Lufthansa via Frankfurt
Via connecting service to FRA (Frankfurt Animal Lounge), then Lufthansa Cargo to US CDC airports.
Cargo Only

What the serology titer process looks like from Baku

The titer test must go to a CDC-approved laboratory. Most are in the USA, UK, or Europe. From Baku, this means your vet draws the blood sample, packages it correctly for international shipment, and sends it to a CDC-approved lab abroad. Laboratory approval lists are available at cdc.gov/importation. Allow two to three weeks for the sample to reach the lab and results to come back.

Blood must be drawn at least 30 days after the first valid rabies vaccination. If your dog was vaccinated less than 30 days ago, you wait before drawing. If the titer passes (0.5 IU/mL or above), you can travel any time after the 28-day pre-entry window has passed. A passing titer remains valid indefinitely as long as your dog’s vaccination boosters stay current.

Azerbaijan Airlines and the Baku cargo routing

AZAL (Azerbaijan Airlines) operates from Heydar Aliyev International (GYD) in Baku, with routes to European cities including Frankfurt, London, and Moscow. Whether AZAL Cargo accepts live animals on these routes needs direct confirmation; their live animal policy is not uniformly publicised.

Turkish Airlines via Istanbul is the most reliable option for Baku-to-USA routing. IST is a major hub for Caucasus region pet cargo, and Turkish Airlines Cargo has established live animal handling across transatlantic routes. Lufthansa via Frankfurt is another consistent option, with the Frankfurt Animal Lounge providing care during transit. The US leg should terminate at JFK, LAX, ATL, ORD, or another CDC-registered airport.

FAQ

Common questions

Possibly. If your dog has a current rabies vaccination with no gaps in coverage, and a previous serology titer that passed while that vaccination was in force, the titer may still be valid. If the titer expired or coverage lapsed, you restart. Check with a pet transport agent to confirm whether your existing records satisfy the CDC requirements before committing to a travel date.
The CDC publishes a current list of approved laboratories at cdc.gov/importation. Samples from Baku typically go to labs in the UK or USA. Your vet must use the correct sample preservation method and shipping temperature. An IPATA-registered pet transport agent in Azerbaijan or your destination can help coordinate this.
Yes, the same requirements apply to any dog from Azerbaijan entering the USA, regardless of whether you already have a pet in the country. Each dog must individually satisfy the CDC high-risk country requirements.
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