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Pet Transport Colombia to USA: CDC High-Risk Requirements for 2026

Moving a dog or cat from Colombia to United States is very doable with the right preparation. Expect around 12-20 weeks of lead time to line up the documents and the fixed waiting …

12-20 wks
Preparation needed
None
Quarantine on arrival
Medium-High
Route complexity
Managed
Full door to door
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Lead time needed
12-20 weeks
Quarantine
None
Route complexity
Medium-High
Airlines
4 carriers on this route
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What's required
MicrochipISO-compatible microchip required for …
QuarantineNot required for dogs with a valid …
In short: Preparing to move a pet from Colombia to United States typically takes around 12-20 weeks. There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets.
Regulations checked
Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
Step by step

The import process, in full

1
Start of planning, 3-6 months before travel depending on titre approach.
Implant ISO-compatible microchip. This must predate the rabies vaccination.

Responsible: Your vet

2
3-5 months before travel.
Primary rabies vaccination administered. Note date: blood draw for titre must wait at least 30 days.

Responsible: Your vet

3
2-5 months before travel (Option A) or at booking stage (Option B).
Option A (titre test): Blood drawn at least 30 days after first valid vaccination, at a CDC-approved laboratory. Result valid if drawn at least 28 days before US entry. Source: CDC. Option B (28-day facility quarantine): Reserve a spot at a CDC-registered facility. Dog will quarantine on arrival.

Responsible: Your vet and lab (Option A), or facility coordinator (Option B)

4
6 weeks before travel.
Apply for ICA export permit via ICA portal, at least 15 days before travel.

Responsible: You or agent

5
6-8 weeks before travel.
Book cargo from Bogota (BOG) to a US airport with CDC-registered facility (e.g. MIA, JFK, ATL, IAH). Confirm live animal acceptance.

Responsible: You or cargo agent

6
Before departure.
Complete CDC Dog Import Form online. Obtain Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form (ICA-endorsed).

Responsible: You and your vet

7
Travel day.
Travel to Bogota cargo terminal. On US arrival, present all CDC documentation. Complete facility services if applicable.

Responsible: You and airline cargo team

Checklist

What your pet needs

Every item below must be completed and verified before your pet can travel. Expand each category for the detail.

Microchip
ISO-compatible microchip required for dogs. Must predate the rabies vaccination. Source: CDC.
Quarantine
Not required for dogs with a valid serology titre. 28-day quarantine at a CDC-registered facility required if no valid titre is presented. Cost is the owner's responsibility.
Export permit
ICA export permit required. Apply via ICA portal at least 15 days before travel.
Health certificate
Official Veterinary Health Certificate from an ICA-registered official vet, endorsed by ICA (Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario). For dogs going to a high-risk CDC pathway, the Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form (completed by vet, endorsed by ICA) is the key document.
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Airlines

Carriers on this route

Not all airlines accept live animals on this route. Confirm the operating carrier's current policy for every flight segment.

Avianca
Avianca operates from Bogota El Dorado (BOG) to Miami (MIA), New York (JFK), and other US cities. Avianca Cargo is experienced with Colombian animal exports and the US high-risk pathway. Must arrive at a US airport with a CDC-registered facility if no titre test.
Cargo Only
American Airlines
American Airlines flies BOG-MIA frequently. American Eagle Cargo accepts pets. Miami (MIA) has CDC-registered facilities nearby, making it a practical arrival point for high-risk country dogs.
Cargo Only
United Airlines
United operates Bogota to Houston (IAH) and other US hubs. United Cargo accepts pets. Houston (IAH) and other United hubs have CDC-registered facilities accessible.
Cargo Only
Delta Air Lines
Delta flies BOG-ATL (Atlanta) and other routes. Delta Cargo accepts pets. Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) has CDC-registered facilities nearby.
Cargo Only
Costs

What this route typically costs

Serology titre test at CDC-approved lab: USD 200-400 (Option A)
OR CDC-registered facility quarantine: USD 1,500-3,500 for 28 days (Option B)
ICA export permit and health cert: USD 80-200
Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form: USD 50-150
IATA crate: USD 80-300 if needed
Pet cargo Bogota to US city: USD 900-2,500
Agent fees: USD 200-500
Total (titre pathway): USD 1,500-3,900
Total (quarantine pathway): USD 3,000-6,500

Critical points

Colombia is a CDC high-risk country. Dogs cannot arrive at just any US airport. They must arrive at an airport with a CDC-registered animal care facility if they do not have a valid titre test. Check the CDC website for the current list of approved arrival airports.

The serology titre blood draw must happen at least 30 days after the first valid vaccination AND at least 28 days before US entry. Both time gaps must be satisfied. Source: CDC.

The Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form must be completed by the Colombian vet and endorsed by ICA. Without ICA endorsement, it is not accepted. This is the critical document beyond the CDC Dog Import Form.

Dogs from Colombia arriving with the quarantine option (no titre test) must complete the full 28 days at the CDC-registered facility at the owner's expense, and cannot fly to a different US city first. There are no domestic connections until facility services are complete.

Cats from Colombia face no federal requirements. If travelling with a cat only, the process is straightforward.

What United States requires

Bringing a pet into United States involves a fair amount of documentation. Keep everything organised and check each item against the current requirements before you book.

Avoiding the common mistakes

Ask about temperature embargoes for your travel window. Summer and winter cargo restrictions can rule out certain routes and dates entirely.

Microchip before you vaccinate. The microchip must be in place before the rabies shot for the vaccination to count, and getting this order wrong is the most common and costly mistake.

Use an official, government-authorised vet for the health certificate, not just your usual clinic. Many destinations only accept certificates signed by an approved vet.

If this is your first international move, consider an IPATA-registered pet transport agent. They handle the documents, airline booking and crate sizing, and can troubleshoot problems.

FAQ

Common questions

The CDC classifies countries based on their risk of dog rabies. Chile is considered low-risk (rabies-free or equivalent), which means simplified entry requirements. Colombia is classified as high-risk, meaning dogs from Colombia require the full documentation pathway including serology titre or facility quarantine. The classifications are based on public health data and are published at cdc.gov/importation/dogs.
Only if your dog has a valid serology titre result. Dogs from Colombia without a valid titre must arrive at a US airport where a CDC-registered animal care facility is located. The main options include Miami (MIA), New York JFK (JFK), Atlanta (ATL), and Houston (IAH). No domestic US connections before completing facility services. Source: CDC.
It is a CDC-required form for dogs from high-risk countries with a foreign-issued rabies vaccination. Your vet in Colombia completes it, and ICA (Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario) must endorse it. It captures the dog’s microchip number, vaccination date, product, and your vet’s details. Without ICA endorsement, it is not accepted at US border inspection. Source: CDC.
28 days at a CDC-registered animal care facility if no valid serology titre is presented. The owner pays all costs. Dogs cannot be released early and cannot travel domestically within the USA before completing the quarantine. This is why most owners prefer the titre test pathway.
No federal CDC or USDA requirements apply to pet cats from Colombia. Cats can enter the USA without a titre test, quarantine, or CDC facility. Individual US states may have their own requirements for cats, but federally there are no barriers. Source: USDA APHIS.
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  • American Airlines
  • United Airlines
  • Delta Air Lines
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