DO
Dominican Republic
✈️
US
United States
Pet Transport Dominican Republic to USA: 2026 Guide
12-16 weeks
Typical preparation
28 days
Quarantine on arrival
High
Route complexity
✓ Managed
Full door-to-door service
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from Dominican Republic to United States
typically takes around 12-16 weeks.
Expect 28 days of quarantine on arrival.
A rabies titre test may be required depending on your pet's origin, so check the requirements below.
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Overview
If you are relocating a pet from Dominican Republic to United States, the process is manageable once you know the sequence. Set aside roughly 12-16 weeks for this route and keep a close eye on the sequencing. A 28 day quarantine stay applies once your pet arrives.
A rabies titre test may apply depending on where your pet is coming from, so check the requirements below. Use the timeline below to plan backwards from your travel date.
Step by step
The Dominican Republic to United States process
1
First step.
Microchip (ISO 11784/11785) before vaccination
Responsible: Dominican vet
2
After chipping.
Rabies vaccination (dog at least 12 weeks old)
Responsible: Dominican vet
3
At least 30 days after vaccination. Allow 3-5 weeks for results. CDC-approved labs are listed at cdc.gov/importation.
Serology titer blood draw at CDC-approved laboratory
Responsible: Dominican vet + CDC-approved lab
4
After confirming titer process is underway. Book early, as MIA and JFK facilities have limited capacity.
Reserve CDC-registered facility at your US arrival airport
Responsible: Owner or agent
5
Within 30 days of US entry. Coordinate DIGEGA endorsement carefully.
Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination form: vet signs, DIGEGA government vet endorses
Responsible: Dominican vet + DIGEGA
6
A few days before travel.
Complete CDC Dog Import Form online at cdc.gov/importation
Responsible: Owner
7
Travel day. SDQ to MIA is approximately 3 hours direct.
Travel SDQ or POP to CDC-registered US airport. Present all documents at CDC facility.
Responsible: Airline + owner
Checklist
United States of America: entry requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Microchip | Required. ISO 11784/11785. Must be implanted before the rabies vaccination. |
| Rabies vaccination | Required for dogs. First vaccination at 12+ weeks. 28-day post-vaccination wait before US entry. |
| Rabies titre test | Required for dogs from the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic is on the CDC high-risk countries list. Serology titer at a CDC-approved lab. Blood drawn 30+ days after first vaccination and 28+ days before entry. Minimum 0.5 IU/mL. Source: CDC cdc.gov/importation/dogs, April 15, 2026. |
| Quarantine | 28-day quarantine at CDC facility if no valid titer. No quarantine with passing titer after examination. |
| Import permit | Not required for personal companion animals. |
| Health certificate | Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form (vet-completed, DIGEGA endorsed). CDC Dog Import Form receipt. |
Leaving Dominican Republic
Export requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Export permit | No formal export permit required for companion animals from the Dominican Republic. |
| Health certificate | Official veterinary health certificate from a DIGEGA-registered vet, endorsed by the Dirección General de Ganadería (DIGEGA) of the Dominican Republic's Ministry of Agriculture. For the USA, the Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form requires endorsement by a DIGEGA government vet. Departure airports: Las Américas International (SDQ), Santo Domingo, or Gregorio Luperón (POP), Puerto Plata. |
Costs
What this route typically costs
| 1 | Serology titer at CDC-approved lab (blood draw + processing): DOP 4,000-12,000 (approximately USD 70-210) |
| 2 | Certification form and DIGEGA government endorsement: DOP 2,000-6,000 (approximately USD 35-105) |
| 3 | CDC facility reservation and examination: USD 200-600 |
| 4 | Cargo SDQ to US CDC airport: USD 300-1,000 |
| 5 | IATA crate: USD 80-300 |
| 6 | Pet transport agent: USD 300-900 |
| 7 | Total typical range: USD 900-3,000 over 3-4 months |
Critical points
Read before you book
⚠ The Dominican Republic is CDC high-risk. Dogs cannot enter the USA from the Dominican Republic on a standard health certificate alone.
⚠ Must arrive at a CDC-registered airport. American Airlines via MIA and JetBlue via JFK are the most direct options from SDQ.
⚠ The Certification form is valid for 30 days from the vet's signature only. Coordinate the DIGEGA endorsement with care.
⚠ Cats have no CDC requirements. This process applies to dogs only.
⚠ Reserve the CDC facility early. MIA handles a high volume of Caribbean arrivals and slots fill up.
Carriers
Airlines on this route
American Airlines
American Airlines has direct flights from SDQ and POP to Miami (MIA), New York JFK, and other US CDC-registered airports. AA Cargo handles live animals on Caribbean routes. Small pets may travel in cabin on qualifying aircraft.
JetBlue
JetBlue connects SDQ and POP to New York JFK and Boston (BOS). Both JFK and BOS are CDC-registered airports. JetBlue allows small pets in cabin on Caribbean routes and offers cargo for larger animals.
Spirit Airlines
Spirit connects SDQ and POP to Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and other Florida gateways. Fort Lauderdale is adjacent to MIA. Check whether cargo pets are accepted on Spirit Caribbean routes.
United Airlines
United connects SDQ to Newark (EWR) and Chicago (ORD), both CDC-registered airports. United Cargo handles live animals on Caribbean routes.
United States import rules, explained
United States has a detailed set of import rules, and each one needs to be satisfied before travel. None of it is unusual, but the order and timing are what catch people out.
Practical tips for this move
Get your pet used to the travel crate weeks in advance. A calm, crate-familiar animal travels far better than one meeting the crate for the first time at the airport.
Confirm live animal acceptance on every flight segment before booking. Not all aircraft or connections take pets, and cargo terms can differ leg to leg.
Keep every original document together and take copies. Border officials want originals, and a missing signature or date can hold up clearance.
Work backwards from your travel date and add a buffer. Fixed waiting periods mean a single slipped appointment can push the whole move back by weeks.
FAQ
Common questions
CDC classifications are based on the presence of dog-mediated rabies transmission in each country, using country-specific surveillance data. Jamaica is not on the CDC high-risk list because its rabies situation was assessed differently. The Dominican Republic is on the list based on CDC’s own data. The Caribbean geography does not create a common classification. Always check the current CDC list at cdc.gov/importation/dogs before making plans, as classifications can change.
DIGEGA is the Dirección General de Ganadería, the official veterinary authority within the Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Agriculture. The CDC requires the Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form to be endorsed by the origin country’s official government veterinary authority. In the Dominican Republic, that is DIGEGA. The endorsement confirms the document is authentic and officially recognised.
Puerto Plata Gregorio Luperón International (POP) serves some US routes, including American Airlines and JetBlue services. Whether live animal cargo is accepted on specific POP routes depends on the airline and aircraft type. Confirm with the carrier. The documentation process (titer, DIGEGA endorsement, CDC facility reservation) is the same regardless of departure airport.
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