Pet Transport Ghana to USA: CDC High-Risk Pathway and Accra Cargo Options 2026

Dog has been in one of these within 6 months: rabies vaccination mandatory. US-vaccinated dogs need USDA-endorsed CDC certification form; foreign-vaccinated dogs need foreign certification form, CDC-approved titre or 28-day quarantine, facility reservation and arrival at that facility's airport. Official source

• Quarantine: Without a valid titre, the dog is admitted only after 28 days' quarantine at a CDC-registered animal care facility; this can be shortened if criteria are met. Applies to foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries without a valid titre.
  Entry Requirements for Foreign-Vaccinated Dogs from High-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026
• Quarantine: All foreign-vaccinated high-risk dogs need a reservation at a CDC-registered animal care facility before entry, where they are examined and revaccinated with a US-licensed rabies vaccine. Applies to foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries.
  Entry Requirements for Foreign-Vaccinated Dogs from High-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026
• Quarantine: The 28-day CDC facility quarantine may be shortened only if all of these are met: personal pet or service dog; documentation of at least 2 rabies vaccines; healthy on exam; the facility gets CDC approval for a prospective serologic monitoring (PSM) assessment; the dog gets a US-issued rabies vaccine under PSM; and a titre is obtained from a CDC-approved US lab (CDC FAQ updated 27 August 2026). Applies to foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries without a valid titre.
  Frequently Asked Questions on Dog Importations, checked 2 October 2026
• Rabies titre test: Foreign-vaccinated high-risk dogs need a passing rabies serology titre from a CDC-approved laboratory; blood drawn at least 30 days after the first valid vaccine and at least 28 days before entry. Applies to foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries.
  Entry Requirements for Foreign-Vaccinated Dogs from High-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026
• Rabies titre test: Passing titre results are valid for life while vaccination does not lapse and the lab remains approved. Applies to foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries.
  Entry Requirements for Foreign-Vaccinated Dogs from High-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026
• Rabies titre test: Not required: US-vaccinated dogs returning from a high-risk country need valid (unexpired) documentation of a US-issued rabies vaccination, not a titre. If that documentation is invalid, the foreign-vaccinated rules (including titre or 28-day quarantine) apply. Applies to US-vaccinated dogs returning from high-risk countries.
  Frequently Asked Questions on Dog Importations, checked 2 October 2026
• Health certificate: Foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries need the Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form, completed by a vet and endorsed by an official government vet of the departure country. Applies to foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries.
  Entry Requirements for Foreign-Vaccinated Dogs from High-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026
• Health certificate: That form must be completed no more than 30 days before travel, is single use and is valid 30 days from the vet's signature. Applies to foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries.
  Entry Requirements for Foreign-Vaccinated Dogs from High-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026
• Health certificate: US-vaccinated dogs returning from high-risk countries need the Certification of U.S.-Issued Rabies Vaccination form, completed by a USDA-accredited vet and USDA-endorsed before the dog leaves the US (at least 28 days after a first vaccine). Page updated 28 April 2026. Applies to US-vaccinated dogs returning from high-risk countries.
  Entry Requirements for U.S.-Vaccinated Dogs from High-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026
• Health certificate: USDA-endorsed export health certificates issued after 31 July 2025 are no longer accepted for re-entry; the CDC certification form is needed instead. Applies to US-vaccinated dogs returning from high-risk countries.
  Entry Requirements for U.S.-Vaccinated Dogs from High-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026
• Rabies vaccination: For high-risk dogs the first rabies vaccine must be given at or after 12 weeks (84 days) of age; earlier vaccines are not accepted. Applies to foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries.
  Entry Requirements for Foreign-Vaccinated Dogs from High-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026
• How your pet may travel: Foreign-vaccinated high-risk dogs must arrive by air; only service dogs (14 CFR 382.3) may arrive by sea. Applies to foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries.
  Entry Requirements for Foreign-Vaccinated Dogs from High-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026
• Arrival points and notice: Foreign-vaccinated high-risk dogs must arrive at the airport where their CDC-registered facility is. CDC list (updated 1 Sept 2026): Atlanta (ATL), Dallas (DFW), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), New York (JFK), Philadelphia (PHL), Seattle (SEA, cargo only), Washington DC (IAD). Applies to foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries.
  CDC-registered Animal Care Facilities, checked 2 October 2026
• Arrival points and notice: There are no CDC-registered facilities in Alaska, Hawaii or US territories, so foreign-vaccinated high-risk dogs cannot enter the US through those places. Applies to foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries.
  Frequently Asked Questions on Dog Importations, checked 2 October 2026
• Arrival points and notice: US-vaccinated dogs returning from high-risk countries may arrive at any airport, land border or seaport matching the receipt. Applies to US-vaccinated dogs returning from high-risk countries.
  Entry Requirements for U.S.-Vaccinated Dogs from High-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026
• Arrival points and notice: Foreign-vaccinated dogs that have been in a high-risk country in the past 6 months cannot enter at a land border crossing (Canada or Mexico). Applies to foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries.
  Frequently Asked Questions on Dog Importations, checked 2 October 2026
• Microchip: For dogs from high-risk countries the chip must be implanted before the rabies vaccine, otherwise the vaccine is invalid. Applies to foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries.
  Entry Requirements for Foreign-Vaccinated Dogs from High-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026

• Minimum age: Every dog must be at least 6 months old on entry or return to the US.
  Entry Requirements for Dogs from Dog-Rabies Free or Low-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026
• Minimum age: Not listed: cats. CDC's cat section requires only that cats appear healthy on arrival (they may be inspected, examined at the owner's cost if ill, or refused if they show a zoonotic disease); rabies vaccination proof is not required. APHIS states it has no animal health requirements for pet cats (https://www.aphis.usda.gov/pet-travel/another-country-to-us-import/cats). Neither sets a minimum age; destination states may.
  Bringing an Animal into the U.S., checked 2 October 2026

1. Export permit: A VSD export permit is needed, and it is only issued once the destination country's requirements are met. Applies to dogs and cats exported from Ghana.
   Export Requirements | Veterinary Services Department, checked 1 October 2026
2. Export health certificate: The application for the export permit / veterinary health certificate goes to the Chief Veterinary Officer, VSD; the VSD treats the export permit and veterinary health certificate as one document. Exporters must also register with the VSD. Applies to pets exported from Ghana.
   Export Requirements | Veterinary Services Department, checked 1 October 2026
3. Other conditions: VSD general export requirements: deworming at least 5 to 10 days before departure, and vaccination against distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, leptospirosis, parainfluenza and rabies. The VSD also lists extra steps for the EU, South Africa and the USA, but the destination's own rules govern those. Applies to dogs and cats exported from Ghana.
   Export Requirements | Veterinary Services Department, checked 6 October 2026
4. Other conditions: Exporters must register with the VSD; other regulatory clearances may be needed depending on the animal. Applies to all animal exports from Ghana.
   Export Requirements | Veterinary Services Department, checked 1 October 2026