Pet Transport from India to the United States

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: Not required: AQCS's full list of requirements for exporting a pet dog or cat contains no Indian export permit or licence; only the importing country's own permit, if it has one. Applies to dogs and cats leaving India.
   Export of pets (Dog & Cats), checked 1 October 2026
2. Export health certificate: For export, the owner takes the pet and documents (originals and copies) to the AQCS quarantine office 7 days before embarkation, with a prior appointment, to obtain the NOC (export certificate). Applies to dogs and cats leaving India.
   Export of pets (Dog & Cats), checked 1 October 2026
3. Export health certificate: A fit-to-fly veterinary health certificate from a local registered vet is required, plus microchip certificate, vaccination details, owner's passport and ticket, and any importing-country requirements (import permit, titre test). Applies to dogs and cats leaving India.
   Export of pets (Dog & Cats), checked 1 October 2026
4. Export health certificate: The AQCS export certificate is valid for 10 days from issue or examination. Applies to dogs and cats leaving India.
   Export of pets (Dog & Cats), checked 1 October 2026
5. Export health certificate: The document is the AQCS 'Certificate of Health for Export (Pet Animals)', normally issued the same day. Applies to dogs and cats leaving India.
   Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), checked 1 October 2026
6. Other conditions: AQCS charges Rs 500 per export certification (DAHD order effective 1 May 2025). Applies to dogs and cats leaving India.
   Processing fees and quarantine accommodation charges w.e.f. 01.05.2025 (order of 28 April 2025), checked 1 October 2026
7. Other conditions: A separate application form is needed for each pet; if the pet is too young for a vaccination, the mother's vaccination record must be produced. Applies to dogs and cats leaving India.
   Export of pets (Dog & Cats), checked 1 October 2026