IE
US
Pet Transport from Ireland to the United States
3-6
Weeks lead time needed
Start this early minimum
See key facts
Quarantine on arrival
Low
Route complexity
4
Airlines on this route
Regulations checked
Step by step
The Ireland to United States import process
01
First step. Must be implanted before any rabies vaccination.
Microchip your pet (ISO 11784/11785)
Responsible: Your veterinarian
02
After microchip. Minimum 21 days before travel for first-time vaccination.
Rabies vaccination (dogs) from a DAFM-registered vet
Responsible: Your veterinarian
03
Submit via CDC Traveler portal at least 1-2 days before departure. Print confirmation.
Register and complete CDC Dog Import Form (dogs only)
Responsible: You (or your pet transport agent)
04
4-6 weeks before travel. Cargo space is limited and fills quickly in peak season.
Book cargo space with chosen airline
Responsible: You (or your pet transport agent)
05
At least 3-4 weeks before travel. Allow time for your pet to adjust to the crate.
Source an IATA-compliant travel crate, correct size for your pet
Responsible: You
06
3-4 hours before departure for cargo pets.
Travel day: present all documents at cargo desk
Responsible: You and the airline cargo desk
Which United States rules depend on a pet coming from Ireland?
The United States sorts countries into 2 groups, and Ireland falls in “Dog rabies-free or low-risk countries”.
Dog has been only in these countries for 6 months before entry: CDC Dog Import Form receipt (valid 6 months), age 6 months, microchip, healthy; any airport, seaport or land border. Official source
These rules apply to that group, on top of the rules every pet follows:
- Import permit: For dogs only in rabies-free or low-risk countries, the receipt is valid 6 months unless the dog visits a high-risk country or a different low-risk country in that time. Applies to dogs from rabies-free or low-risk countries.
Entry Requirements for Dogs from Dog-Rabies Free or Low-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026 - Health certificate: No document beyond the CDC Dog Import Form receipt is listed for dogs only in rabies-free or low-risk countries. Applies to dogs from rabies-free or low-risk countries.
Entry Requirements for Dogs from Dog-Rabies Free or Low-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026 - Health certificate: Not required: CDC does not require a general health certificate for pets (cats, and dogs only in rabies-free or low-risk countries). Airlines and some states may still ask for one.
Bringing an Animal into the U.S., checked 2 October 2026 - Rabies vaccination: CDC recommends, but for dogs only from rabies-free or low-risk countries does not list as an entry requirement, rabies vaccination. Applies to dogs from rabies-free or low-risk countries.
Bringing a Dog into the United States, checked 2 October 2026 - How your pet may travel: Not required: no federal restriction on mode of travel for dogs only in rabies-free or low-risk countries; they may arrive by air, sea or land. Cabin, checked baggage or cargo is an airline matter. (Seattle's CDC facility takes cargo-only reservations, and the LAX facilities prefer cargo, for high-risk dogs.) Applies to dogs from rabies-free or low-risk countries.
Entry Requirements for Dogs from Dog-Rabies Free or Low-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026 - Arrival points and notice: Dogs only in rabies-free or low-risk countries may enter at any airport, seaport or land border. Applies to dogs from rabies-free or low-risk countries.
Entry Requirements for Dogs from Dog-Rabies Free or Low-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026
One rule for every pet entering the United States decides whether yours can travel at all:
- 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
The rules that apply to every pet entering the United States, whatever the origin, are listed with their official sources in our United States guide.
What does Ireland require before your pet leaves?
- Export permit: Not required: DAFM's list of what an owner needs to travel or relocate out of the EU with a pet contains only contacting the destination for its certification requirements, following its health certificate instructions, contacting the Regional Veterinary Office at least 2 months ahead, allowing time for tests and making sure the pet qualifies to return; no Irish export permit is listed. Applies to dogs and cats leaving Ireland for non-EU countries.
Pet Travel (last updated 5 August 2026), checked 1 October 2026 - Export health certificate: For pets leaving Ireland for non-EU destinations, the private vet prepares the pet and the health certificate, then the owner takes it to the local Regional Veterinary Office (DAFM) for a government stamp and signature. DAFM does not hold destination requirements. Applies to dogs and cats leaving Ireland for non-EU countries.
Pet Travel (last updated 5 August 2026), checked 1 October 2026 - Export health certificate: Contact the Regional Veterinary Office at least two months before travel, or DAFM may not be able to sign. Applies to dogs and cats leaving Ireland for non-EU countries.
Pet Travel (last updated 5 August 2026), checked 1 October 2026
Costs
What this route typically costs
Aer Lingus or other airline transatlantic cargo fee: typically EUR 400-900 depending on crate dimensions and weight
IATA-compliant travel crate: EUR 80-300 depending on size
Veterinary fees for health certificate, vaccination check, microchip confirmation: EUR 100-250
DAFM official vet appointment for AHC: EUR 80-180
CDC Dog Import Form registration: no charge at time of publication
Pet transport agent fee if used: EUR 300-800 for Ireland-USA coordination
Critical points
Dogs must be at least 6 months old to enter the USA under CDC rules (updated August 2024). Verify current guidance at cdc.gov/importation before travel.
Aer Lingus does not carry pets in cabin on any transatlantic route. Cargo is the only option from Dublin on direct services.
Always confirm pet cargo space with the airline separately from your passenger booking. They are two different reservations.
Airlines
Approved carriers on this route
| Airline | Notes | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Aer Lingus | Direct transatlantic routes from Dublin to Boston, New York JFK, Chicago, and Los Angeles. No cabin pets on transatlantic routes. Pets travel as manifest cargo; book through Aer Lingus Cargo or an approved IATA cargo agent. | Cargo Only |
| Delta Air Lines | Transatlantic cargo service from Dublin via partner routings. Pets travel as manifest cargo in a temperature-controlled hold. Seasonal and breed restrictions apply; confirm availability with Delta Cargo directly. | Cargo Only |
| American Airlines | Cargo service for pets on transatlantic routes. No cabin pets on flights from Ireland. Book through American Airlines Cargo. Brachycephalic breeds subject to restrictions. | Cargo Only |
| United Airlines | PetSafe cargo programme available on transatlantic routings. Pets travel in a climate-controlled hold. Confirm routing via Dublin and check seasonal embargoes before booking. | Cargo Only |
FAQ
Common questions about this route
No quarantine is required for pets arriving from Ireland. Ireland’s rabies-free status means pets that meet the standard CDC entry requirements can proceed directly to their destination without any holding period on arrival.
No. Aer Lingus and all major carriers operating transatlantic routes from Dublin do not permit pets in the cabin. Your cat will travel as manifest cargo in a temperature-controlled hold. Book cargo space separately from your passenger ticket.
Book at least four to six weeks before travel. In summer (June to August) book earlier, as transatlantic cargo capacity fills well in advance. Confirm the booking with the airline cargo team directly, separate from your passenger flight booking.
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Requirements on this page were checked against the authorities below. Rules change, so confirm current conditions with the relevant authority before you travel.
- USDA APHIS · United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
- CDC · United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, dog import rules
- DAFM · Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Ireland
- IATA · International Air Transport Association, Live Animals Regulations