Pet Transport from Moldova to the United States

Moving a dog or cat from Moldova to United States is very doable with the right preparation. Give yourself close to 12-18 weeks, as several stages run on fixed clocks that no agent …

12-18 wks

Preparation needed

None

Quarantine on arrival

Very High

Route complexity

Managed

Full door to door

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Lead time needed

12-18 weeks

Quarantine

None

Route complexity

Very High

Airlines

4 carriers on this route

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In short: Preparing to move a pet from Moldova to United States typically takes around 12-18 weeks. There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets. A rabies titre test may be required depending on your pet's origin, so check the requirements below.

Regulations checked July 2026

Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team

Step by step

The import process, in full

As early as possible; the 28-day and 30-day CDC clocks both start from this vaccination date

Microchip implant and rabies vaccination at a Moldovan vet (dogs)

Responsible: Licensed vet in Moldova

At least 30 days after vaccination, and the result must land at least 28 days before US entry

Rabies titre test blood draw at a CDC-approved laboratory

Responsible: Vet plus CDC-approved laboratory

At least 30 days before travel if this path is chosen

Decide and book a CDC-registered animal care facility reservation if opting for 28-day quarantine instead of the titre route

Responsible: Owner

Before travel; generates a confirmation used at check-in and on arrival

Complete the CDC Dog Import Form online (dogs only)

Responsible: Owner

Single-use form, valid 30 days from the vet's signature

Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form completed by the Moldovan vet and endorsed by ANSA

Responsible: Vet and ANSA

4-6 weeks before travel

Book airline cargo or cabin space, choosing a route and US arrival airport that fits your documentation status

Responsible: Owner or pet transport agent

On arrival

Arrival: if using the titre route, land at any airport with CBP inspection. If relying on quarantine, you must land at the specific airport where your CDC-registered facility is located, with no domestic connections beforehand

Responsible: CDC, CBP and owner

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

Required for dogs, must be implanted before the rabies vaccination or the vaccination does not count. Not a federal requirement for cats, but airlines require one regardless of species.

Rabies vaccination

Dogs only. Moldova is a CDC high-risk country for dog rabies, so dogs need either a US-recognised foreign rabies vaccination plus a passing titre test, or 28-day quarantine at a CDC-registered facility on arrival. Cats have no federal rabies vaccination requirement. Source: CDC, cdc.gov/importation.

Rabies titre test

Required for dogs unless the owner accepts 28-day quarantine instead. Blood drawn at least 30 days after the first vaccination and at least 28 days before US entry, tested at a CDC-approved laboratory. Not required for cats.

Quarantine

No quarantine for dogs with a valid passing titre test and complete documentation, and no quarantine at all for cats. Dogs without a valid titre face mandatory 28-day quarantine at a CDC-registered animal care facility, entirely at the owner's expense.

Import permit

No formal import permit. The CDC Dog Import Form, completed online before travel, is the required registration for every dog. Not required for cats.

Health certificate

No standalone US health certificate requirement for personal pets. The Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form, endorsed by ANSA in Moldova, serves this function for dogs. Cats need no equivalent document at federal level.

Export permit

No standalone export permit for personal pets. ANSA (National Food Safety Agency, ansa.gov.md) oversees the veterinary export process.

Veterinary inspection

Clinical examination by a licensed Moldovan vet close to travel, confirming fitness to fly and recording microchip and vaccination details.

Government endorsement

The Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form must be completed by a Moldovan vet and endorsed by a government veterinary official at ANSA before travel.

Health certificate

Health certificate issued by an ANSA-endorsed vet, dated close to departure. No standalone USDA-style endorsement process exists on the Moldova side; ANSA performs the government endorsement role.

We handle the regulations for every animal, every country, every airline, so nothing on your Moldova to United States move gets missed.

Pet Transport Global

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.

Turkish Airlines

Chisinau to Istanbul, then a single-carrier connection to US gateways including New York JFK and Chicago O'Hare. Cabin pets under 8kg accepted (brachycephalic breeds excluded from cabin and hold since October 2021). Cargo hold via Turkish Cargo, flat USD 150 fee regardless of crate weight tier up to 50kg. Ground temperature embargo applies between roughly May and September when any airport on the route exceeds 29C.

Cabin and Cargo

Austrian Airlines

Chisinau to Vienna on Austrian's own network, with Austrian's own long-haul services from Vienna to several US cities including Newark and Chicago, keeping the pet on a single carrier's handling chain rather than an interline transfer. Cabin pets under 8kg; hold pets up to 14kg per animal, two animals maximum per container. Brachycephalic breeds excluded from the hold.

Cabin and Cargo

Lufthansa

Chisinau to Frankfurt or Munich, then Lufthansa's extensive US network. Cabin pets up to 8kg. All brachycephalic dog and cat breeds have been banned from the cargo hold since 1 January 2020, they may only fly in the cabin under the weight limit. Seasonal heat embargoes apply on some southern routes.

Cabin and Cargo

LOT Polish Airlines

Chisinau to Warsaw, then LOT's direct routes to New York JFK, Chicago and Newark. Cabin pets up to 8kg on B787/B737 aircraft. Live animal cargo must be booked through LOT Cargo and an approved shipping agent rather than the standard ticket booking system.

Cabin and Cargo

Costs

What this route typically costs

Microchip and rabies vaccination in Moldova: approx. MDL 800-1,600

Rabies titre test, blood draw and CDC-approved laboratory fee: approx. EUR 90-160

ANSA endorsement of the Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form: approx. EUR 40-90

IATA-compliant travel crate: USD 100-350 depending on size

Airline cabin or cargo fees, Chisinau to a US gateway via Istanbul, Vienna, Frankfurt or Warsaw: USD 400-1,200

28-day CDC-registered facility quarantine, only if no valid titre test: USD 2,000-4,000

Pet transport agent fee, recommended given the CDC arrival-airport restriction: USD 350-800

Critical points

Moldova is on the CDC's high-risk list for dog rabies. This applies to dogs only; cats face no federal rabies requirement entering the US at all, a real practical difference if you're moving a mixed-species household.

There are no direct flights from Chisinau to the United States. Every route needs at least one connection, via Istanbul, Vienna, Frankfurt or Warsaw. If your dog does not have a valid titre test, it must arrive at the specific US airport with a CDC-registered facility, with no domestic connections permitted, which narrows your usable routing further.

The Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form is single-use and valid only 30 days from the vet's signature. Time the ANSA endorsement to sit inside your actual travel window, not before it.

Confirm CDC-registered facility availability and airport before booking flights if you are not doing the titre test. Facilities have limited capacity and reservations should be made well ahead of the 28-day quarantine start date.

What United States requires

Getting a pet into United States means meeting a demanding set of rules with no shortcuts. Start from the earliest deadline and work forward from there.

Avoiding the common mistakes

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.

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.

FAQ

Common questions

Yes. The CDC classifies Moldova as high-risk for dog rabies, which applies to dogs only. Dogs need a Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form endorsed by ANSA, plus either a passing titre test or 28-day quarantine at a CDC-registered facility. Cats face no federal rabies requirement entering the US at all.

No. Chisinau has no direct US service. Every route connects at least once, commonly via Istanbul (Turkish Airlines), Vienna (Austrian Airlines), Frankfurt or Munich (Lufthansa), or Warsaw (LOT Polish Airlines).

Your dog can still enter the US, but must complete 28-day quarantine at a CDC-registered animal care facility, entirely at your expense, and the flight must land at the specific airport where that facility is located with no domestic connection beforehand. Given Chisinau’s lack of direct US flights, most owners find the titre test route simpler.

No. APHIS Veterinary Services has no federal animal health requirements for cats entering the United States from any country. The CDC’s high-risk country rules, titre test and quarantine requirements apply to dogs only.

It’s single-use and valid for 30 days from the date the Moldovan vet signs it. Time the ANSA endorsement so it falls inside your actual travel window rather than well before it, or you’ll need the form redone.

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Airline guides

Turkish Airlines
Austrian Airlines
Lufthansa
LOT Polish Airlines

Breed guides

Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.

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Pet Transport from Moldova to the United States

The import process, in full

What your pet needs

Carriers on this route

What this route typically costs

Critical points

What United States requires

Avoiding the common mistakes

Common questions

Move your pet

Airline guides

Breed guides

Get a free pet transport quote