Pet Transport from Mongolia to the United States

Shipping a dog or cat from Mongolia to United States rewards owners who start planning early. Give yourself close to 12-18 weeks, as several stages run on fixed clocks that no …

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

3 carriers on this route

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In short: Preparing to move a pet from Mongolia 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 Mongolian vet (dogs)

Responsible: Licensed vet in Mongolia

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 Mongolian vet and endorsed by GAVS

Responsible: Vet and GAVS

4-6 weeks before travel

Book airline cargo or cabin space via Seoul (Korean Air or MIAT) or Istanbul (Turkish Airlines), choosing a 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, 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. Mongolia 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 GAVS in Mongolia, serves this function for dogs. Cats need no equivalent document at federal level.

Export permit

No standalone export permit for personal pets. The General Authority for Veterinary Services (GAVS), based in Ulaanbaatar, oversees veterinary export documentation.

Veterinary inspection

Clinical examination by a licensed Mongolian 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 Mongolian vet and endorsed by a government veterinary official at GAVS before travel.

Health certificate

Health certificate issued through GAVS's digital veterinary certificate system, in nationwide use since May 2019, fully rolled out from early 2020.

We handle the regulations for every animal, every country, every airline, so nothing on your Mongolia 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.

Korean Air

Runs 8 direct weekly flights between Ulaanbaatar and Seoul Incheon, then Korean Air's own extensive US network. Cabin pets under 7kg combined with carrier. Checked hold pets up to 45kg. Snub-nosed breeds restricted in the hold; prohibited breeds include Tosa, Pit Bull Terrier, Rottweiler, and several flat-faced dog and cat breeds.

Cabin and Cargo

MIAT Mongolian Airlines

Operates 25 direct weekly flights from Ulaanbaatar to Seoul, more frequent than Korean Air, plus its own long-haul 787 service to Istanbul for a Turkish Airlines connection to the US. Cabin pets under 5kg. Hold pets up to 42kg combined weight. 18-breed brachycephalic exclusion list applies to the hold, covering Boxer, Bulldog, Pug, Shih Tzu, Cane Corso, Mastiff and others.

Cabin and Cargo

Turkish Airlines

Ulaanbaatar to Istanbul on MIAT or Turkish Airlines, then Turkish Airlines' own single-carrier connection to major US gateways. Cabin pets under 8kg; brachycephalic breeds excluded from cabin and hold since October 2021. Cargo hold via Turkish Cargo, flat USD 150 fee up to 50kg.

Cabin and Cargo

Costs

What this route typically costs

Microchip and rabies vaccination in Mongolia: approx. MNT 150,000-300,000

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

GAVS 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, Ulaanbaatar to a US gateway via Seoul or Istanbul: USD 700-1,800

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

Pet transport agent fee, strongly recommended given limited routing and the arrival-airport restriction: USD 400-900

Critical points

Mongolia 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, a genuine difference worth knowing if you're moving a mixed-species household.

There are no direct flights from Ulaanbaatar to the United States. Seoul is the dominant connection point, served by 25 weekly MIAT flights and 8 weekly Korean Air flights, both feeding onward US connections. Istanbul via MIAT or Turkish Airlines is the main alternative.

Air China suspended the transport of dogs, including pet and service dogs, on flights to the United States from 1 February 2025. A Beijing routing that might otherwise look convenient does not work for a dog on this leg of the journey.

If your dog does not have a valid titre test, the flight must land at the specific US airport with a CDC-registered facility, with no domestic connections beforehand. Confirm facility availability before booking, since Ulaanbaatar's limited routing options narrow your choices further if this restriction applies.

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

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.

Check the airline’s crate size and labelling rules early. An undersized or wrongly labelled crate is a frequent reason pets are refused at check-in.

Ask about temperature embargoes for your travel window. Summer and winter cargo restrictions can rule out certain routes and dates entirely.

Book the titre test laboratory well ahead. Approved labs have limited slots and the sample takes time to process, so this is not something to leave to the final weeks.

FAQ

Common questions

No. Ulaanbaatar has no direct US service. Seoul is the main connection point, served by 25 weekly MIAT flights and 8 weekly Korean Air flights, both feeding onward Korean Air connections to major US cities. Istanbul via MIAT or Turkish Airlines is the main alternative.

Not currently. Air China suspended the transport of dogs, including pet and service dogs, on flights to the United States from 1 February 2025. This applies to dogs specifically; check directly with Air China regarding cats given how recently this changed.

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

Your dog can still enter the US but must complete 28-day quarantine at a CDC-registered animal care facility at your own expense, and the flight must land at the specific airport hosting that facility with no domestic connection beforehand. Given Mongolia’s limited routing through Seoul or Istanbul, most owners find the titre test route more practical.

Allow 12 to 18 weeks as a realistic minimum. The titre test alone needs a 30-day wait after vaccination before the blood draw, plus at least 28 days between the result and travel. Add time to confirm Seoul or Istanbul connections and, if your dog is a restricted breed, to check MIAT’s and Korean Air’s cargo hold exclusions before booking.

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Airline guides

Korean Air
MIAT Mongolian Airlines
Turkish Airlines

Breed guides

Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.

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Pet Transport from Mongolia 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