Pet Transport from North Macedonia to the United States

Getting a pet from North Macedonia to United States is a step by step process, and each stage has its own timing. This is a middle of the road route, and about 4-8 weeks of …

4-8 wks

Preparation needed

None

Quarantine on arrival

Moderate

Route complexity

Managed

Full door to door

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Lead time needed

4-8 weeks

Quarantine

None

Route complexity

Moderate

Airlines

4 carriers on this route

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In short: Preparing to move a pet from North Macedonia to United States typically takes around 4-8 weeks. There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets. A rabies titre test is not required.

Regulations checked July 2026

Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team

Step by step

The import process, in full

First step, before any vaccination.

Implant microchip (if not already done)

Responsible: Your vet in North Macedonia

After the microchip, at least a few weeks before travel.

Rabies vaccination (recommended even though not CDC-mandated)

Responsible: Vet in North Macedonia

Any time before travel; free, valid 6 months, allows multiple entries.

Complete the CDC Dog Import Form online

Responsible: You

Close to travel date, since airlines and transit countries expect one even though the CDC doesn't require it for low-risk dogs.

Obtain a general veterinary health certificate

Responsible: Vet in North Macedonia

4 to 6 weeks ahead, since no direct Skopje-US route exists.

Book a connecting flight with a cargo-capable carrier

Responsible: You, or an IPATA-registered pet transport agent

Before booking cargo space.

Confirm crate meets IATA Live Animals Regulations

Responsible: You

No facility restriction applies to low-risk-origin dogs.

Travel day: arrive at any US airport, seaport, or land border crossing

Responsible: You + airline

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. Universal scanner detectable. Must be implanted BEFORE rabies vaccination, or the vaccination is not considered valid.

Rabies vaccination

Not required by the CDC for dogs from low-risk countries, though strongly recommended given onward connections and airline rules. No federal requirement for cats.

Rabies titre test

Not required. North Macedonia does not appear on the CDC's high-risk list for dog rabies, so the serology titre pathway does not apply to this route.

Quarantine

No routine quarantine required. North Macedonia is classified low-risk under the CDC's binary system, so dogs can enter without a facility stay.

Import permit

Not a formal permit. Every dog needs a completed CDC Dog Import Form, free, submitted online before travel.

Health certificate

No federally mandated certificate for low-risk dogs, but a general veterinary health certificate is expected by most airlines and by any transit country en route.

Export permit

No formal export permit required for companion pets leaving North Macedonia. Check current guidance with the Food and Veterinary Agency (FVA) before travel.

Veterinary inspection

Pre-export clinical check confirming the animal is fit to fly, carried out by an authorised vet.

Health certificate

Export health certificate issued by an FVA-authorised veterinarian, dated close to the travel date.

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

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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

Direct flights from Istanbul to several US cities including New York JFK, Chicago O'Hare, and Washington Dulles. Live animals route through Istanbul's dedicated pet lounge before the transatlantic leg.

Cabin and Cargo

Lufthansa

Connects via Frankfurt or Munich to multiple US cities. Lufthansa Cargo has an established live animal transport programme, though brachycephalic breeds face restrictions.

Cabin and Cargo

British Airways

Connects via London Heathrow. All pets travel as cargo through IAG Cargo and its ground agent PetAir UK, not through the passenger cabin.

Cargo Only

United Airlines

Flies Vienna-Newark and other relevant transatlantic legs, but its general cargo pet programme is currently suspended. Cabin pets only, under 8kg. Not usable for a crated pet on this route.

None

Costs

What this route typically costs

Vet health certificate and microchip check: MKD 2,500 to MKD 5,000 (approximately USD 45 to USD 90)

Rabies vaccination, if not already current: MKD 1,500 to MKD 3,000 (approximately USD 27 to USD 54)

IATA-compliant travel crate: USD 90 to USD 380

Connecting cargo fee, Skopje via Istanbul or Frankfurt to a US city: USD 600 to USD 2,200, depending on route, weight, and season

CDC Dog Import Form: free

Pet transport agent fee (recommended, since no direct flight exists): USD 450 to USD 1,200

Total typical range: USD 1,400 to USD 4,000 all in, plus a minimum 4 to 8 week preparation period

Critical points

No direct flights connect Skopje to the United States. Every pet needs at least one international connection, so check the transit country's own animal rules too, not just US entry rules.

United Airlines has suspended its general cargo pet programme. Its transatlantic capacity from Vienna or Frankfurt is not currently bookable for a crated pet.

Rabies vaccination isn't CDC-mandatory for low-risk dogs, but get it anyway. Airlines and most transit countries require proof regardless of US rules.

Cats face almost no federal requirement at the US border. Check your arrival state's own rules, since these vary and aren't covered by CDC policy.

The rules for bringing a pet into United States

United States keeps its requirements reasonable, though a few steps have fixed timing. Map those out first and the rest falls into place.

How to keep this move on track

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

Microchip before you vaccinate. The microchip must be in place before the rabies shot for the vaccination to count, and getting this order wrong is the most common and costly mistake.

Use an official, government-authorised vet for the health certificate, not just your usual clinic. Many destinations only accept certificates signed by an approved vet.

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.

FAQ

Common questions

No. The titre test only applies to dogs from countries on the CDC’s high-risk list, and North Macedonia isn’t on it. Your dog still needs a microchip and, in practice, a current rabies vaccination, even though the CDC doesn’t legally require the vaccination for low-risk-origin dogs.

No. There’s no scheduled nonstop service between Skopje and any US city. Every pet travels via a connection, most commonly through Istanbul, Frankfurt, Munich, or London, on a carrier with an established live animal cargo programme.

Not as cargo. United Airlines currently accepts only cabin pets under 8kg and has suspended its general cargo pet service. If your pet needs to travel as cargo, book with Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, or another carrier with an active cargo pet programme instead.

Any of them. Because North Macedonia is a low-risk country, your dog can arrive at any US airport, seaport, or land border crossing. There’s no requirement to land at a specific CDC-registered facility, unlike the rule for high-risk-country dogs.

Very little at the federal level. The CDC has almost no import requirements for cats regardless of origin country. Check your arrival state’s own animal import rules, since some states add their own conditions that the federal government doesn’t cover.

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to United States.

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Airline guides

Turkish Airlines
Lufthansa
British Airways
United Airlines

Breed guides

Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.

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Pet Transport from North Macedonia to the United States

The import process, in full

What your pet needs

Carriers on this route

What this route typically costs

Critical points

The rules for bringing a pet into United States

How to keep this move on track

Common questions

Move your pet

Airline guides

Breed guides

Get a free pet transport quote