PK
US

Pet Transport Pakistan to USA: CDC High-Risk Requirements and 2026 Routing

14-22 wks
Preparation needed
See key facts
Quarantine on arrival
High
Route complexity
Managed
Full door to door
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Lead time needed
14-22 weeks
Quarantine
See key facts
Route complexity
High
Airlines
4 carriers on this route
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Country and airline guides
Official rules on this page checked
Step by step

The import process, in full

1
Start of planning.
ISO-compatible microchip implanted, predating vaccination.

Responsible: Your vet

2
Serology titre blood drawn 30+ days post-vaccination, 28+ days before US entry, CDC-approved lab. OR reserve CDC facility for 28-day quarantine.

Responsible: Vet and lab

3
AQD export permit applied for, at least 6 weeks before travel.

Responsible: You or agent

4
CDC Dog Import Form online. AQD-endorsed Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form completed.

Responsible: You and vet

5
Cargo booked from LHE, KHI, or ISB to CDC-accessible US airport via Gulf hub.

Responsible: You or cargo agent

Which United States rules depend on a pet coming from Pakistan?

The United States sorts countries into 2 groups, and Pakistan falls in “High-risk countries for dog rabies”.

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

These rules apply to that group, on top of the rules every pet follows:

  • 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

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 Pakistan require before your pet leaves?

We are still checking the export rules of Pakistan against official government pages, so they are not shown here yet.

"

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

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA)
PIA does not have direct Pakistan-USA flights. US routing goes via a connecting hub. PIA to Toronto, then onward, or via European gateways. Confirm current routing options and live animal acceptance with PIA Cargo.
Cargo Only
Emirates
Via Dubai (DXB) from LHE, KHI, or ISB. Emirates SkyCargo connects to New York (JFK), Los Angeles (LAX), Houston (IAH). CDC-facility-accessible airports. Summer heat embargoes at DXB.
Cargo Only
Qatar Airways Cargo
Via Doha (DOH) from Pakistani cities to US destinations. Qatar Airways Cargo accepts pets. A reliable Gulf hub routing for Pakistan to USA pet cargo.
Cargo Only
British Airways
From LHE or ISB to London Heathrow, then onward cargo connections to US cities. Two transits but on well-established carriers.
Cargo Only
Costs

What this route typically costs

Serology titre test: USD 200-400
AQD permit and endorsement: USD 18-55
IATA crate: USD 80-300 if needed
Pet cargo Pakistan to US (via Gulf hub): USD 1,200-3,500
Agent fees: USD 250-500
Total (titre pathway): USD 1,750-4,755

Critical points

Pakistan is CDC high-risk. Dogs must arrive at a US airport with a CDC-registered facility.

There are no direct Pakistan to USA cargo flights. All routes transit through Gulf hubs (Dubai, Doha) or European hubs. This is a long journey for your pet, typically 18-24+ hours including transit.

Summer heat embargoes at Dubai (June-September) affect Emirates SkyCargo. Plan around this or use Qatar Airways or the European routing.

AQD may require animal inspection in Pakistan before issuing the export permit. Factor this into the timeline.

FAQ

Common questions

Yes. Pakistan is classified as a high-risk country for dog rabies under the CDC’s import rules. Dogs from Pakistan require the full high-risk pathway: AQD-endorsed vaccination certification, CDC Dog Import Form, and either a valid serology titre or 28-day facility quarantine. Source: CDC cdc.gov/importation/dogs, 2026.
Airports with CDC-registered animal care facilities, including New York JFK (accessible via Emirates or Qatar from Gulf hubs), Los Angeles LAX (Emirates), Houston IAH, and others. Check cdc.gov for the current approved list. JFK is the most common destination for Middle East and South Asian cargo routings.
Yes. British Airways from Lahore (LHE) or Islamabad (ISB) to London Heathrow, then onward to a US city, avoids Gulf summer heat embargoes. This adds an extra transit and extends journey time, but it is a valid option for June to September travel.
No federal requirements. Cats from Pakistan can enter any US airport without titre test, CDC facility, or quarantine. Individual US states may have their own requirements. Source: USDA APHIS.
Lahore (LHE) and Islamabad (ISB) have the strongest direct connections to London (British Airways) which then connects to the USA. Karachi (KHI) has strong Gulf connections via Emirates and Qatar. Choose based on your location and the routing that best suits your travel dates and carrier preference.
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Airline guides
  • Pakistan International Airlines (PIA)
  • Emirates
  • Qatar Airways Cargo
  • British Airways
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Sources

Requirements on this page were checked against the authorities below. Rules change, so confirm current conditions with the relevant authority before you travel.