Pet Transport from the Philippines to the USA

The Philippines is classified as a high-risk country for dog rabies by the CDC. Moving a dog to the USA from the Philippines requires the standard CDC Dog Import Form plus a serology test at a …

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10-18

Weeks lead time needed

Start this early minimum

Days quarantine on arrival

Very High

Route complexity

Airlines on this route

Step by step

The Philippines to United States import process

Start of planning.

Confirm ISO microchip pre-dates rabies vaccination.

Responsible: BAI NVQS-accredited vet

5+ weeks before blood draw.

Rabies vaccination. At least 30 days before CDC serology blood draw.

Responsible: BAI NVQS vet

Blood draw date determines earliest US entry.

CDC serology blood draw at CDC-approved laboratory. Must be at least 28 days before US entry.

Responsible: CDC-approved lab

Before travel.

Complete CDC Dog Import Form online.

Responsible: Owner

During waiting period.

Reserve CDC-registered facility at planned US entry airport.

Responsible: Owner or agent

4-8 weeks before travel.

Book cargo with Philippine Airlines, United, or Cathay Pacific.

Responsible: Owner or agent

Within 10 days.

BAI NVQS-accredited vet issues US-format health certificate within 10 days of US arrival. NVQS endorsement. Original only.

Responsible: BAI NVQS vet

Travel day.

Pet arrives at CDC-registered facility. CDC inspection.

Responsible: CDC facility

Requirements

United States entry requirements

Every item below must be in place before your pet can enter. We verify and track each one.

Microchip

ISO-compatible microchip. Must be implanted before the rabies vaccination.

Rabies vaccination

Required. Current valid vaccination.

Leaving Philippines

Export requirements

Health certificate

International Veterinary Health Certificate from a BAI (Bureau of Animal Industry) NVQS-accredited vet, endorsed by the BAI National Veterinary Quarantine Services (NVQS). US-compatible format. Issued within 10 days of US arrival.

Costs

What this route typically costs

CDC serology test (Philippines)

BAI NVQS health certificate and endorsement

IATA-compliant crate

Cargo fee: MNL to US hub

CDC facility reservation

Agent fee

Critical points

Philippines is high-risk for CDC. The serology test and CDC-registered facility entry are both mandatory. Neither can be skipped.

The 28-day gap between blood draw and US entry is a firm requirement. Plan the blood draw date first, then book the flight.

Philippine Airlines operates a direct MNL-LAX service. This is the most practical option for a CDC-facility entry, as LAX has a registered facility.

Airlines

Approved carriers on this route

Airline	Notes	Type
Philippine Airlines	Philippine Airlines Cargo from Manila Ninoy Aquino (MNL) to US cities. Direct MNL-LAX service and connections to other US hubs. Flag carrier and primary choice for MNL-US pet moves.	Cargo Only
United Airlines	United PetSafe cargo from MNL via Pacific hubs to US cities. Temperature-controlled. Seasonal and breed restrictions apply. Confirm routing and live animal availability.	Cargo Only
Delta	Delta Cargo from MNL via Pacific gateways to US hubs. Confirm specific routing and live animal space.	Cargo Only
Cathay Pacific	Via HKG. MNL to HKG, then onward to US cities. Strong live animal handling at Hong Kong. Well-used MNL-US routing.	Cargo Only

At a glance: Philippines to USA vs. comparable Southeast Asian routes

Requirement	Philippines to USA	Singapore to USA	Thailand to USA	Malaysia to USA
CDC risk category	High-risk	Low-risk	High-risk	High-risk
Serology test	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
CDC facility required	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
CDC Dog Import Form	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Export authority	BAI NVQS	AVS Singapore	DLD Thailand	DVS Malaysia
Complexity	Very high	Low-moderate	Very high	Very high
Minimum timeline	10-18 weeks	6-10 weeks	12-20 weeks	12-20 weeks

Singapore remains the clear outlier: its low-risk CDC status means none of the serology or facility requirements apply. Philippines, Thailand, and Malaysia all face the full high-risk process. The Philippines to USA timeline is slightly shorter than Thailand or Malaysia because the Philippines does not have a 90-day or 180-day import wait (unlike its own inbound process for pets entering the Philippines).

Airline comparison: Philippines to USA

Airline	Route	Pet policy	Transit	Notes
Philippine Airlines	MNL to LAX/other US	Cargo only	Direct (LAX) or 1 stop	Flag carrier. Direct MNL-LAX service is the most practical CDC-facility option
Cathay Pacific	MNL to US via HKG	Cargo only	1 stop (HKG)	Most common connecting routing. Strong live animal at HKG
United	MNL to US via Pacific hubs	Cargo only	1-2 stops	PetSafe. Confirm routing and live animal availability
Delta	MNL to US via Pacific hubs	Cargo only	1-2 stops	Via Pacific gateways. Confirm routing

Philippine Airlines direct to LAX is the most straightforward option if Los Angeles works for your CDC facility entry. LAX has a CDC-registered facility. For other US cities, Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong is the most reliable connecting option, with onward services to US airports including LAX, SFO, JFK, and ORD.

CDC high-risk entry: what the serology test and facility require

The Philippines’ high-risk CDC classification means the standard CDC Dog Import Form is not sufficient on its own. You need two additional steps: the serology test and the CDC facility reservation.

The serology test must be done at a CDC-approved laboratory. Blood must be drawn at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination. The result must be at least 0.5 IU/ml. The test must be completed at least 28 days before US entry. This 28-day gap is a firm requirement: it determines the earliest date your pet can enter the USA.

The CDC-registered facility receives your dog on arrival, coordinates with CDC inspectors, and releases the dog to you after clearance. This is typically same-day. You must be present at the airport to collect. Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), Seattle (SEA), Chicago (ORD), New York (JFK/EWR), and Houston (IAH) are among the airports with registered facilities. Verify the current list at cdc.gov before booking.

If your dog has a passing serology result from a previous move with no lapse in vaccination coverage, you may not need to repeat the test. Verify with your vet before assuming continuity applies.

FAQ

Common questions about this route

Yes. The Philippines is classified as high-risk for dog rabies by the CDC. A serology test at a CDC-approved laboratory is required. The result must be at least 0.5 IU/ml. Blood must be drawn at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination and at least 28 days before US entry.

You must arrive at a US airport with a CDC-registered animal care facility. Airports with facilities include Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), Seattle (SEA), Chicago (ORD), New York JFK and Newark (EWR), and Houston (IAH). Philippine Airlines flies direct to LAX, which simplifies routing if that works for your final destination. Verify the current facility list at cdc.gov before booking.

Yes. No federal documentation is required for cats entering the continental USA from the Philippines. Your airline will require a BAI NVQS health certificate from a vet, typically issued within 10 days of travel. If your destination is Hawaii, separate HDOA quarantine rules apply.

Allow 10-18 weeks from vaccination to US arrival. The minimum is approximately 10 weeks (30 days post-vaccination before blood draw, plus 28 days before US entry). BAI NVQS documentation preparation, cargo booking, CDC form completion, and facility reservation add practical time beyond the minimum.

Philippine Airlines direct cargo from Manila to Los Angeles is the most convenient option for most US-bound moves, as it avoids an intermediate transit and connects to a CDC-facility airport. Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong serves a wider range of US destinations and is the most common alternative. Both are reliable for live animal cargo.

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