The journey from Senegal to United States for a pet is straightforward to plan once the key dates are mapped out. Plan for approximately 16-20 weeks. This is a rigorous route with …
Rabies vaccinationRequired. Minimum age 12 weeks at first …
Rabies titre testRequired for dogs without a valid …
QuarantineRequired for dogs without a valid titre …
Import permitNot a formal permit. Every dog needs a …
Health certificateCertification of Foreign Rabies …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from Senegal to United States
typically takes around 16-20 weeks.
Expect 28 days of quarantine on arrival.
A rabies titre test may be required depending on your pet's origin, so check the requirements below.
Regulations checked
Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
Step by step
The import process, in full
1
First step, before any vaccination.
Implant microchip
Responsible: Your vet in Senegal
2
After the microchip. At least 28 days must pass before US entry.
Rabies vaccination
Responsible: DSV-authorised vet
3
Decide early, since the titre route needs significant lead time.
Decide: titre test route, or 28-day CDC facility quarantine
Responsible: You
4
At least 30 days after vaccination and at least 28 days before travel.
Serology titre blood draw, shipped to a CDC-approved laboratory
Responsible: Your vet + approved laboratory
5
Well ahead of travel; facility space is limited.
If no valid titre: reserve a place at a CDC-registered animal care facility
Responsible: You
6
Vet-completed and government-endorsed shortly before travel; valid 30 days, single use.
Complete the Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form
Responsible: DSV-authorised vet
7
Before travel.
Complete the CDC Dog Import Form online
Responsible: You
8
No domestic connections permitted before the facility clears your dog.
Travel day: arrive by air at a US airport with a CDC-registered animal care facility
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 invalid.
Rabies vaccination
Required. Minimum age 12 weeks at first vaccination. At least 28 days must pass between the first valid vaccination and US entry.
Rabies titre test
Required for dogs without a valid US-issued rabies vaccination. Serology titre from a CDC-approved laboratory, blood drawn at least 30 days after vaccination and at least 28 days before entry. Alternative: 28-day quarantine at a CDC-registered animal care facility.
Quarantine
Required for dogs without a valid titre report: 28 days at a CDC-registered animal care facility, at the owner's cost. Not required if a valid titre result is presented in time.
Import permit
Not a formal permit. Every dog needs a completed CDC Dog Import Form, free, plus a confirmed reservation at a CDC-registered animal care facility if travelling without a valid titre.
Health certificate
Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form, vet-completed and government-endorsed in Senegal. Required as part of the high-risk-country documentation set.
Export permit
Import/export authorisation issued by the Direction des Services Veterinaires (DSV), under the Ministere de l'Elevage et des Productions Animales, based in Dakar.
Veterinary inspection
Pre-export clinical examination by a DSV-authorised vet, confirming the animal is fit to travel.
Health certificate
Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form, completed by a Senegalese vet and endorsed by a DSV government vet. Valid 30 days from signature, single use only.
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We handle the regulations for every animal, every country, every airline, so nothing on your Senegal 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.
Delta Air Lines
Operates the only direct Dakar-New York JFK service (flights DL216/DL217, roughly 8 to 9 hours, Boeing 767, a few times a week). Its general cargo pet programme is currently restricted to active US military and State Department personnel with PCS orders. Most owners cannot book a pet on this direct flight.
None
Air France
Routes via Paris CDG, with around 14 weekly Dakar-Paris flights and onward connections to the US. Small pets in cabin; larger animals via Air France Cargo, an established live animal carrier open to the general public.
Cabin and Cargo
Turkish Airlines
Routes via Istanbul, with direct onward service from there to several major US cities. Live animals pass through the airline's dedicated Istanbul facility before the transatlantic leg.
Cargo Only
Brussels Airlines
Routes via Brussels, capped at 4 pets per Dakar-Brussels flight. Useful as a first leg before connecting onward to the US with a partner carrier.
Cabin and Cargo
Costs
What this route typically costs
DSV export authorisation and vet forms: XOF 30,000 to XOF 70,000 (approximately USD 50 to USD 115)
Rabies serology titre test at a CDC-approved laboratory, including sample courier: XOF 150,000 to XOF 350,000 (approximately USD 250 to USD 580)
CDC Dog Import Form: free
CDC-registered animal care facility reservation and processing: USD 200 to USD 500 (add USD 1,500 to USD 3,000 or more if the full 28-day quarantine applies)
IATA-compliant travel crate: USD 90 to USD 380
Cargo fee, Dakar via Paris or Istanbul to a US city: USD 900 to USD 2,800, depending on route, weight, and season
Pet transport agent fee (strongly recommended for a high-risk-country route): USD 600 to USD 1,500
Total typical range with a valid titre and no quarantine: USD 2,300 to USD 6,000 all in, plus a minimum 8 to 10 week preparation window once the titre result is confirmed
Critical points
Delta's Dakar-New York flight is real and direct, but its cargo pet booking is restricted to active US military and State Department personnel with PCS orders. Don't plan around Delta unless you fall into one of those categories; book Air France, Turkish Airlines, or Brussels Airlines instead.
Senegal has been on the CDC's high-risk list for dog rabies since the 1 August 2024 rule overhaul. A valid titre test or a 28-day facility quarantine is mandatory, not optional, for every dog.
Your dog must arrive by air at a US airport with a CDC-registered animal care facility on site, with no domestic connection beforehand. Confirm the current facility list on cdc.gov before booking flights, since it can change.
Cats face far fewer federal requirements than dogs at the US border. Confirm your arrival state's own import rules separately, since the CDC's high-risk framework applies to dogs only.
United States import rules, explained
United States takes biosecurity seriously, and the requirements reflect that. The paperwork is exacting, so accuracy matters as much as timing.
Practical tips for this move
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.
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.
FAQ
Common questions
Only if you’re active US military or State Department personnel travelling under PCS orders. Delta’s general cargo pet service on this route is not currently open to the public, despite the flight itself running several times a week. Most owners need to book with Air France, Turkish Airlines, or Brussels Airlines instead.
The CDC classifies countries into high-risk and low-risk groups for dog rabies, based on a rule change effective 1 August 2024. Senegal is on the high-risk list. That triggers a mandatory serology titre test or a 28-day facility quarantine, neither of which applies to dogs coming from low-risk countries.
Your dog must complete 28 days at a CDC-registered animal care facility after arrival, at your cost. You’ll also need to arrive at a US airport that has one of these facilities on site, with no domestic connecting flight beforehand.
No. The CDC’s high-risk country framework applies specifically to dogs. Cats travelling from Senegal face far fewer federal requirements at the US border, though you should still check the specific rules of your arrival state, since these aren’t covered by CDC policy.
Allow 16 to 20 weeks if you’re pursuing the titre test route, mainly to cover the vaccination wait, the 30-day pre-titre wait, laboratory turnaround, and booking a carrier other than Delta. If you’re relying on the 28-day quarantine option instead, add that stay on top of your travel date.
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