US
United States
✈️
IL
Israel
Pet Transport USA to Israel: The Titre Test, 90-Day Wait and USDA Certificate Process
24-28 weeks
Typical preparation
3 days
Quarantine on arrival
High
Route complexity
✓ Managed
Full door-to-door service
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from United States to Israel
typically takes around 24-28 weeks.
Expect 3 days of quarantine on arrival.
A rabies titre test may be required depending on your pet's origin, so check the requirements below.
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Overview
Bringing your dog or cat from United States to Israel takes some coordination, but the requirements are well defined. Expect around 24-28 weeks of lead time to line up the documents and the fixed waiting periods. Factor in 3 days of quarantine at the destination.
Whether a rabies titre test is needed depends on your pet's origin, so confirm against the rules below. Map your dates against the steps below and you will stay on track.
Step by step
The United States to Israel process
1
Must precede all rabies vaccinations.
ISO microchip implanted before vaccinations
Responsible: Vet
2
Primary vaccination. 30-day wait before titre test.
Rabies vaccination completed
Responsible: USDA-accredited vet
3
At least 30 days after most recent rabies vaccination.
Titre test blood draw at OIE-approved laboratory
Responsible: OIE-approved laboratory
4
Mandatory. Travel cannot happen until 90 days after the titre test blood draw date.
90-day wait after titre test
Responsible: Owner to track
5
At least 60 days before travel. Via veterinary.moag.gov.il.
Apply for Israeli import permit
Responsible: Owner, via Israeli Ministry of Agriculture
6
After permit confirmed.
Book cargo or cabin transport
Responsible: Owner or pet transport agent
7
Within 10 days of travel. USDA-accredited vet, then USDA APHIS endorsement (2-10 business days).
USDA health certificate for Israel
Responsible: USDA-accredited vet, then USDA APHIS
8
On arrival. 1-3 day inspection hold.
Arrival inspection at Ben Gurion Airport
Responsible: Israeli Veterinary Services
Checklist
Israel: entry requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Microchip | Required. ISO 11784/11785 standard. Must be implanted before rabies vaccination. |
| Rabies vaccination | Required. Primary vaccination and 30-day wait before titre test blood draw. |
| Rabies titre test | Required for pets from the USA. The USA is not on Israel's approved rabies-free country list. FAVN titre test at an OIE-approved laboratory. Minimum 0.5 IU/ml. Blood drawn at least 30 days after most recent rabies vaccination. 90-day wait after titre test before travel. |
| Quarantine | All arriving pets undergo a mandatory veterinary inspection at Ben Gurion Airport Quarantine Station. With correct documents this is an inspection hold of 1-3 days. |
| Import permit | Required. Apply to the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture Veterinary Services at least 60 days before travel. |
| Health certificate | Specific Israel-format USDA health certificate, endorsed by USDA APHIS. Valid for entry within 10 days of issue. |
Leaving United States
Export requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Export permit | No formal US export permit. USDA endorsement of the health certificate serves as export documentation. |
| Health certificate | Specific USDA-format Veterinary Health Certificate for Export of Pet Dogs and Cats from the United States to the State of Israel. Issued by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and endorsed by USDA APHIS Veterinary Services. |
Costs
What this route typically costs
| 1 | Cargo airline fee: $800 to $2,400 from US hub to Tel Aviv depending on crate size and departure city |
| 2 | USDA health certificate and endorsement: $200 to $450 including vet exam and USDA endorsement fee ($38 per certificate) |
| 3 | Titre test at OIE-approved laboratory: $150 to $350 |
| 4 | Israeli import permit fee: check current schedule with Veterinary Services |
| 5 | Pet transport agent fee (optional): $500 to $1,800 |
| 6 | IATA-compliant travel crate: $60 to $400 |
| 7 | Inspection hold costs on arrival: varies by facility |
Critical points
Read before you book
⚠ The USA is not on Israel's rabies-free approved list. A titre test is mandatory. The 90-day wait after the titre test is also mandatory. Total preparation time is at least 5-6 months from today if vaccinations are not current.
⚠ Use the specific Israel-format USDA health certificate form. A generic health certificate will not be accepted.
⚠ Apply for the Israeli import permit at least 60 days before travel. Do not book flights without it.
⚠ Israel bans Pit Bull types, American Staffordshire Terriers, Rottweilers, Bull Terriers, Dogo Argentinos, Fila Brasileiros, and Japanese Tosas.
⚠ The health certificate is valid for only 10 days. USDA endorsement takes 2-10 business days depending on submission method. Plan this step carefully.
Carriers
Airlines on this route
El Al Israel Airlines
Direct services from New York JFK, Los Angeles, Miami, and other US hubs to Tel Aviv Ben Gurion. Primary carrier. Pet cargo via El Al Cargo; limited cabin options for small pets.
United Airlines
Operates USA to Tel Aviv. Accepts small pets in cabin on some routes and pets as cargo. Confirm current policy as cabin pet acceptance has varied.
Delta Air Lines
Operates USA to Tel Aviv. Pet cargo via Delta Cargo. Confirm live animal acceptance for your specific routing.
American Airlines
Operates USA to Tel Aviv. Pet cargo. Confirm live animal acceptance and seasonal restrictions.
What Israel requires
Bringing a pet into Israel involves a fair amount of documentation. Keep everything organised and check each item against the current requirements before you book.
Avoiding the common mistakes
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.
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.
FAQ
Common questions
Israel classifies countries based on their rabies status. The UK is on Israel’s approved list of rabies-free countries, so UK pets are exempt from the titre test. The USA is not on that list, so pets from the US must pass a rabies antibody titre test. The test result must be at least 0.5 IU/ml, drawn at an OIE-approved laboratory at least 30 days after the most recent rabies vaccination, followed by a 90-day waiting period before travel.
Israel requires its own country-specific health certificate format for US pet imports, titled ‘Veterinary Health Certificate for Export of Pet Dogs and Cats from the United States of America to the State of Israel.’ This is a different form from the generic USDA health certificate used for other destinations. Your USDA-accredited veterinarian should know it, or you can find the current form on the USDA APHIS website under US to Israel pet travel. The form must be completed by the vet and then endorsed by USDA APHIS.
For pets with correct documentation (import permit, USDA health certificate, titre test result, microchip), the inspection hold at the Ben Gurion Airport Quarantine Station is typically 1-3 days. Israeli Veterinary Services staff check all documentation and examine the animal. If any document is incorrect, missing, or the titre test result is below threshold, the pet may be held longer or refused entry. Build the inspection hold into your Israel arrival schedule.
El Al Israel Airlines operates direct services from New York JFK, Los Angeles LAX, Miami, Newark, and other US hubs to Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport. United Airlines, Delta, and American Airlines also operate trans-Atlantic services to Tel Aviv from various US cities. El Al is the primary carrier for this route and has the most experience with pet cargo on the US to Israel corridor. Confirm live animal acceptance, crate size, and seasonal embargoes with the airline’s cargo team before booking.
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