US
MD

Pet Transport from the United States to Moldova

Moving a dog or cat from United States to Moldova is very doable with the right preparation. Plan on roughly 4-8 weeks; the checklist is clear and the timing is manageable. No routine quarantine …

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4-8
Weeks lead time needed
Start this early minimum
None
Quarantine on arrival
Moderate
Route complexity
4
Airlines on this route
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 United States to Moldova 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
Step by step

The United States to Moldova import process

01
At least 30 days before travel; the 3-year US vaccine is accepted by Moldova
Microchip implant if not already fitted, then rabies vaccination

Responsible: USDA-accredited vet

02
Within 10 days of travel for most destinations; allow 3-5 business days for USDA endorsement
USDA APHIS health certificate completed and endorsed

Responsible: USDA-accredited vet, then USDA APHIS State Vet

03
4-6 weeks before travel
Book routing via Istanbul (Turkish Airlines), Vienna (Austrian Airlines), Frankfurt/Munich (Lufthansa) or Warsaw (LOT Polish Airlines)

Responsible: Owner or pet transport agent

04
Per the airline's cargo or cabin check-in window
Travel day: present all documents at check-in and again on arrival

Responsible: Owner, airline staff, and ANSA officials on arrival

Requirements

Moldova entry requirements

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

Microchip
ISO 11784/11785 microchip required, implanted before the rabies vaccination is given.
Rabies vaccination
Required, given at least 30 days before entry. Moldova recognises the standard 3-year rabies vaccine, so a currently valid US vaccination doesn't need repeating just because of the destination.
Rabies titre test
Not required for a pet arriving from the United States. The US, like the UK, sits in Annex II, Part 2 of the EU's Implementing Regulation (EU) No 577/2013, the EU's own list of countries exempt from the rabies antibody titre test, and Moldova extends that exemption to US-vaccinated pets as it aligns its animal health rules with the EU framework in its accession process. Confirm current status with ANSA or the receiving vet before travel.
Quarantine
No quarantine for pets arriving with complete, compliant documentation.
Import permit
No standalone import permit for a personal pet travelling with its owner. Non-commercial pet movements are capped at five animals per owner.
Health certificate
The USDA-endorsed health certificate, examined by an ANSA veterinary official on arrival, is the document checked at the border.
Leaving United States

Export requirements

Export permit
No export permit required from the US side for companion animals.
Health certificate
USDA APHIS Veterinary Health Certificate (VS Form 7001 or equivalent international health certificate) completed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and endorsed by the USDA APHIS State Veterinarian. Allow 3-5 business days for endorsement.
Costs

What this route typically costs

USDA APHIS endorsement fee: USD 38 per certificate, plus courier costs if posting documents
Microchip and rabies vaccination, if not already current: USD 50-150
IATA-compliant travel crate: USD 100-350 depending on size
Cargo or cabin fee, US to Chisinau via a European hub: USD 500-1,500
Pet transport agent fee, recommended for a first-time move: USD 350-800
Total typical range: USD 1,040-2,838

Critical points

There are no direct flights from the US to Chisinau. Every route connects at least once, via Istanbul, Vienna, Frankfurt, Munich or Warsaw.

Moldova's titre-test exemption for US-origin pets follows from the US's own place on the EU's Annex II Part 2 list, the same classification the UK holds. This is set at EU level and reviewed periodically, so confirm the current position with ANSA or the receiving vet before travel rather than treating it as permanent.

None of the CDC's high-risk-country apparatus, familiar from routes into the US, applies on this outbound leg. That machinery only appears if this pet is ever coming back to the US from a country the CDC classifies as high-risk, which Moldova is for dogs.

Non-commercial pet movements into Moldova are capped at five animals per owner. A larger household move needs the commercial import route instead.

Airlines

Approved carriers on this route

AirlineNotesType
Turkish AirlinesUS gateways to Istanbul, then a single-carrier connection on to Chisinau. Cabin pets under 8kg; brachycephalic breeds excluded from cabin and hold since October 2021. Cargo hold via Turkish Cargo, flat USD 150 fee up to 50kg.Cabin and Cargo
Austrian AirlinesSeveral US cities to Vienna on Austrian's own long-haul network, then onward to Chisinau on the same carrier, keeping handling consistent across the whole journey. Cabin pets under 8kg; hold pets up to 14kg per animal, brachycephalic breeds excluded from the hold.Cabin and Cargo
LufthansaUS gateways to Frankfurt or Munich, then onward to Chisinau. Cabin pets up to 8kg. All brachycephalic breeds banned from the cargo hold since 1 January 2020, cabin-only for those breeds under the weight limit.Cabin and Cargo
LOT Polish AirlinesNew York JFK, Chicago and Newark to Warsaw direct, then onward to Chisinau. Cabin pets up to 8kg on B787/B737 aircraft. Live animal cargo bookings go through LOT Cargo and an approved shipping agent, not the standard passenger system.Cabin and Cargo

Moldova entry requirements at a glance

Getting a pet into Moldova is a middle of the road process. The rules are well defined, so most of the work is simply staying on schedule.

Getting the details right

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 about this route

No. The CDC’s dog import rules, including the high-risk country titre test and quarantine pathway, govern pets entering the United States, not pets leaving it. A pet travelling from the US to Moldova only needs the standard USDA-endorsed health certificate, current rabies vaccination and microchip.
No. The US sits in Annex II, Part 2 of the EU’s Implementing Regulation (EU) No 577/2013, the rabies-exempt country list, and Moldova extends that exemption to US-origin pets as part of aligning its animal health rules with the EU framework.
No. Every route connects through a European hub: Istanbul (Turkish Airlines), Vienna (Austrian Airlines), Frankfurt or Munich (Lufthansa), or Warsaw (LOT Polish Airlines).
Yes. Moldova recognises the 3-year rabies vaccination, so a currently valid US vaccine doesn’t need repeating purely for this move.
Yes. Moldova is on the CDC’s high-risk list for dog rabies, so a return trip needs a valid titre test or 28-day quarantine at a CDC-registered facility, on top of the standard CDC Dog Import Form. Cats face no equivalent requirement in either direction.
Airline guides
  • Turkish Airlines
  • Austrian Airlines
  • Lufthansa
  • LOT Polish Airlines
Breed guides

Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.

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