UY
Uruguay
✈️
US
United States

Pet Transport Uruguay to USA: 2026 Guide

12-16 weeks
Typical preparation
None
No quarantine required
High
Route complexity
✓ Managed
Full door-to-door service
Regulations verified

Regulations sourced from DEFRA, USDA APHIS, DAFF and other official authorities. How we source our data →

Overview
Uruguay is on the CDC’s high-risk countries list for dog rabies, which means dogs from Montevideo need a serology titer, a government-endorsed Certification form, and must arrive at a CDC-registered facility. The process takes 12-16 weeks. Cats face no CDC requirements. LATAM and Aerolíneas Argentinas are the main routing options from Montevideo to CDC-registered US airports.
Step by step

The Uruguay to United States process

1
First step.
Microchip (ISO 11784/11785) before vaccination

Responsible: Uruguayan vet

2
After chipping.
Rabies vaccination (dog at least 12 weeks old)

Responsible: Uruguayan vet

3
At least 30 days after vaccination. Allow 3-5 weeks for results. A CDC-approved lab in the USA or internationally.
Serology titer blood draw at CDC-approved laboratory

Responsible: Uruguayan vet + CDC-approved lab

4
After confirming titer process is underway. Book early.
Reserve CDC-registered facility at your US arrival airport

Responsible: Owner or agent

5
Within 30 days of US entry. Coordinate DGSG endorsement.
Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination form: vet signs, MGAP-DGSG government vet endorses

Responsible: Uruguayan vet + MGAP-DGSG

6
Few days before travel.
Complete CDC Dog Import Form online

Responsible: Owner

7
Travel day. MVD to US typically 10-16 hours via South American or European hub.
Travel MVD via hub to CDC-registered US airport. Present all documents at CDC facility.

Responsible: Airline + owner

Checklist

United States of America: entry requirements

RequirementDetail
MicrochipRequired. ISO 11784/11785. Must be implanted before the rabies vaccination.
Rabies vaccinationRequired for dogs. First vaccination at 12+ weeks. 28-day post-vaccination wait before US entry.
Rabies titre testRequired for dogs from Uruguay. Uruguay is on the CDC high-risk countries list. Serology titer at a CDC-approved lab. Blood drawn 30+ days after first vaccination and 28+ days before entry. Minimum 0.5 IU/mL. Source: CDC cdc.gov/importation/dogs, April 15, 2026.
Quarantine28-day quarantine at CDC facility if no valid titer. No quarantine with passing titer after examination.
Import permitNot required for personal companion animals.
Health certificateCertification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form (vet-completed, DGSG-endorsed). CDC Dog Import Form receipt.
Leaving Uruguay

Export requirements

RequirementDetail
Export permitNo formal export permit required for companion animals from Uruguay.
Health certificateOfficial veterinary health certificate issued by a MGAP-DGSG-registered vet in Uruguay, endorsed by the Dirección General de Servicios Ganaderos (DGSG) of Uruguay's Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries (MGAP). For the USA, the Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form requires endorsement by a MGAP-DGSG government vet. Departure airport: Carrasco International (MVD), Montevideo.
Costs

What this route typically costs

1Serology titer at CDC-approved lab (blood draw + international shipping + processing): UYU 3,000-9,000 (approximately USD 75-225)
2Certification form and DGSG government endorsement: UYU 1,500-4,000 (approximately USD 40-100)
3CDC facility reservation and examination: USD 200-600
4Cargo MVD to US CDC airport via hub: USD 800-2,500
5IATA crate: USD 80-300
6Pet transport agent: USD 400-1,200
7Total typical range: USD 1,500-4,500 over 3-4 months
Critical points

Read before you book

⚠ Uruguay is CDC high-risk. Dogs cannot enter the USA from Uruguay on a standard health certificate alone.
⚠ Must arrive at a CDC-registered airport. LATAM via MIA or American Airlines via JFK are the most practical.
⚠ Certification form valid 30 days from vet signature only. Coordinate the DGSG endorsement carefully.
⚠ Cats have no CDC requirements. This process applies to dogs only.
Carriers

Airlines on this route

LATAM Airlines
LATAM connects Montevideo (MVD) to Miami (MIA), New York JFK, and other US gateways via Santiago (SCL) or São Paulo (GRU). LATAM Cargo handles live animals on these routes.
Cargo Only
Aerolíneas Argentinas via Buenos Aires
MVD to Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE), then Aerolíneas Argentinas or partner connections to US hubs with onward CDC-registered airport access.
Cargo Only
Air France/KLM via CDG or AMS
Connections from MVD via South American hub to European hub, then US flights from CDG or AMS.
Cargo Only
American Airlines
Connections from Uruguay via Buenos Aires or São Paulo to US gateways including MIA and JFK.
Cargo Only

The CDC high-risk process for Uruguayan dogs

Uruguay’s placement on the CDC high-risk list requires dogs to follow the foreign-vaccinated high-risk country path. Three requirements sit above the standard health certificate. First, a serology titer at a CDC-approved laboratory confirming rabies immunity (at least 0.5 IU/mL). Second, the Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form, completed by the attending vet and endorsed by a MGAP-DGSG government vet. Third, a reservation at a CDC-registered facility at the US arrival airport.

If the titer passes, no quarantine applies after the facility examination. Without a valid titer, the dog enters a 28-day quarantine at the CDC facility. The certification form is valid for only 30 days from the vet’s signature, so time the government endorsement step carefully against your travel date.

Routing from Montevideo to a CDC-registered US airport

Montevideo’s Carrasco International (MVD) connects to the USA via LATAM through Santiago or São Paulo. LATAM routes from MVD to Miami (MIA) are the most direct for CDC-registered airport access. Aerolíneas Argentinas via Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) offers another path, connecting to US gateways with CDC facilities.

Miami International (MIA) is a CDC-registered airport and handles a significant volume of South American pet imports. JFK, ATL, and ORD are alternatives depending on your US destination. Confirm with the carrier that live animal cargo is accepted on all legs of your booking, including the connection.

FAQ

Common questions

The CDC updates its high-risk list based on surveillance data. Country classifications can change. Check the current CDC list at cdc.gov/importation/dogs before making plans, as Uruguay’s status as of the April 2026 update may differ from earlier assessments.
No. The US-vaccinated dog path requires the US vaccination to have been given in the USA, with the certification form completed by a USDA-accredited vet in the USA. A dog vaccinated only in Uruguay follows the foreign-vaccinated high-risk path and requires a serology titer.
MGAP is Uruguay’s Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries (Ministerio de Ganadería, Agricultura y Pesca). DGSG is its Dirección General de Servicios Ganaderos. The DGSG is Uruguay’s official veterinary authority. The CDC requires foreign-vaccinated high-risk country dogs to have their Certification form endorsed by the country’s official government vet, which in Uruguay’s case is the DGSG.
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