Bring a Pet Dog into the United States (2024)

FAQs

What do I need to cross the U.S. border with my dog? ›

Dogs must be accompanied by a current, valid rabies vaccination certificate that includes the following information: Name and address of owner. Breed, sex, age, color, markings, and other identifying information for the dog.

Total Cost ($335–$1,000)

The total cost of flying with your dog internationally will usually run between $335 and $1,000, depending on the airline and the destination. This cost includes everything that you need to fly with your dog, including the trip fee, the health certificate, and the proper crate.

Permit FAQs

All CDC Dog Import Permits will expire on August 31, 2024, and will no longer be accepted. To determine what is needed to import dogs into the U.S. depending on dates of travel, dog vaccination status, etc., visit Bringing a Dog into the United States.

For a growing percentage of the 90.5 million pet owners in the U.S., the answer is yes. But while the notion of boarding a plane with your pet may seem simple, the rules and restrictions around traveling with an animal can be confusing. Eight major U.S. airlines allow pets to fly in-cabin as carry-ons.

The ingredient list should be clearly displayed. You cannot bring raw pet food into the U.S. without an import permit. Your pet food must be “shelf-stable” which means it does not require refrigeration in order to be safely stored. Products containing sheep, lamb, or goat will not be allowed into the U.S.

So long as your dog is crated, many airlines, such as Alaskan or American Airlines, allow large dogs to be checked baggage. As the pet owner, you will bring your dog to check in as you would normally with your other bags, and then they will be weighed and moved like the rest of your bags.

Can I buy my dog a seat on a plane? Most airlines do not allow passengers to buy their dogs a seat on a plane. However, depending on the dog's size and breed, as well as the specific airline's rules, you may be able to pay to have your dog fly with you in the cabin.

No, FedEx does not ship live animals because it doesn't have the climate-controlled trucks needed to ensure a pet's safety.

How much to fly a dog from the UK to the USA? ›

Dogs can fly long distances, but they can find it a little stressful. A 12-hour flight with them in a cargo hold is going to be much more unnerving for them than a 1-hour flight in a pet carrier on the seat next to you.

Only fully trained service dogs can fly for free and are allowed to accompany their owner in the cabin, regardless of their size. Many airlines once accepted emotional support animals (ESAs) in the cabin to fly for free, but this ended in the U.S. on January 11, 2021.

Bring a Pet From Another Country into the United States (Import) Animals entering the United States may be subject to regulation by APHIS and other Federal agencies. Depending on your destination State, your pet may need to meet State entry requirements in addition to Federal entry requirements.

All foreign-vaccinated dogs that have been in a high-risk country in the previous 6 months must have a reservation for examination, verification of age, documents, and microchip number, and administration of a rabies booster vaccination at a CDC-registered animal care facility immediately upon arrival in the United ...

You probably have a plan for your own passport, but your animal companion needs one too. All pets traveling to and from the United States need a passport. Keep in mind, a “pet passport” in the U.S. refers to the extra documents you need to travel to other countries with your pet.

U.S. citizens taking pet cats and dogs 3 months of age and older into Canada must carry a rabies vaccination certificate signed by a licensed veterinarian that describes the animal, provides proof of rabies vaccination and includes documentation of the product name, lot number and lot expiration date.

Travel by land or water

As per the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), Canadian citizens aged 16 years and older must present one of the following documents when entering the United States by land or water: a valid passport. a Trusted Traveler Program card.