Traveling with Pets and Service Animals

Introduction

Travelers planning to take a companion or service animal to another country must meet the entry requirements of that country and transportation guidelines of the carrier (airline, cruise line, etc.). Travelers should review international export regulations for pets at and review guidance on traveling with pets. They should contact their veterinarian to discuss travel safety and plans for their animals. If return of the animal to the United States is anticipated, travelers should make sure the animal meets all import requirements to re-enter the country.

Plan ahead

People intending to travel with their pet outside of the United States should plan ahead and contact their local veterinarian for assistance with obtaining all required paperwork, vaccinations, and testing for their pet both to enter the foreign country and to return to the United States. Some countries' requirements (e.g., Australia's) can necessitate up to 6 months of planning with stringent testing and permit requirements. Factors to consider in the plan are age and species of pet (e.g., travel conditions may contribute to medical complications in certain animals, particularly older animals with chronic health conditions, very young animals, and short-nosed breeds predisposed to respiratory stress, such as bulldogs and Persian cats), vaccination and testing requirements of the country of final destination and of transiting countries, time of year (e.g., some carriers do not carry animals during the hottest or coldest parts of the year), and the conveyance used (airplane, cruise ship, etc.).

Requirements to travel outside the United States with a pet or service animal

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS), lists international export regulations for pets. Animal health certificates must be legible, accurate, and complete, and some countries may require that the certificates be accompanied by a certified translation. Depending on the destination country, pets may be required to have updated vaccinations and parasite treatments, International Standards Organization–compliant microchips, or serologic titer tests prior to travel.

It is the responsibility of the pet owner to ensure that the pet has met the requirements of the destination country. Failure to meet the requirements may result in problems gaining endorsement of an animal health certificate or difficulties upon arrival in the destination country. Additional helpful resources for traveling with pets can be found at Take a Pet From the United States to Another Country (Export) and Bringing an Animal into the U.S.

Traveling with service animals

The Department of Justice (DOJ) Americans with Disabilities Act defines a service animal as any dog that is trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or mental disability. DOJ does not recognize other species of animals, emotional support animals, or animals in training as service animals.

Air travel with service animals (dogs)

The cabins of most commercial airplanes are highly confined spaces with passengers seated in close quarters and limited opportunities to separate passengers from nearby disturbances. Animals on airplanes may pose a risk to the safety, health, and well-being of passengers and crew and may disturb the safe and efficient operation of the aircraft. Any requirement for the accommodation of passengers traveling with service animals onboard commercial airplanes must be balanced against the health, safety, and well-being of the other passengers and crew and must not interfere with the safe and efficient operation of the aircraft.

The Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2018 developed minimum standards for service animals:

• Airline carriers may require passengers traveling with a service animal to complete forms attesting that the passenger's service animal
  • has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks to assist the function of the passenger with a physical or mental disability;
  • has been trained to behave in public;
  • is in good health; and
  • has the ability either not to relieve itself on a long flight or to relieve itself in a sanitary manner.
• Airline carriers may limit the number of service animals traveling with a single passenger with a disability.
• Airlines may require service animals to be harnessed, leashed, or tethered unless the device interferes with the service animal's work or the passenger's disability prevents use of these devices. In those cases, the carrier must permit the passenger to use voice, signal, or other effective means to maintain control of the service animal.
• Airline carriers are not required to recognize emotional support animals as service animals.
• Airline carriers may not restrict service dogs based solely on the breed or type of dog.

Airlines may require individuals traveling with a service animal to provide to the airlines standardized documentation of the service animal's behavior, training, and health. If the service animal would be on a flight segment that is longer than 8 hours, airlines are allowed to request a standard form attesting that the animal will not need to relieve itself or can relieve itself in a way that does not create a health or sanitation risk.

• The U.S. Department of Transportation Service Animal Air Transportation Form.
• The U.S. Department of Transportation Service Animal Relief Attestation Form for Flight Segments Eight Hours or Longer.

Travelers should contact the airline before they schedule their trip because many airlines have additional requirements, such as health certificates and vaccination records.

Maritime travel with service animals (dogs)

Travelers should contact the maritime company they will be traveling with to learn more about each company's service animal policy. Some cruise lines are unable to accommodate animals onboard. Pets, service dogs in training, and emotional support dogs might not be allowed.

If planning to travel aboard a ship with a service dog, travelers should consider the following information:

• Many countries have strict entry requirements for animals. Travelers with service animals should visit the USDA's pet travel website or consult their veterinarian to determine each destination country's policies regarding admission of service animals.
• Some countries do not recognize 3-year rabies vaccines. Annual vaccination may be required. The traveler should consult with their veterinarian or the USDA's pet travel website prior to travel.
• Some countries require service animals to receive parasite treatment within a certain time period prior to arrival. This information should be included in the service animal's health record.
• Some countries require service animals to travel with documentation, such as an import permit or license, regardless of whether the service animal will disembark.
• Some countries have breed restrictions. Restricted breed service animals might not be allowed to board the ship or to disembark at certain ports of call, due to the destination countries' laws.
• Travelers should hand-carry (not pack in baggage) all required documents, including vaccination records. Service animals traveling without proper documentation might not be permitted to board the ship.

Requirements to re-enter the United States with a pet or service animal

Once a pet or service animal has left the United States, the animal must meet all import requirements to re-enter the United States, even if the animal has lived in the United States previously. This includes service animals and emotional support animals. Service dog owners must ensure that their dog meets the requirements to re-enter the United States depending on where the dog has traveled and where it received its rabies vaccination (if required).

Any animal can be restricted from entry if there is reasonable knowledge or suspicion that it poses a human or public health risk. CDC has explicit restrictions for dogs, cats, non-human primates, African rodents, and select other animals. Many of these animals also are regulated by other federal agencies or by state or territorial governments. Travelers should check with USDA, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and the destination state or territory for their rules about importation.

Entry requirements for CDC, USDA, FWS, and destination states can be found at the following links:

• CDC entry requirements
• USDA entry requirements
• FWS entry requirements
• States' and territories' entry requirements

Dogs

The rules for bringing a dog into the United States depend on where the dog has been in the past 6 months.

All dogs must be at least 6 months of age, be microchipped, appear healthy upon arrival, have a CDC Dog Import Form receipt, and may need to meet additional requirements depending on the dog's travel history. Anyone bringing a dog into, or returning a dog to, the United States must complete the CDC Dog Import Form for each dog prior to arrival. Dogs that arrive sick or injured will be required to undergo veterinary examination and testing at the importer's expense to rule out zoonotic diseases.

In addition to the requirements for all dogs, dogs that have been in a country considered at high risk for dog-mediated rabies virus variants (DMRVV) within the past 6 months also must be accompanied by a valid Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form endorsed by an official government veterinarian in the exporting country or a Certification of U.S.-issued Rabies Vaccination form endorsed by USDA APHIS. If the dog was vaccinated for rabies outside the United States, it must enter the United States through an approved port of entry, be examined and revaccinated against rabies at a CDC-registered animal care facility upon arrival, and either be accompanied by a valid rabies serologic titer from an approved laboratory or undergo 28-day quarantine at the facility after revaccination. These measures, if necessary, are conducted at the owner's expense.

USDA APHIS has additional import requirements for dogs arriving from countries affected by foot-and-mouth disease or New World screwworm, for livestock handling dogs, and for dogs imported for commercial resale or adoption.

Cats

Cats are subject to inspection at U.S. ports of entry and may be denied entry into the United States if they have evidence of being infected with a disease of public health concern. If a cat appears ill, examination by a licensed veterinarian may be required before entry is permitted. This examination, if necessary, is conducted at the owner's expense. Although proof of rabies vaccination is not required for importation into the United States, it is recommended, and the destination U.S. state or territory may have additional requirements; more information about importing cats.

States and territories with additional requirements

All dogs and cats arriving in the state of Hawaii or the territory of Guam, even from the U.S. mainland, are subject to locally imposed quarantine requirements. For more information about animal importation in Hawaii, call 808-483-7151; for more information about animal importation in Guam, call (671) 300-7964.

Non-human primates

Non-human primates can transmit a variety of serious diseases to humans, including B virus infection, Ebola disease, and tuberculosis. Non-human primates may be imported into the United States only by a CDC-registered importer and only for scientific, educational, or exhibition purposes. Non-human primates may not be imported as pets. Non-human primates that are kept as pets in the United States and travel to another country will not be allowed to re-enter the United States as pets; more information on non-human primate entry requirements.

African rodents

African rodents are a known source of communicable diseases, such as mpox. Although importation of these animals generally is not allowed, exceptions may be made for animals imported for science, education, or exhibition, with permission from CDC. Check with USDA and FWS regarding additional requirements to import African rodents.

Other pets

Travelers planning to import pet horses, ruminants, swine, poultry, or other birds should contact USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Live Animal Import and Export team, at 301-851-3300, or learn about additional requirements.

Travelers planning to import pet fish, reptiles, small mammals (rabbits, chinchillas, etc.), or other wild or endangered animals should contact FWS at 800-344-WILD (toll-free general number), or 703-358-1949 (FWS Office of Law Enforcement).