International Health Certificates 

USDA accredited veterinarian on staff.

Planning international travel with your pet? Veterinary Healing Center can help you navigate the health certificates, vaccinations, testing, and documentation required for your destination.

Pet travel requirements vary by country, state, and airline. Some destinations require specific vaccinations, microchipping, rabies antibody testing, parasite treatments, or government-endorsed health certificates. Requirements and processing times vary, and some steps must be completed months in advance.

The sooner you start planning, the better. We recommend contacting us at least 4 months before international travel and at least 2 months before domestic travel. Some destinations require significantly more time, especially when rabies testing or waiting periods are involved.

Important: Returning to the United States with Your Dog

The CDC has specific requirements for dogs entering or returning to the United States, including dogs that have visited countries classified as high-risk for dog rabies within the previous 6 months.

Depending on your dog's rabies vaccination history and travel itinerary, additional documentation may be required. Dogs vaccinated in the United States may need a special CDC rabies vaccination certification completed and USDA-endorsed before leaving the country. Dogs vaccinated outside the United States may face additional requirements, including rabies testing and entry through a designated airport and animal care facility.

These requirements are separate from your destination country's travel requirements. Please plan ahead and review the current CDC dog importation requirements before traveling internationally with your dog.

When should I start planning?

Start as early as possible. Some health certificates must be completed within a specific number of days before travel, while required vaccinations, testing, or waiting periods may need to be completed weeks or months beforehand.

For current destination-specific requirements, visit the USDA APHIS Pet Travel website. Be sure to consider any countries where you will have a layover or clear customs, as these may have additional requirements.

What should I know before traveling with my pet?

• By car: Check the requirements for your destination and any states or countries you will travel through. Keep your pet's vaccination records and any required health certificates with you.

• By air: Contact your airline directly to confirm its pet travel policies, carrier specifications, cabin or cargo restrictions, and documentation requirements. Airline requirements may differ from those of your destination.

• International travel: Many destinations require a country-specific health certificate, and some require additional testing, treatments, or USDA endorsement. A standard veterinary health certificate may not be sufficient.

How do I get started?

Every destination has different requirements, and some travel plans require additional research, testing, or coordination. Additional fees may apply for complex international travel or specialized documentation.

To help us determine what your pet needs, please complete our Pet Travel Questionnaire with your destination, departure date, travel route, and other trip details. We’ll review the information and follow up regarding the applicable requirements and next steps.

Please start planning well in advance. Some requirements must be completed months before departure, and health certificates often have strict timing requirements.

For additional information, visit the USDA APHIS Pet Travel website or the CDC dog importation website.