Flying Sami from Europe to the United States was the most document-intensive trip we’ve ever taken. Figuring out what we needed was, honestly, one of the most confusing and frustrating experiences I’ve had as a pet owner. Conflicting information everywhere. Government websites that link in circles. Nobody seemed to know for sure.
So I’m writing this so you don’t have to go through what I went through.
On August 1, 2024, the CDC changed the rules for all dogs entering the United States. They got stricter. More specific. And the requirements now depend on where your dog has been and where they got vaccinated. Here’s the full breakdown, as of our most recent trip.
The Universal Requirements (All Dogs, No Exceptions)
Every dog entering the US — whether they’re visiting or returning home — must meet these basic requirements:
At least 6 months old. No puppies allowed. This is a hard rule. If your dog is under 6 months, they cannot enter the US, period.
Appear healthy upon arrival. The inspection agents will look at your dog. If they appear sick or unhealthy, your dog can be denied entry or sent for further examination.
Have a microchip. It must be an ISO-compatible microchip, and — this is important — it must have been implanted before your dog’s current rabies vaccine. If the chip was placed after the vaccine, the CDC considers the vaccine invalid. Microchip first, then vaccine. Always.
These three apply to every dog, including service dogs. No exceptions.
Category 1: Dogs from Rabies-Free or Low-Risk Countries
If your dog is coming from a country that’s rabies-free or low-risk — and this includes most of Europe, Australia, Japan, and many others — AND your dog hasn’t been in any high-risk country in the past 6 months, this is your category. And it’s the simplest one.
You need: the CDC Dog Import Form. That’s it.
This is amazing news. It means you don’t need expensive vet visits for special certificates. Your dog doesn’t even technically need a rabies vaccine for this category (though I’d never travel without one — rabies is fatal, and I strongly recommend keeping the vaccination current).
The CDC Dog Import Form is free, you fill it out online yourself, it takes a few minutes, and you get an email with a receipt. That receipt is what you bring to the airport. You can print it or have a digital copy on your phone.
This was our situation when we flew from Portugal (low-risk country) to New York. EU passport plus CDC Dog Import Form receipt. Done.
The CDC Dog Import Form: What You Need to Know
Since this is the document most people flying to the US will need, let me walk through the details.
When to fill it out: 2 to 10 days before your travel date. Not earlier, not later. This is a specific window.
What it asks for: Your personal details, your dog’s details (breed, weight, microchip number), a recent photo of your dog, and — this is critical — the exact location where you’ll be entering the United States. Which airport, border crossing, or sea port. You have to specify this when you fill out the form.
Print two copies. The CDC recommends printing two, because they may keep one at the airport. We printed two and they did take one.
If you change your entry point, you need to redo the form. If you initially said you’re flying into JFK but then change to LAX, you need to fill out a new CDC Dog Import Form with the updated entry point. If you show up at a different airport than what’s on the form, they will not let your dog enter. It’s not a suggestion — it’s enforced.
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Our free 8-day email course covers CDC paperwork, airline prep, carrier selection, and everything else you need. Based on our actual experience flying from Europe to New York with Sami.
Category 2: US-Vaccinated Dogs from High-Risk Countries
If your dog was vaccinated in the United States but has been in a high-risk country for dog rabies in the past 6 months, you’ll need two documents:
The CDC Dog Import Form (same as above), plus either a Certification of U.S.-Issued Rabies Vaccination Form completed by a USDA-accredited vet, or a USDA-endorsed export health certificate.
Your dog must have a valid rabies vaccine. Two documents total. Manageable, but you need a USDA-accredited vet, so plan ahead.
Category 3: Foreign-Vaccinated Dogs from High-Risk Countries
This is the tough one. If your dog was vaccinated outside the US AND has been in a high-risk country in the past 6 months, the requirements are significantly more demanding.
Your dog will either need to quarantine for 28 days upon arrival in the US, or — if you want to avoid quarantine — you’ll need to do a rabies serology titer. This is a blood test that checks for rabies antibodies, and the blood sample needs to be taken at least one month before entering the US and sent to a CDC-approved lab. Results can take weeks.
On top of that, you’ll need to make a reservation at a CDC-registered animal care facility for examination and possible revaccination. There are only about 7 of these facilities in the entire country.
My honest advice if you’re in this category: start preparing at least 2-3 months before your travel date. There are a lot of moving parts and tight timelines. This isn’t something you can pull together last minute.
What About the Health Certificate (CVI)?
The health certificate — officially called the Certificate of Veterinary Inspection — used to be the main document everyone needed. With the August 2024 CDC changes, it’s no longer required for all dogs, but it’s still relevant in certain situations.
If you’re in Category 2 or 3, you may need a USDA-endorsed health certificate. And even if you’re in Category 1, some individual US states have their own requirements that might include a health certificate. Each state has its own Department of Agriculture rules, and some are stricter than the federal CDC rules.
Getting a health certificate from Europe was an adventure for us. The US doesn’t accept the EU pet passport as a health certificate (at least not in the state of New York, where we flew to). We had to find a vet in Portugal who was authorized to issue a US-compatible health certificate, get it done within 30 days of travel, and make sure all the information matched our other documents. It was doable, but it required planning.
A Note on State-Level Requirements
This catches a lot of people off guard. The CDC rules are federal. But each US state can have additional requirements. Some states require a health certificate even for dogs from low-risk countries. Some require specific additional vaccinations.
Before you fly, check both the CDC federal requirements AND the requirements of the state you’re entering. The USDA APHIS website (aphis.usda.gov/pet-travel) has state-by-state information.
What Actually Happens at US Immigration with a Dog
When we arrived at JFK with Sami, the immigration process was straightforward but thorough. They checked:
Our CDC Dog Import Form receipt (they kept one copy). Sami’s EU passport. They looked at the rabies vaccine date. They looked at Sami to confirm he appeared healthy. And they checked the microchip number.
The whole thing took maybe 10 minutes. The agents were professional and not unfriendly. Having everything organized and printed made it much smoother. Don’t show up with a phone full of PDFs you can’t find — have physical copies, clearly labeled, in a folder.
For the full list of documents you need regardless of destination — including things like airline reservations, pet fee info, and carrier bag requirements — check our complete paperwork checklist.
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CDC forms are one piece. Our free 8-day email course covers everything — documents, weight limits, carrier bags, airport prep, and in-flight comfort. Based on 20+ flights including our Europe-to-US trip.
The US requirements look intimidating on paper, but for most people flying from Europe or other low-risk countries, it comes down to one free online form. Start with the CDC Dog Import Form, check your state’s requirements, and you’ll be fine. If you have a more complicated situation, start early and don’t hesitate to call both the CDC and your airline for confirmation.
