Resources > New Requirements for Bringing Dogs into the United States
New Requirements for Bringing Dogs into the United States
Pet dog riding with a truck driver in a US semi truck | Credit: iStock
Updated July 24, 2024 to reflect changes made by the CDC
Effective August 1, 2024
Why Entry of Dogs to the United States Is Controlled
Rabies is a deadly disease, with a fatality rate of over 99%, yet it is entirely preventable. The United States successfully eradicated dog rabies in 2007. However, over 100 countries still struggle with controlling this disease in dogs, posing a risk to the U.S. through imported dogs. The CDC implements regulations to safeguard American families, communities, and pets by preventing the reintroduction of dog rabies into the country. Importing an infected dog could potentially spread rabies to humans and other animals, resulting in containment costs exceeding half a million dollars.
Why it’s important now: In 2024, the CDC updated its regulations on importing dogs and cats to further protect the health and safety of both people and animals and to prevent the reintroduction of dog rabies into the United States. These updated regulations aim to enhance the safety of Americans and their pets by addressing recent issues with international dog importations, including fraudulent documentation.
Required Documents
In a continuous effort to safeguard the health of pets and humans alike, the CDC announces updated regulations on the importation of dogs, applicable from August 1, 2024.
These requirements differ according to the dog’s rabies vaccination history and the risk level of the countries they’ve visited within six months prior to entering the U.S. Detailed information can be found on the “What Your Dog Needs to Enter the United States” page on the CDC website.
For dogs with a U.S.-issued rabies vaccination entering from a high-risk country in the past 6 months:
- CDC Dog Import Form receipt
- Certification of U.S.-issued Rabies Vaccination form, completed by a USDA-accredited vet before leaving the U.S.
For dogs only visiting from rabies-free or low-risk countries in the past 6 months:
- CDC Dog Import Form receipt
For dogs visiting from high-risk countries without a U.S.-Issued Rabies Vaccination Certificate:
- CDC Dog Import Form receipt
- Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form
- If not included on the form above, you will also need a valid rabies serology titer report from a CDC-approved laboratory.
- Confirmation of reservation at a CDC-registered Animal Care Facility. To avoid a 28-day quarantine, you can submit a rabies serology titer from a CDC-approved laboratory.
- Dogs must have a microchip that can be detected with a universal scanner to identify them. The microchip must be implanted before getting the rabies vaccine.
For dogs only visiting rabies-free or low-risk countries without a U.S.-Issued Rabies Vaccination Certificate or USDA-endorsed export health certificate:
There are three options:
Option 1:
- CDC Dog Import Form receipt
- Certification of Dog Arriving from DMRVV-free or Low-Risk Country into the United States form
- Veterinary records (including microchip number) for the previous 6 months
Option 2:
- CDC Dog Import Form receipt
- Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form
- Rabies serology titer OR veterinary records (including microchip number) for the previous 6 months
Option 3:
- CDC Dog Import Form receipt
- Foreign export certificate endorsed by an official veterinarian (includes dog’s age and microchip number)
- Veterinary records (including microchip number) for the previous 6 months
All regulations are set to protect us and our animals, and the CDC extends its full assistance to pet owners for a smooth transition. Taking care of our furry friends is, after all, a shared responsibility.
High-Risk Rabies Countries
If a country is not listed, then it is not considered high risk for importing dog rabies into the United States. You will have to provide additional documentation if your dog has been to any of these countries in the last 6 months.
- Afghanistan
- Algeria
- Angola
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Bangladesh
- Belarus
- Belize
- Benin
- Bolivia
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Ceuta
- Chad
- China (excluding Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan)
- Colombia
- Comoros
- Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
- Cuba
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Djibouti
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- El Salvador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Eswatini (Swaziland)
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Ghana
- Guatemala
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Honduras
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Iraq
- Israel (including the West Bank and Gaza): effective August 1, 2024
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Lebanon
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Libya
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Melilla
- Moldova
- Mongolia
- Morocco (including Western Sahara)
- Mozambique
- Myanmar (Burma)
- Namibia
- Nepal
- Niger
- Nigeria
- North Korea
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Peru
- Philippines
- Qatar
- Republic of the Congo
- Russia
- Rwanda
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Sudan
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
- Suriname
- Syria
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania (Including Zanzibar)
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste: effective August 1, 2024
- Togo
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Turkmenistan
- Uganda
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- Uzbekistan
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- Yemen
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
If you want to know how the CDC determines a high-risk rabies country, go to this page: Rabies Status: Assessment by Country.