International Health Certificates and eCVIs

Traveling Internationally with Your Pet

Traveling internationally with your pet can be a rewarding experience, but it is crucial to understand the specific requirements each country has for pet entry. Proper research and preparation are essential to ensure a smooth journey.

Understanding Entry Requirements

Every country has its own set of regulations regarding pet entry, which can vary significantly. These requirements often include:

• Health certificates from a licensed veterinarian, endorsed by the USDA
• Proof of current vaccinations, including rabies
• Microchip identification
• Parasite treatments
• Quarantine periods

Obtaining a health certificate involves more than just a visit to your veterinarian. The certificate must be endorsed by the USDA, and the timing of obtaining and submitting this certificate is very specific. Failure to adhere to these timelines can result in travel delays or denial of entry for your pet.

Microchip Requirement

One critical requirement for international pet travel is the implantation of a microchip. Pets must have an ISO-compliant microchip, and it must be implanted before countries (including the United States) will recognize the validity of a rabies vaccination. This ensures your pet can be accurately identified and vaccination records are valid.

Rabies-Free, Low-Risk, and High-Risk Countries

When traveling internationally, it is important to understand the classification of countries based on their rabies status:

Rabies-Free Countries

These countries have strict entry requirements to maintain their rabies-free status. Pets may need specific vaccinations, blood tests, and sometimes quarantine upon arrival. Planning may need to begin up to 6 months in advance.

South Hyland Pet Hospital requires clients traveling to rabies-free countries to be actively working with a professional pet travel agent. Due to the complexity, strict timelines, and high risk of travel delays or denial of entry, we will only provide international health certificates for rabies-free destinations when a pet travel agent is coordinating the case.

Low-Risk Countries

Requirements may be less stringent than rabies-free countries, but pets must still meet specific health and vaccination criteria.

High-Risk Countries

Traveling to or from high-risk rabies countries involves the most stringent regulations. Pets must have current rabies vaccinations and may require a rabies antibody titer test. Upon returning to the United States, pets from high-risk countries face strict entry requirements.

South Hyland Pet Hospital also requires clients traveling to or from high-risk rabies countries to be actively working with a professional pet travel agent. These cases involve extensive documentation and federal regulations. We will only proceed with health certificate preparation when a pet travel agent is managing the travel logistics.

To view entry requirements and re-entry requirements for the United States, visit:
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/pet-travel

Returning to the United States

• If you plan to return to the United States with your pet, be prepared for the following:
• A valid rabies vaccination certificate signed by the veterinarian who administered the vaccine.
• If traveling from a high-risk rabies country, a rabies antibody titer test may be required. This process can take several weeks to months.
• If traveling from a high-risk rabies country, an additional health certificate endorsed by the USDA prior to departure from the United States may be required for re-entry.
• A CDC Dog Import Permit is required regardless of which country you are returning from. The pet owner must complete this form electronically: https://www.cdc.gov/importation/dogs/index.html
• A mandatory quarantine period may apply upon arrival.

Planning Ahead

To avoid complications during travel, we recommend the following:

Research

Review the entry requirements for your destination country. The USDA APHIS website is a reliable source:
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel

Consult Your Veterinarian

Schedule an appointment to review travel plans and confirm your pet meets all requirements. Timing is critical for USDA endorsement.

Microchip Implantation

Ensure your pet has an ISO-compliant microchip implanted before receiving a rabies vaccination. There is a 30-day waiting period after an initial rabies vaccination before your pet can leave the country.

Prepare Documentation

Gather all required documents, including vaccination records and permits. Keep at least three physical copies of all paperwork.

Hire a Pet Travel Agent

For travel to rabies-free or high-risk rabies countries, South Hyland Pet Hospital requires that clients work with a professional pet travel agent. For other destinations, we strongly recommend working with an agent to help ensure all paperwork and timelines are managed correctly. South Hyland Pet Hospital has collaborated with PetsFly on numerous international travel cases. Additional information about their services can be found at the following link: https://petsfly.com/

Steps to Obtain a Health Certificate at South Hyland Pet Hospital

Initial Contact

Call us to discuss your travel plans, including destination and travel dates.

If your destination is rabies-free or classified as high-risk for rabies, you must be actively working with a professional pet travel agent before we can proceed.

Complete the Health Certificate Form

Complete our electronic form so we can determine whether we can meet your travel requirements.

Travel Health Certificate Form

New clients must submit previous medical records with the form. Without this information, we are unable to assist.

Requirement Research

After receiving your form, our team will review the specific requirements for your destination and coordinate with your pet travel agent if required.

Appointment Scheduling and Reservation Fee

If we can meet the requirements within the necessary timeframe, we will schedule your appointment and collect a non-refundable reservation fee. This fee covers the time required to research requirements and prepare documentation.

Health Certificate Completion

After your appointment, we will complete and submit the health certificate to the USDA for endorsement. Once submitted, the USDA manages the remainder of the endorsement process.

For domestic travel within the United States, USDA endorsement is not required. We will submit your pet’s Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) to the Minnesota Board of Animal Health on your behalf.

Dogs Returning to the United States

 If returning from a rabies-free or low-risk country, you must complete the CDC import permit online.

If returning from a high-risk rabies country, additional requirements apply, including an additional USDA-endorsed health certificate prepared prior to departure and an expanded CDC permit.

In all cases, the pet owner must complete the CDC import permit. South Hyland Pet Hospital cannot complete this on your behalf.

For more information:

https://www.cdc.gov/importation/dogs/index.html
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/pet-travel

International pet travel is highly regulated, document-driven, and extremely time-sensitive. Requirements are set by federal agencies and foreign governments, and there is very little margin for error. Missing a deadline, submitting incomplete paperwork, or misunderstanding a country’s regulations can result in denied entry, extended quarantine, or travel disruption at the owner’s expense.

South Hyland Pet Hospital is experienced in preparing USDA-endorsed international health certificates; however, we strongly recommend working with a professional pet travel agent for all international travel. Travel agents specialize in managing country-specific regulations, airline policies, documentation sequencing, and strict timelines — ensuring that every requirement is met correctly and on time.

For rabies-free and high-risk rabies countries, we require clients to work with a professional pet travel agent due to the complexity and heightened regulatory oversight involved.

Our goal is to help make your pet’s travel as smooth and stress-free as possible. With early planning, careful attention to detail, and the right professional support, international travel can be a safe and successful experience for both you and your pet.