Taking a Pet to Another Country: The General Steps and Where to Check the Rules

Taking a dog or cat to another country usually involves the same core steps: an ISO-compatible microchip, a rabies vaccination given after the chip, a waiting period, and a health certificate issued by a qualified vet shortly before travel. Some destinations add a rabies blood test, parasite treatments, import permits or quarantine. Because every country sets its own rules, the only safe approach is to follow the official requirements for your exact route, and to start planning months ahead.

This is a general overview as of October 2026, not a substitute for official guidance. Rules change, sometimes with little notice.

Where to find the official rules

• Leaving the US: USDA APHIS publishes country-by-country requirements on its pet travel site, including which forms your vet must use.
• Leaving Great Britain: GOV.UK explains the rules in Taking your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad.
• Bringing a dog into the US: the CDC sets dog entry rules on its Bringing a Dog into the U.S. page; USDA and your destination state may add more.
• Elsewhere: use the government agriculture or veterinary authority of the destination country, and its embassy if anything is unclear.

Also check your airline’s pet policy, and the rules of any country you transit through.

The general steps

1. Check the destination’s rules first. Note every requirement and its timing. Some countries need tests or permits months in advance.
2. Microchip. Most destinations require an ISO 11784/11785-compatible chip. It must usually be implanted before or at the same time as the rabies vaccine, or the vaccine may not count. If your pet’s chip is a different standard, ask your vet about options. See microchipping your pet.
3. Rabies vaccination. Given at the minimum age the destination allows. GOV.UK, for example, requires pets to be at least 12 weeks old when vaccinated for travel from Great Britain.
4. Waiting period. Many countries require a wait after the primary rabies vaccination. For travel from Great Britain to the EU or Northern Ireland, GOV.UK sets a 21-day wait after the vaccination date.
5. Rabies blood test (titer), if required. Some destinations require a blood test at an approved lab, sometimes followed by a long waiting period. Hawaii, Japan and several other rabies-free places are known for strict testing rules.
6. Other treatments. Some countries require tapeworm treatment for dogs within a set window, or other parasite treatments or tests.
7. Health certificate. A qualified vet completes the destination’s official certificate within a short window before travel, often around 10 days, but it varies.
8. Government endorsement. Many certificates must be endorsed by the government after the vet signs them (see below).
9. Book the flight and crate. Confirm cabin, checked or cargo options, crate size and any breed restrictions.
10. Plan the return trip. Coming back has its own rules, which can be stricter than leaving.

Timeline at a glance

Timings here are typical patterns, not rules. Always use your destination’s exact windows.

Leaving the US: accredited vets and USDA endorsement

For most countries, the health certificate must be issued by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and then endorsed by USDA APHIS. APHIS says accredited vets can submit many certificates electronically through its Veterinary Export Health Certification System (VEHCS); some destinations still require an ink signature and embossed seal on paper. Not every vet is accredited, so ask when you book.

APHIS notes that new EU rules came into effect in April 2026, with new non-commercial health certificates for dogs, cats and ferrets taking effect from October 1, 2026. If you are heading to the EU, make sure your vet is using the current certificate.

Leaving Great Britain

For travel from Great Britain to the EU or Northern Ireland, GOV.UK says your pet needs a microchip, a rabies vaccination, and an animal health certificate issued by an official vet no more than 10 days before arrival. Pet passports issued in Great Britain can no longer be used for EU entry. Dogs going directly to Finland, Ireland, Malta, Northern Ireland or Norway also need tapeworm treatment within a set window. For other countries, GOV.UK explains how to get an export health certificate.

Bringing a dog into the US

Under CDC rules in effect since August 1, 2024, dogs entering the US must generally be at least six months old, have an ISO-compatible microchip, appear healthy, and travel with a CDC Dog Import Form receipt. Extra requirements apply if the dog has been in a country the CDC considers high-risk for dog rabies in the previous six months. This applies to US dogs returning home, too. Check the CDC page well before you leave the US.

Practical tips

• Keep a folder with originals and copies of every document, plus digital scans.
• Make sure the microchip number is identical on every form.
• Get your pet used to their travel crate weeks in advance. See choosing a pet carrier.
• Ask your vet whether your pet is fit for a long journey, especially if they are elderly, short-nosed or have health problems.
• Consider a professional pet relocation service for complicated routes.

Traveling within the US instead? See traveling with a dog in the US.

Bottom line

International pet travel follows a familiar sequence, microchip, rabies vaccine, waiting period, certificate and endorsement, but the details and timing differ for every country. Work from the official rules for your destination and the country you are returning to, use a vet who can issue the right certificate, and give yourself months, not weeks.

FAQ

How far ahead should I start?

For most destinations, at least two to three months. For countries that require a rabies blood test and waiting period, start six months or more ahead.

Does my regular vet issue the certificate?

Only if they hold the right qualification, such as USDA accreditation in the US or official veterinarian status in the UK. Ask when you book.

Will my pet need quarantine?

Many countries do not require quarantine if all rules are met. Some rabies-free destinations may require it, or impose it if paperwork is incomplete.

Can my cat travel under the same rules as my dog?

Often similar, but not always. Some rules, such as the CDC’s dog import requirements or tapeworm treatment, apply only to dogs.