At PETport, we endeavour to provide you and your family with the latest industry updates, so you are always in the know when it comes to regulation changes, whether it is country-specific or airline-specific.
As of 10 June 2022, there have been some changes to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention’s ban on dogs entering the USA from countries classified as high risk for rabies.
Fur babies will have to meet all requirements for bringing a dog into the United States, as outlined on the CDC website.
To sum up the most recent changes to the ban:
Fur babies who have been vaccinated against rabies in the US by a US-licensed vet may re-enter the United States from a high-risk country like South Africa without an import permit if the dog:
- has a valid US-issued rabies vaccination certificate (expired rabies vaccination certificates will not be accepted, and the fur baby will have to get a booster dose outside of the US and meet all requirements for foreign vaccinated dogs – see below)
- has proof of an ISO-compatible microchip
- must be at least 6 months old
- is in good health
- arrives at one of these 18 airports with a CDC quarantine station
Anchorage (ANC), Atlanta (ATL), Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), Dallas (DFW), Detroit (DTW), Honolulu (HNL), Houston (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), Minneapolis (MSP), New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), Philadelphia (PHL), San Francisco (SFO), San Juan (SJU), Seattle (SEA) and Washington DC (IAD).
For foreign-vaccinated fur babies coming onto the US from high-risk countries, there are other options available for families bringing 1-2 dogs and 3 or more dogs to the USA.
Three or more fur babies coming in from high-risk countries can arrive at specific ports of entry with a reservation at a CDC-approved animal care facility such as Dandle Scottie Kennel -Atlanta, Georgia (ATL), Kennel Club – Los Angeles (LAX), Pet Limo – Miami, Florida (MIA), The Ark Pet Oasis – New York (JFK). However, fur babies must have a valid rabies vaccination certificate and a valid titre test, or they will have to complete a 28-day stay in quarantine at the US animal care facility. This information is also valid for families traveling with 1-2 dogs who do not have a CDC import permit.
Option 1
You can apply and receive a valid CDC Dog import permit before the fur baby’s arrival. CDC will only issue permits for 2 dogs per person during the suspension.
- You can apply for an import permit online, and we would recommend doing this at least 6 weeks before you plan to travel.
- Must be older than 6 months and healthy
- ISO-compliant Microchip
- Rabies vaccination older than 28 days, less than 1 year, administered by a registered vet
- Titre test, done at an approved laboratory, older than 45 days, less than 1 year
- CDC Import permit
- Arrive at one of the 18 airports with a CDC quarantine station listed above
Please note that as of 10 June, only two dogs per permit are allowed. We suggest that if a family has 3 or more dogs, they get another family member to apply for the necessary permit for additional dogs.
Pets may enter at any of the 18 approved ports: Anchorage (ANC), Atlanta (ATL), Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), Dallas (DFW), Detroit (DTW), Honolulu (HNL), Houston (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), Minneapolis (MSP), New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), Philadelphia (PHL), San Francisco (SFO), San Juan (SJU), Seattle (SEA), and Washington DC (IAD)
Option 2
This option is for fur babies who do not have a US-issued rabies vaccination certificate or a CDC import permit. This option is only available for those importing 3 or more dogs traveling to the US and falls into two categories.
Category 1:
- Must be older than 6 months and health
- ISO compliant Microchip
- Rabies vaccination older than 28 days, less than 1 year, administered by a registered vet
- Titre test, done at an approved laboratory, older than 45 days, less than 1 year
Dogs will be examined and re-vaccinated with a USDA-approved Rabies vaccination.
Category 2:
- Must be older than 6 months and healthy
- ISO Compliant Microchip
- Rabies vaccination older than 28 days, less than 1 year, administered by a registered vet
- Reservation with one of the CDC-approved animal care facilities upon arrival for 28 days of quarantine.
Dogs will be examined and re-vaccinated with a USDA-approved vaccination.
It is important to note that option C clients only allow for persons to enter the USA via New York, Miami, Atlanta, and Los Angeles airports. We are hopeful that more CDC-approved stations may open up over the next few months.
It is important to remember that NO Rabies vaccinations that are administered before 12 weeks are considered valid, and dogs must be at least 6 months old before they can travel to the USA.
IMPORTANT NOTICE – While the above options provide choices, we must be conscious that the airlines are still responsible for ensuring that dogs meet the CDC requirements. As such, they might opt not to allow pet travel without a CDC permit.
