Flying with a dog: health certificate checklist

Domestic flights

• A health certificate (Certificate of Veterinary Inspection) from a USDA-accredited vet, commonly issued within 10 days of the flight. Airlines set the window; some states of arrival set their own.
• Proof of current rabies vaccination. Some airlines want it given at least 30 days before travel.
• The airline’s own form, carrier requirements and breed restrictions.

International flights

The destination country sets the rules, and they can include an ISO microchip implanted before the rabies vaccination, a waiting period after vaccination, a rabies titer (FAVN) test with its own waiting period of up to several months, parasite treatments in a set window, and an endorsed health certificate. Start with the destination’s official import page and the USDA APHIS pet travel site.

Returning to the United States

Rules for dogs entering the United States changed in 2024 and depend on where the dog has been. Check the CDC’s dog importation page before travel rather than relying on what applied last year.

The order

1. Microchip, if required. A rabies vaccination given before the chip may not count.
2. Rabies vaccination, then any waiting period.
3. Titer test if required, then its waiting period.
4. Health certificate inside the window, then endorsement if required.

What to keep

The originals travel with you. Log every document in your dog’s PawPass record with its date so you can see the windows lining up, and set reminders for the dates that expire.