The CDC's Updated Guidelines for Importing Dogs into the USA

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued new guidelines regarding the importation of dogs into the United States, aimed at enhancing public health safety and animal welfare standards. These updated regulations, effective August 1, 2024, reflect the CDC's commitment to preventing the spread of infectious diseases while ensuring humane treatment of animals entering the country.

Under the revised guidelines, all dogs imported into the United States must meet strict health and document requirements. The requirements will vary slightly depending on where the dog has been residing in the last 6 months prior to travel.  

Major Changes:

All dogs coming into the United States must:

• Be at least 6 months old at the time of arrival
• Have an ISO-compatible microchip
• Appear healthy upon arrival
• Have a CDC Dog Import Form receipt 

There are additional requirements based on where the dog has been living in the last 6 months and where the last rabies vaccination was administered. These are broken out by rabies-free or controlled countries and countries that are at high risk for rabies. A list of countries considered high risk for rabies can be found here. Any country NOT included in this list is considered rabies-free or rabies-controlled.

Dogs coming from high risk rabies countries will be required to spend 28 days in quarantine at a CDC-Registered animal care facility if they do not complete the below rabies vaccination and rabies titer blood test requirements. 

• Valid (unexpired) rabies vaccination
  • If the vaccination was administered in the USA, then a rabies titer test will not be required
  • If the vaccination was administered outside the USA, in a rabies-risk country, then a rabies titer test WILL be required in order to avoid quarantine
• Rabies vaccination certification form
• Rabies titer blood test - completed at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination and at least 28 days before entering the the USA
  • The blood sample must be sent to a CDC-approved laboratory
• Reservation at a CDC-registered animal care facility for an exam, verification of all documents, and a new rabies vaccination
• Arrive into an airport with a CDC-registered animal care facility and this must be listed on the CDC Dog Import Form

Dogs coming from countries considered rabies-free or rabies-controlled will not be required to spend time in quarantine but will need to meet the below requirements depending on where the last rabies vaccination was administered.

• Be at least 6 months old ●
• Have a microchip ●
• Appear healthy upon arrival ●
• Have a CDC Dog Import Form receipt (completed 2-10 days prior to arrival) - One import form per dog ●
• Arrive at the location listed on the CDC Dog Import Form receipt (Can be any airport, land border crossing, or sea port but you must select it when completing the CDC Dog Import Form.)

Tips and Resources:

Starwood encourages dog owners to work closely with a USDA-accredited veterinarian if they are leaving the USA and may possibly be moving back in the future. It is much easier to re-import a dog that has had their last valid rabies vaccination in the USA.  

For more information on the CDC's updated guidelines for importing dogs, including specific requirements and exemptions, please click here. 

*Photo by Courtney Mihaka on Unsplash