***UPDATE: ON JULY 22, 2024, THE CDC RELAXED THE NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR DOGS ENTERING/RE-ENTERING THE US FROM DOG RABIES-FREE AND LOW-RISK COUNTRIES (THIS INCLUDES CANADA AND MEXICO). THE INFORMATION BELOW REFLECTS THAT CHANGE.
Effective August 1, 2024, new rules for bringing a dog into the United States will take effect. These rules are mandated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and apply to all dogs, including those who originate in a foreign country as well as those who normally live in the US and will be re-entering the country after travel. Dogs who travel between the United States and Canada or Mexico are therefore subject to these rules. The CDC website for bringing a dog into the US can be found here.
Requirements vary depending on if the dog has been in a high-risk country for dog rabies in the 6 months before arrival in the US.
The requirements for dogs entering or re-entering the US who have only been in dog rabies-free and low-risk countries (this includes Canada and Mexico) in the past 6 months are as follows:
- The dog must appear healthy upon arrival.
- The dog must be at least 6 months old at the time they cross the border into the US.
- The dog must be microchipped with a chip that can be read by a universal scanner.
- The dog must be accompanied by a CDC Dog Import Form receipt (printed or on a phone screen). This form must be completed by the person bringing the dog into the US. It can be completed up to 6 months in advance of travel (including on the day of travel), takes several minutes to complete, and is free of charge. The receipt will be valid for 6 months and can be used for multiple entries as long as the dog has not been in a high-risk country within the past 6 months. Every dog must have their own form.
- While the CDC’s website makes no mention of requiring a rabies vaccine for this group of dogs, we HIGHLY RECOMMEND that dogs be vaccinated for rabies and travel with a valid rabies vaccination certificate (ideally showing their microchip number). Rabies vaccination of dogs is LEGALLY REQUIRED by the majority of US states. Also note: If the dog will be traveling to another country after being in the United States, that country may also have rabies vaccination requirements.
Please review information regarding the above on the CDC's website for dogs that have been in dog rabies-free or low-risk countries.
For dogs that have been in a high-risk country for dog rabies during the 6 months before arrival in the US, the requirements are more substantial. They also depend on where the dog was rabies vaccinated (US or foreign). You can find more CDC information regarding import requirements for US-vaccinated dogs here and foreign-vaccinated dogs here. Be aware that some situations require minimum waiting periods before travel, more time-consuming processes, and/or quarantine, so please plan ahead with as much advance notice as possible.
Lastly, we realize that this may complicate your travel. We are doing our best to understand these new rules and are happy to help as much as possible. If you would like to schedule a consultation to discuss your dog’s particular situation in detail, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We wish you safe and smooth travels!