If you’re feeling a little apprehensive about travelling with your pet to the USA, that’s completely understandable. For most owners, it’s not the flight itself that feels daunting – it’s the worry of missing a step.
With a dog or cat depending on you, you want to know everything is organised, compliant, and calmly handled. A clear plan reduces last-minute stress and helps your pet travel more comfortably, because they rely on familiar routines and steady, reassuring care.
That’s where PetAir UK comes in. We support you with the parts we can control – welfare-first travel planning, step-by-step preparation, and a tidy document pack – and we’ll always signpost you to the correct official sources for any traveller entry requirements.
Why people are hesitating (and what’s real)
Here are the most common concerns we’re hearing from UK pet owners right now:
- ESTA and visa uncertainty – UK travellers entering or transiting the USA need either an ESTA or a visa.
- Extra data requests and screening – CBP has published a Federal Register notice describing changes and proposals including selfie/photo requirements and adding social media (last 5 years) as a mandatory ESTA data element.
- Relocation timelines – if you’re moving on a work or family route, processing times and requirements can change, sometimes quickly. For some nationalities, the U.S. State Department announced a pause on issuance of certain immigrant visas from 21 January 2026.
- “What if my pet’s paperwork isn’t right?” – this is an area where you can control the outcome with the right steps.
The pet-travel side is more predictable than it looks
For most UK-based pet owners, the USA entry requirements for pets are very achievable – particularly if you plan ahead and keep your documentation clean and consistent.
For dogs:
The CDC rules depend on where your dog has been in the 6 months before entry. If your dog has been only in dog rabies-free/low-risk countries during that time, the CDC explains that the key requirement is the CDC Dog Import Form, and the receipt can be valid for 6 months (and used for multiple entries in certain situations).
If your dog has been in a high-risk rabies country in that 6-month window, the requirements become more detailed.
For cats:
Rules are often simpler at federal level, but states and airlines may still set requirements – and you must always follow the airline’s conditions of carriage.
Our calm-plan approach (holiday makers & relocators)
This is how we reduce stress and increase certainty:
- Build a timeline early – travel date, airline routing, contingency buffer.
- Confirm pet entry route and documentation – including CDC steps for dogs and state-by-state considerations where relevant.
- Pet welfare planning – flight suitability, temperature considerations, comfort, and a properly sized, airline-appropriate pet cabin (IATA-compliant where required).
- Travel-day structure – clear check-in plan, document pack, and support if something changes.
Just as importantly, we help you separate “unknowns” from “actionable steps”. Political noise feels overwhelming because it’s vague. Pet travel becomes reassuring when it’s turned into a checklist.
Learn more about relocating your pet to the USA with PetAir here.
Quick Look-Up:
Official resources to make note of
Travelling to the USA With Your Pet: How to Plan With Confidence
If you’re hesitating, you don’t need to decide everything today. But if the USA is still your likely destination, the smartest move is to get your plan in place early – so changes don’t catch you on the back foot.
If you’d like us to sense-check your travel route and pet requirements, we’ll map out a calm, compliant path – and support you the whole way.
Get a quick quote today – and we’ll build your USA pet travel plan around your dates, your airline options, and your pet’s welfare.
