Pet Travel to the USA – What You Need to Know

The USA is one of the most popular destinations for UK-based dogs and cats. The good news is that, for pets travelling directly from the UK and other dog rabies free or low risk countries, the process is clear and manageable when planned properly.

Dogs travelling from the UK to the USA

From 1 August 2024, the USA introduced updated rules for importing dogs. For dogs that have only been in rabies free or low risk countries such as the UK for the past six months, the key federal requirement is completion of the online CDC Dog Import Form before travel. This generates a receipt that must be presented on arrival and is normally valid for multiple trips for up to six months, provided your dog has not visited a high risk country in that time.

In addition, your dog must:

• be at least 6 months old at the time of travel
• have an ISO-compliant microchip for permanent identification
• be clinically healthy and pass a fit-to-fly veterinary examination shortly before departure, as required by the airline

While the CDC’s simplified rules mean that, for low risk routes, a separate federal rabies certificate is no longer always required for entry, many individual US states still expect or require proof of a current rabies vaccination. For that reason we strongly recommend that all dogs are vaccinated against rabies in line with US state guidance and airline expectations before travel.

State-level rules also vary. For example, current guidance confirms that from 1 August 2024 a DEFRA Export Health Certificate (EHC 8860) is no longer required for most dogs travelling to the USA, but it remains required for Massachusetts and is recommended for Hawaii. Our team checks the latest federal and state rules for your exact destination and route as part of every booking.

Cats travelling from the UK to the USA

At federal level, the CDC does not routinely require proof of rabies vaccination for cats, but all cats must appear healthy on arrival or they can be referred for examination at the owner’s expense. In practice, most US states – and many airlines – expect cats to have a valid rabies vaccination, often given at least 30 days before arrival.

For cats, we therefore recommend:

• ISO-compliant microchipping
• up-to-date rabies vaccination that meets the destination state’s timing rules
• a pre-travel health check and airline fit-to-fly certificate

Quarantine rules for pets entering the USA

For healthy pets travelling directly from the UK and meeting the relevant federal and state requirements, there is no routine quarantine on arrival in the mainland USA. However, the state of Hawaii and the territory of Guam operate their own, much stricter quarantine and testing programmes for both dogs and cats, even from within the USA.

If your final destination is Hawaii, Guam or a state with particularly strict rabies controls, we will explain the additional steps and timelines needed so there are no surprises.

Timelines and preparation

Because of the age limits, documentation, state rules and airline availability, we usually suggest starting the process at least 3–6 months before your planned move, especially if you have multiple pets or complex routing.

For straightforward, low risk cases with adult pets, it is sometimes possible to move your pet more quickly with Fast Track, but early planning gives you more airline options and a smoother journey.

Airline and routing options

From the UK, we can route pets to major US gateways such as New York, Boston, Atlanta, Miami, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles and many others. We work with a wide range of reputable airlines that offer pressurised, temperature-controlled pet travel areas. Where possible, we aim for the shortest, kindest route with minimal stops and comfortable transit times.

Throughout, our veterinary team and dedicated travel coordinators handle the export paperwork, liaise with airlines and ground handlers, and guide you through state-specific requirements.