Clinical
Update: CDC enacts new documentation requirements for US dog imports, with relaxed requirements for dogs from low-risk rabies countries
This article was originally published on June 13, 2024, and updated on July 24, 2024, to include changes in requirements enacted by the CDC. The updates reduce the requirements for dogs entering the US from countries designated as rabies-free or low-risk for dog rabies.
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The temporary suspension of the import of dogs from high-risk rabies areas, instituted by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on July 14, 2021, will expire on July 31, 2024. Starting on August 1, the CDC will require all dogs entering the United States to have a Dog Import Form completed by their owners and filed prior to arrival in the US. Additional documentation will depend on the country in which the dog was vaccinated for rabies and the countries in which the dog has spent time in the six months prior to travel to the US.
This update aims to prevent the reintroduction of dog rabies into the United States and is also in response to challenges with “fraudulent vaccine documentation and unsafe conditions for dogs at ports of entry,” said Emily Pieracci, DVM, MPH, DACVPM, lead for the Zoonoses Prevention and Import Regulations Team at the CDC.
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These changes only affect dogs, with no new requirements for cats or any other species.
Changes that affect all dogs
- All dogs must be at least six months old to enter the US, even if they are coming from a rabies-free country.
- All dogs must appear healthy upon arrival.
- All dogs must be microchipped, regardless of their country of origin. Their microchip must be detectable with a universal scanner.
All importers (including dog owners returning with their dog to the US from an international trip) must submit a CDC Dog Import Form prior to entering the US with their dog. Importers and dog owners can submit the Dog Import Form electronically; this action will automatically generate a receipt within minutes of submission.
CDC recommends printing a copy of the Dog Import Form receipt and traveling with at least two copies of it, although they state that a digital copy is also sufficient. The receipt is valid for six months and can be used for repeated entries into the US as long as the dog has not entered a designated high risk rabies country during that period of time. There is no fee associated with the form.
Dogs entering the US from dog rabies-free or low risk rabies countries
According to the CDC website, dogs entering the US who have not spent any time in the last six months in a country considered by the CDC to be high risk for dog rabies do not require any additional documentation apart from the CDC Dog Import Form.
Dogs entering the US from high-risk rabies countries
Dogs who have spent any time in the six months before entering the US in a country designated as high risk for dog rabies must meet additional requirements depending on whether their current rabies vaccine was administered in the US or elsewhere.
Requirements for US-vaccinated dogs
As long as their rabies vaccine is current, dogs vaccinated for rabies in the US may reenter the US with the CDC Dog Import form and:
- a USDA-endorsed Certification of US-issued Rabies Vaccination form (accessed through the VEHCS Help Page with instructions available here). This form can be submitted electronically for endorsement through the Veterinary Export Health Certification System (VEHCS), said Pieracci, and must be completed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian;
- or, until July 31, 2025, a USDA-endorsed export health certificate (international health certificate) that includes the dog’s age, microchip number, and rabies vaccination information (including expiration date) on the form may be substituted for the Certification of US-issued Rabies Vaccination form.
Requirements for foreign-vaccinated dogs
All dogs vaccinated for rabies outside of the US who have spent any time in a country designated as high risk for rabies within the six months preceding import to the US:
- must have a completed Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form.
- must present at a port with a CDC-registered animal care facility (with a reservation) and undergo a physical exam, revaccination, and complete a 28-day quarantine if they do not have proof of an adequate rabies titer from a CDC-approved laboratory. The blood sample for the rabies titer must have been drawn at least 30 days after the dog’s first valid rabies vaccination and at least 28 days before they plan to enter the US.
The microchip must have been implanted before the rabies vaccination was administered, and the microchip must be detectable with a universal scanner.
Any documents not written in English must have a certified English translation.
Start ahead of time
Veterinarians can and should start preparing for their patients to enter (or re-enter) the US 30-90 days ahead of time so that their owners have all the necessary documents completed, advised Pieracci, especially if the dog has spent any time in a high-risk rabies country. This includes ensuring that each dog has a working microchip and a valid rabies vaccination.
In the case where a dog is leaving with their owner from the US and then returning, US veterinarians should also conduct a physical exam and complete the Certification of US-issued Rabies Vaccination form or export health certificate (if indicated) and send it for endorsement through VEHCS before the dog leaves the US, she added.
Ultimately, though, it is dog owners, not veterinarians, who are responsible for completing and submitting the CDC Dog Import Form, which should be done 2-10 days before returning to the US. This form does not need to be endorsed.
Ways to learn more
The CDC has already amended their import requirements from what was originally announced in response to feedback, so it is strongly recommended to check their website to determine if any requirements have changed prior to completing documentation for a patient.
The CDC has also created DogBot, an online tool to help veterinary professionals and dog owners determine which documents will be required to import a dog into the US based on their history of vaccination, age, and geographical location prior to travel to the US.
Further reading:
Instructions for bringing a dog into the US until July 31, 2024
Frequently asked questions on CDC Dog Importations
Cover photo credit: Anna Reshetnikova © E+ via Getty Images Plus
Disclaimer: The views expressed, and topics discussed, in any NEWStat column or article are intended to inform, educate, or entertain, and do not represent an official position by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) or its Board of Directors.
