- We are deep into the summer months, a popular time for travel around the world — and just in time for a big new change in the rules regarding entering the United States by air with a dog. Flying with dogs into the U.S. has become more complicated, thanks to a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) rule that went into effect on August 1, 2024.
But what are these new rules? Who do they affect? What do you need to know and what steps do you need to take in order to bring a dog into the United States by plane? Our explainer will break down the details of this new law.
Why Did the CDC Make New Rules for Flying Dogs in the United States?
The CDC estimates that each year the US imports around 700,000 dogs, so these rules affect a large amount of people and canines. But why was the rule passed? The simple answer is to prevent a reintroduction of rabies in the United States.
The CDC states that the changes in the rules come from a post-COVID world, dealing with a public health crisis and a pandemic for several years. Rabies is present in the United States, with around 4,000 animal rabies cases reported each year. Luckily human rabies is extremely rare with only a handful of cases a year, but the CDC is seeking to prevent a larger issue with these new rules.
Who Does the New CDC Rules on Flying with Dogs Affect Most?
If you’re flying into the United States with a dog, check the risk status of your country. These rules seem like a big change from the previous standard. However, it only has a large impact on those traveling from countries deemed to be a high risk for rabies. Travelers from low risk or rabies-free countries simply need to fill out a form. However, if you come from a high-risk country, things change drastically.
If you’re bringing a dog that’s only been in a low risk country or a country that’s rabies free over the last six months, you only need to fill out the CDC dog import form. If your dog hasn’t been outside the U.S., Canada or Mexico in the last six months, you also only need the dog import form.
The form is extremely short and only takes a few minutes to complete. It asks questions about the person importing the dog, physical details about the dog, and the reason for importing the dog. The CDC recommends filling out the dog import form up to six months before travel. However, if needed you are allowed to fill out the form on the day of travel.
There is more to the new CDC rule about flying a dog into the United States than just rabies prevention.
- They require all dogs entering the United States to appear healthy when they arrive
- Dogs must be at least six months old upon arrival.
- The pups mst have a microchip that’s recognized by universal scanners.
This certainly makes it more difficult to import a puppy into the United States from an international breeder. If your dog meets these requirements, they can enter the country from any airport, seaport or border crossing.
Importing a Dog from High-Risk Countries
If your dog is being imported from a high-risk country, or has been to one in the last six months, there are additional importation requirements. The CDC considers over 180 countries “high-risk” — these countries include those with large amounts of travelers.
Traveling with a dog to the United States from a high-risk country entails months of planning ahead of time. If you fail to meet the standards of the new CDC rules, you may be required to quarantine the dog. The quarantine is at your own cost and the length of time may vary. The dog may be sent back to its country of origin (again, at your cost).
- The first step is filling out the dog import form.
- You dog must appear healthy upon arrival, be over six months of age and properly microchipped.
- The import form for dogs from high-risk countries is a little more complicated — you must provide a photo of the dog’s face and body.
- If the dog is under one year of age, the photo must be taken within 15 days of travel.
- Every dog needs its own form; you cannot reuse forms for future travel; any change in departure details requires a new form.
Other Requirements for Dogs from High-Risk Countries
Additionally, every dog entering the United States from a high-risk country must provide a Certification of U.S.-issued Rabies Vaccination form or a USDA-issued health certificate. After July 31, 2025, the USDA-issued form will no longer be accepted.
If your dog was vaccinated for rabies in another country, there are more requirements to meet. These include:
- Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form
- Valid rabies serology titer report from a CDC-approved laboratory — unless the previously-mentioned form includes one
- You need a reservation at a CDC-registered animal care facility where they’ll be tested and examined
- And yes, you also need to fill out the CDC dog import form!
This paperwork cannot be processed quickly — in fact, it can take up to several months. That means you’ll need to plan well in advance of your travel in order to fly a dog into the United States from a high-risk country. Another roadblock is that only a few airports have CDC-registered animal care facilities nearby. There are only six CDC-approved airports in the United States, which we’ll explore below.
What United States Airports Can Dogs Fly into Under the New CDC Rules?
These new rules also affect airports, as they state dogs vaccinated internationally can only enter the United States through six airports. These airports have CDC-registered animal care facilities.
Those airports are:
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
- Miami International Airport (MIA)
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
- Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
- Dulles International Airport (IAD)
While they are decently spread across the nation, there are some major portions of the country that are hundreds (or thousands) of miles from the nearest approved airport.
Airlines Also Affected
Airlines are also affected by the new rules and will be required to create an air waybill for every dog (those in cargo and in the main cabin, as well) that is being transported to the United States. Although a waiver can be requested, many foreign airlines like Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Finnair and Swiss International Air Lines have decided to bar dogs from flying to the United States on their airlines.
Furthermore, Delta Airlines and American Airlines are pausing pet transport in cargo until they get everything situated. American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines aren’t affected heavily by the new CDC rules. They’ve stated that all passengers must comply with the new rules if they want their dogs to board on their flights.
Effects on Military Families
The new rules have gotten criticism from the public and travel-related businesses, but also from military families. Military families with dogs — many of them based in high-risk countries — will have to make alternative arrangements when they return to the United States.
The Department of Defense issued new reimbursement rules last year. These rules state military members can get up to $2,000 reimbursed for pet shipping.
Bottom Line
What does all of this mean to you — a pet owner flying from an international destination?
- Be diligent when booking flights to the United States.
- You need to have all vaccinations completed in a timely manner.
- Have your documentation prepared.
- If you come from a high-risk country, additional tests or a quarantine may be required.
- Dogs arriving from high-risk countries can only fly into six approved airports.
- Bear with additional costs (if the latter happens).
Starting on August 1, 2024, these new rules are in effect. If you have a flight planned, have everything completed before flying.