Pet transport from the United Kingdom to the United States
– rules and documentation.

Importing a pet from the United Kingdom to the USA

As of August 1, 2024, updated CDC regulations for dog importation into the United States are in effect. According to CDC classification, the United Kingdom is considered a rabies-free or low-risk country. Therefore, pets entering the United States from the UK are not subject to quarantine or rabies antibody titre testing.

• At the time of entry, dogs must be at least 6 months old.
• A microchip is required, which must be readable by a universal scanner.
• Completion of the CDC Dog Import Form is mandatory prior to travel. Submit the CDC Dog Import Form
• Instructions for completing the CDC Dog Import Form can be found here.
• Dogs must be healthy upon arrival and may be subject to visual inspection at the port of entry.
• Rabies vaccination is strongly recommended and may be required by airlines or individual states, but for dogs that have been only in low-risk countries within the last 6 months, CDC does not require additional documents beyond the CDC Dog Import Form.

Microchipping

For dogs and cats, a microchip compliant with ISO 11784/11785 standards is required. The microchip must be readable and correspond to the animal’s identification details.

Rabies vaccination (for dogs)

For dogs traveling from the United Kingdom, rabies vaccination is recommended to avoid issues with airlines and local regulations, although it is not a mandatory CDC requirement for imports from low-risk countries.

• Dogs must be at least 6 months old at the time of entry.
• Ensure the vaccination is valid at the time of travel, if provided.

 Rabies vaccination for cats

In the United States, rabies vaccination for cats is not required at the federal level. However, many states and local jurisdictions require it. Regulations may vary.

To avoid complications, it is strongly recommended that cats are vaccinated against rabies before travel.

Certificate of fitness to fly

Strongly recommended. This document may be required by the airline. The CDC does not require mandatory deworming before entry into the United States, but providing details of recent veterinary treatments may help avoid misunderstandings during check-in or inspection.

Additional requirements for dogs previously imported into the UK from another country

Dogs arriving from high-risk rabies countries are subject to additional requirements. However, this does not apply to dogs that have been in the United Kingdom.

If a dog has been in the United Kingdom for less than six months prior to travel to the United States, import requirements from the country where the dog was previously located may still apply.

Here you can review the requirements for the country of origin of your pet.

Regulations may vary by U.S. state, so it is recommended to check local requirements before travel.